1st practice with Custom 5

BrentSP

BrentSP

New member
I have the C5 in a PRS McCarty going through a Bogner Shiva EL34 head and Bogner 2x12 loaded with Classic Lead 80 and Vintage 30. I was rushed for time before practice and didn't fine tune the pickup height. I basically just set it like I do most of my guitars.

I really was disappointed. It was thin and fuzzy on the top end. When I turned up the bass it became boomy and a tad sloppy. Not much definition or clarity. I have a regular Custom in my LP Classic that sounds great. I'll have to adjust the pickup height and see if that will help.
 
Re: 1st practice with Custom 5

??????? I know that taste is a personal thing, but are you guys nuts??? HAHAHA Just kidding.. We all prefer different things, but I have a C5 in 3 very different guitars and notice none of this symptoms you desribe. Not fizzy, not boomy.. the pup is extremely sensitive to height, so take some time to dial it in.. you may be glad you did!
 
Re: 1st practice with Custom 5

MattPete said:
I also found the C5 thin yet boomy. I like the Custom a lot better.
Click to expand...

Yup. I find it very "thin" and small indeed. The lack of mids definitely adds up to less "body" overall.

I like the Custom a whole lot better. Much bigger sounding to my ears.

:burnout:
 
Re: 1st practice with Custom 5

I suspect Brent's view of the C5 will change when he gets it adjusted properly...

Lew
 
Re: 1st practice with Custom 5

MattPete said:
I also found the C5 thin yet boomy. I like the Custom a lot better.
Click to expand...

I'll second that. I have a C5 in my Charvel model 4 and I love it there, but I haven't cared for it in the other guitars I tried. In my experience the C5 sounds great in the right guitar and really awful in just about anything else.
 
Re: 1st practice with Custom 5

Well, I finally adjusted the pickup height but I wasn't able to use it on the same amp (shiva) since its at rehearsal. I just used it on a Peavey Bandit practice amp. It did sound lots better but I didn't try this amp/guitar combo in the beginning. I will tonight though so I'll let you guys know.
 
Re: 1st practice with Custom 5

What would be considered a good distance from the strings in the bridge C5? I like mine but I can see how some may think boomy/thin. Check out my band site to get an idea musically of what I am going for www.klinkdetroit.com I also play in a cover band so it has to work with that as well???
 
Re: 1st practice with Custom 5

Pickup height has EVERYTHING to do with getting the tone right. Wow is this pickup smoke'n in my PRS.......night and day difference compared to practice Monday night. I wish I could get my LP Custom w/JB to sound like this. And the Custom is my favorite "go-to" guitar. Tight bass with clear highs and balanced mids. A+
 
Re: 1st practice with Custom 5

BrentSP said:
Pickup height has EVERYTHING to do with getting the tone right. Wow is this pickup smoke'n in my PRS.......night and day difference compared to practice Monday night. I wish I could get my LP Custom w/JB to sound like this. And the Custom is my favorite "go-to" guitar. Tight bass with clear highs and balanced mids. A+
Click to expand...


What do you like better about the C5/PRS as opposed to the LP Custom/JB setup??
 
Re: 1st practice with Custom 5

What height did you set it at? I have four Custom 5's and I set mine around .125" to .150" (1/8"to 5/32").
 
Re: 1st practice with Custom 5

I like the C-5, but yeah, it does need to be fairly close to the strings. I'm using it with Pauls, McCarties into fairly midrangey amps tho. I can only hear it sounding thin on alder or ash into amps with less complex mids.
 
Re: 1st practice with Custom 5

BrentSP said:
I have the C5 in a PRS McCarty going through a Bogner Shiva EL34 head and Bogner 2x12 loaded with Classic Lead 80 and Vintage 30. I was rushed for time before practice and didn't fine tune the pickup height. I basically just set it like I do most of my guitars.

I really was disappointed. It was thin and fuzzy on the top end. When I turned up the bass it became boomy and a tad sloppy. Not much definition or clarity. I have a regular Custom in my LP Classic that sounds great. I'll have to adjust the pickup height and see if that will help.
Click to expand...


Hey Brent...FWIW, I prefer the regular Custom and the JB over the C5 in a mahogany guitar. I find the C5 to be too scooped for lead playing.

Just my .02
 
Re: 1st practice with Custom 5

My Charvel model 4 has a (non-stock) maple neck and I'm playing it into either a Marshall 2555 or a Soldano.
 
Re: 1st practice with Custom 5

ranalli said:
What do you like better about the C5/PRS as opposed to the LP Custom/JB setup??
Click to expand...

I never thought my LPCustom/JB was fat sounding but compared to the PRS/C5 setup it was warmer and fat and not as clear as the PRS. It kind of depressed me because I want that LP Custom to be my main axe. I'm not sure if I could get the same tone if I dropped in a C5 in the LP Custom though. This LP is every bit 10lbs with a thick plank of Mohogany/Maple.
 
Re: 1st practice with Custom 5

slightly_rude said:
What height did you set it at? I have four Custom 5's and I set mine around .125" to .150" (1/8"to 5/32").
Click to expand...


Honestly I do not know. I adjusted it by ear. I can tell you that its farther from the strings than any of my other guitars but not by much. I usually will used the 2 nickle rule on my guitars.
 
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Re: 1st practice with Custom 5

BrentSP said:
Honestly I do not know. I adjusted it by ear. I can tell you that its farther from the strings than any of my other guitars but not by much. I usually will used the 2 nickle rule on my guitars.
Click to expand...

Mine is the same. Further than normal.
 
Re: 1st practice with Custom 5

BrentSP said:
I never thought my LPCustom/JB was fat sounding but compared to the PRS/C5 setup it was warmer and fat and not as clear as the PRS. It kind of depressed me because I want that LP Custom to be my main axe. I'm not sure if I could get the same tone if I dropped in a C5 in the LP Custom though. This LP is every bit 10lbs with a thick plank of Mohogany/Maple.
Click to expand...

The LP is fatter and warmer than the PRS? The PRS is clearer? I still take fat and warm first and deal with a little loss of clarity, but maybe that is me. Maybe try the C-5 in the LP?? Maybe you are a PRS man? Sell the LP and get a singlecut?? :) I have an LP Standard that is between 8-9 lbs and very clear and tight! I installed a Rio Grande BBQ so it is clear, tight, warm, and thick. My baby. :)

Good luck, bro.

I say stick with the LP....tone tone tone!
 
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