Alright, I'm sold. SH-6 or SH-5, help plz.

[Dr.J4ckal]

Re: Alright, I'm sold. SH-6 or SH-5, help plz.

I had several of both, but never in the same guitar. SH5 to me sounds a lot more focused, thicker mids. While SH6 has a lot of crunchy presence typical of 80s rock tone.
Both were tight, but SH5 sounds punchy, SH6 a bit more spongy with great crunch.
I think SH5 sounds better for leads, more versatile, very organic and balanced unlike typical ceramic pickups. While the sh6 may sound grainy and ice-picky.
That said, I prefer SH6 for drop tuning, though I've only used it for drop D, nothing extreme. Its crunchy presence gives more definition to metal chugging. But then the guitar was a les paul with 24.75' neck. If it's a bright guitar such as alder/basswood superstrats, I might prefer SH5.

 

[Jason_Clement]

Re: Alright, I'm sold. SH-6 or SH-5, help plz.

Thanks for all your opinions guys! Haha. I might try the SH5 first. As someone mentioned earlier I have a maple neck/ebony fretboard and it's really bright and full of attack already, and an SH6 might put it over. I think I'll order the SH5b with an SH2n for the chordal stuff I do/softer leads.

Would you guys recommend coil tapping the neck pick up?

 

[rumblebox]

Re: Alright, I'm sold. SH-6 or SH-5, help plz.

I would recommend series parallel switching instead of coil tapping. The jazz doesn't split as well as others.

 

[Jason_Clement]

Re: Alright, I'm sold. SH-6 or SH-5, help plz.

What is series parallel switching? Apologies, I'm new to the world of all things pick ups. This will probably also be my first time installing pick ups myself cuz the $60 service charge at the music store is kinda dumb. <.<

 

[Jason_Clement]

Re: Alright, I'm sold. SH-6 or SH-5, help plz.

May I throw in a vote for the Alternate-8? I think that thing sounds KILLER.

I've listened to it and I like the tone, it just seems...compressed... is it always like that?

Also for everyone else, how does an A8 magnet affect the Custom SH5? I hear the SH5 as very... hmm... "throaty". It is very thick and doesn't have as much bite or presence as the SH6, which I like about the SH6.

 

[misterwhizzy]

Re: Alright, I'm sold. SH-6 or SH-5, help plz.

You're not going to get more bite with an Alnico 8. Probably slightly less. It will round off the highs and give just a hair of sag to the bass. In my Les Paul, I got a much thicker tone with the Custom 8 than the Distortion, but with massive amounts of punch. The Distortion was much more cutting and biting. It's got a razor sharp high end, which is great for note definition under a lot of gain. For what you describe in the post above, I'd get the Distortion, although I like the Custom a lot better.

 

[elelpe]

Re: Alright, I'm sold. SH-6 or SH-5, help plz.

What does a custom 8 sound like, and how does it compare to the standard SH5 without mag swap and to the SH6?

May I throw in a vote for the Alternate-8? I think that thing sounds KILLER.

SH6 is meaner than SH5. SH5 is meaner than C8. Alt8 is the meanest of them all, IMO. I don't remember Alt8 comes in 7 strings model but there's always Custom Shop route.

SH6: mid - treble
SH5: bass - treble
C8: more balance with vintage vibe
Alt8: more balance with modern flavor

... of course it's just a simplification.

 

[rumblebox]

Re: Alright, I'm sold. SH-6 or SH-5, help plz.

i wouldnt say the C8 has much of a vintage vibe. more than the SH-6 and SH-5 still, but not really when you compare it to lower output pups. the sheer output and punch put it above the SH-5 in aggressiveness regardless of less treble bite.

 

[rumblebox]

Re: Alright, I'm sold. SH-6 or SH-5, help plz.

What is series parallel switching? Apologies, I'm new to the world of all things pick ups. This will probably also be my first time installing pick ups myself cuz the $60 service charge at the music store is kinda dumb. <.<

normal humbucker operation uses the coils wired opposite to each other. parallel mode makes them like 2 single coils next to each other. still semi-fat like a humbucker, but like half the output. i use series, parallel and split mode regularly on my 59, but when i used a jazz i could only vibe with series and parallel mode. hope that helps.

guitarelectronics.com has all the custom wiring options on their website.

 

[elelpe]

Re: Alright, I'm sold. SH-6 or SH-5, help plz.

i wouldnt say the C8 has much of a vintage vibe. more than the SH-6 and SH-5 still, but not really when you compare it to lower output pups.

I fully agree. I said that in a context.

the sheer output and punch put it above the SH-5 in aggressiveness regardless of less treble bite.

Well, different strokes for different folks. I like both SH5 and Alt8 more than SH6 and C8.

 

[SAVAGE DISTORTION]

Re: Alright, I'm sold. SH-6 or SH-5, help plz.

get a A8 magnet and put it in the custom! i have the DDJ and a TB5 and just did a magnet flip and the custom with a alnico 8 is the best i have tried:fing2:

 

[misterwhizzy]

Re: Alright, I'm sold. SH-6 or SH-5, help plz.

get a A8 magnet and put it in the custom! i have the DDJ and a TB5 and just did a magnet flip and the custom with a alnico 8 is the best i have tried:fing2:

I have to agree with this, but I hate to tell him the Custom won't work stock. And from his description, I think he's looking for the Distortion. That being said, the Custom 8 is my favorite should-be-production SD.

 

[Jason_Clement]

Re: Alright, I'm sold. SH-6 or SH-5, help plz.

I have to agree with this, but I hate to tell him the Custom won't work stock. And from his description, I think he's looking for the Distortion. That being said, the Custom 8 is my favorite should-be-production SD.

Yeah I'm weary of the SH5 cuz a lot of people seem to mag swap and like it a hundred times better, so is there something wrong with the normal pickup? Is there anyone who doesn't like the mag swap? Lol.

 

[Jason_Clement]

Re: Alright, I'm sold. SH-6 or SH-5, help plz.

I ordered an SH6, it is decided. SOON I WILL HAVE IT! still haven't settled on a neck pick up though.

 

[Edgecrusher]

Re: Alright, I'm sold. SH-6 or SH-5, help plz.

Yeah I'm weary of the SH5 cuz a lot of people seem to mag swap and like it a hundred times better, so is there something wrong with the normal pickup? Is there anyone who doesn't like the mag swap? Lol.

Nah dude your getting the wrong impression here. Yes the mag swappers on this forum are VERY vocal. They do like to make it seem that you cant be happy with a pickup unless you mag swap particularly ceramics. There are a lot that drink that kool aid around here.

Truth is though the SH5 has been sold for decades and loved for decades by many they just arent the vocal ones on this forum. There is NOTHING inherently wrong in the SH5 is stock form despite what many would have you believe. Some will then say "Oh there is nothing wrong but it is BETTER! if you mag swap" But what is better? Its all subjective. The best thing is to find out for yourself. Buy an SH5 even if its not your favorite I highly doubt you would think its bad. If you get it an you feel you need to tweak it theres a legion of mag swappers on this forum foaming at the mouth waiting to help you through it.

 

[Jason_Clement]

Re: Alright, I'm sold. SH-6 or SH-5, help plz.

Nah dude your getting the wrong impression here. Yes the mag swappers on this forum are VERY vocal. They do like to make it seem that you cant be happy with a pickup unless you mag swap particularly ceramics. There are a lot that drink that kool aid around here.

Truth is though the SH5 has been sold for decades and loved for decades by many they just arent the vocal ones on this forum. There is NOTHING inherently wrong in the SH5 is stock form despite what many would have you believe. Some will then say "Oh there is nothing wrong but it is BETTER! if you mag swap" But what is better? Its all subjective. The best thing is to find out for yourself. Buy an SH5 even if its not your favorite I highly doubt you would think its bad. If you get it an you feel you need to tweak it theres a legion of mag swappers on this forum foaming at the mouth waiting to help you through it.

Haha :3 I will probably get an SH5 for my next 7 string. It was a hard decision for me, but I inevitably went with the distortion for this axe. I think it will suit both the aesthetics and the whole vibe of the guitar maybe I'll try to find a cheap standard SH5 used and put it in my 6 string.

 

[Edgecrusher]

Re: Alright, I'm sold. SH-6 or SH-5, help plz.

Haha :3 I will probably get an SH5 for my next 7 string. It was a hard decision for me, but I inevitably went with the distortion for this axe. I think it will suit both the aesthetics and the whole vibe of the guitar maybe I'll try to find a cheap standard SH5 used and put it in my 6 string.

Whats different in the aesthetics of an SH6 and an SH5? You cant tell the 2 apart unless you can look closely for the fat mag on the Sh6 which cant be seen once its installed.

How many in this thread actually have experience with the 7 string versions of these pickups? 7's are a different deal.

Eh you already bought the pickup its a great pickup hopefully its exactly what your after. :beerchug:

 

[Jason_Clement]

Re: Alright, I'm sold. SH-6 or SH-5, help plz.

Whats different in the aesthetics of an SH6 and an SH5? You cant tell the 2 apart unless you can look closely for the fat mag on the Sh6 which cant be seen once its installed.

How many in this thread actually have experience with the 7 string versions of these pickups? 7's are a different deal.

Eh you already bought the pickup its a great pickup hopefully its exactly what your after. :beerchug:

Sorry, I meant the guitar haha. The guitar is one of the new Schecter SLS C-7s -- it just LOOKS metal, haha so I figure a distortion is a good fit in it ;D and yeah! It should be awesome, I'll definitely let everyone know how it sounds when i get it and wire it up. Need a neck PUP first though, still deciding.

 

[SAVAGE DISTORTION]

Re: Alright, I'm sold. SH-6 or SH-5, help plz.

Yeah I'm weary of the SH5 cuz a lot of people seem to mag swap and like it a hundred times better, so is there something wrong with the normal pickup? Is there anyone who doesn't like the mag swap? Lol.

NO the custom stock is a amazing pickup! What the magnet change did for me is made the notes sing more like a JB and the output feels bigger now but a stock SH5 or TB5 is a incredible pickup as is!:fing2:

 

[elelpe]

Re: Alright, I'm sold. SH-6 or SH-5, help plz.

Yeah I'm weary of the SH5 cuz a lot of people seem to mag swap and like it a hundred times better, so is there something wrong with the normal pickup? Is there anyone who doesn't like the mag swap? Lol.

Something wrong? Heck, no. Mag swapping is just a way to improve your tone. You still have to take attention to the other elements: your guitar, your whole rig, your playing ... A pickup is better if it is right for YOUR application. So, if mag swapping is necessary, do it. Sure you get a new pickup after mag swapping. But mag swapper didn't do the pickup winding. SD still has the credit. Stock Custom is just great and also great for mag swapping.