Another Custom 5 thread :-)

[eclecticsynergy]

Re: Another Custom 5 thread

EQ is a viable option (and adjustable on the fly, which is handy). Still, I feel it'd be better in the long run to bring the tone of the guitar itself more in line with what's wanted. If the OP is switching between the LP and the PRS it's simpler not to have run an EQ for one guitar. Pickup swap is always possible but I agree with others that it's well worth trying a mag swap or two first.

Offhand I'd recommend UA5 as the first magnet to try. For this guitar if the highs are abrasive already, you don't want the extra high end aggression of ceramic.

Since the Custom5 sounds pretty good already and the guitar is dark in character, I'd worry that the extra low & low-mid girth of A8 might be too much, even if the treble might benefit from its slight smoothing.

UA5 tames lows & highs a bit and by doing that makes the mids appear a bit more prominent. To me that sounds like exactly what the OP is looking for tonewise. Worth trying first, anyway.

If the UA5 turns out to too much of a change, maybe a roughcast A5 would be the ticket. And if the UA5 isn't enough of a change, an A4 would probably be the next one I'd try.

 

[dystrust]

Re: Another Custom 5 thread

You think the Custom has more bass and treble than Custom 5?

Maybe it does, but I don't remember it sounding that way.

I went from the Custom 5 to the Custom and liked the Custom better.

Not enough to keep it forever but enough to use it for a year or so.

Didn't like the Custom 5 at all: too much treble, too much bass and not enough mids.

Same guitar. A Strat though. Not a Gibson.

+1

I've tried the C5 in a few guitars and come to the conclusion that I hate that pickup. It's been scooped and screechy bright in every guitar and boomy in more than one. In two of those guitars a regular custom was exactly what I needed; less bright, tighter lows and far better midrange. I'm not sure what Aceman was imbibing prior to that post, but I've never found a ceramic Custom to be brighter than a C5 in anything.

 

[Mincer]

Re: Another Custom 5 thread

The C5 works for me in specific guitars- especially ones that are really mid-heavy. I have a poplar Music Man that is all mids, and the only thing that would work in the bridge is the scooped C5. I don't think I would use it in a more balanced guitar. In fact, I tried it in an alder bodied one, and it was too severely scooped (I usually use a Custom Custom in that guitar).

 

[Yzerman]

Re: Another Custom 5 thread

I actually got to try the PRS at a gig this weekend and the C5 wasn't too bad.... i did find it had a little too much bass but not horrible. I think i'll try the UOA5 and Ceramic and decide between the 3 types which i like. It's close... but not perfect.