Anyone tried a Whole Lotta Humbucker Neck with a SH-5 Custom?

[MasterKtulu]

It's for a PRS SE Custom 22 with 85/15 S pickups that are OK sounding but slightly dull...

I've tried a '59 before in my Les Paul and found it too clean & slightly boomy... Never tried a Jazz but I would imagine it to be even cleaner with slightly less bass. I also tried a Alnico II Pro before in my Les Paul, and it was nice & smooth but was too modern sounding, not what I was looking for. I ended up with a Pearly Gates set which are NEVER leaving that guitar, but in my PRS I want something different that will match well with a SH-5 Custom.

 

[superpete]

I've never tried it with a SH-5, but i have an Orville LPC with a Custom 8 in the bridge and a WLH in the neck...matches up well and sounds great.

 

[jeremy]

i think youd be fine with the wlh neck and custom bridge

 

[alex1fly]

Ha, what a journey. See my recent "d@mn these 85/15 pickups" thread.

https://forum.seymourduncan.com/forum/the-pickup-lounge/6081309-anybody-swap-out-a-85-15/page2

I've had the guitar 1.5 years now and am still figuring out how they fit and to use them. They don't have the vintage cluckey mojo that PAFs or single coils seem to have... they're more like a compressed P90. Recently I discovered some really magical sounds on the bridge pickup with the tone knob between 1 and 3, though. Very stratty. It's almost like there's compression and EQ already applied to them. This is working in my favor recently because I'm running the SE Custom and a bass guitar into a looper and the looper into a full frequency amplifier. Most guitars sound flat into those kinds of amps (because they lack the voicing of a guitar amp), but the SE Custom sounds like a guitar should into that amp. Go figure. Also, the 85/15s sound best to me lowered to be pretty much flush with the pickup rings.

 

[MasterKtulu]

I've never tried it with a SH-5, but i have an Orville LPC with a Custom 8 in the bridge and a WLH in the neck...matches up well and sounds great.

I've experimented with the Custom 8 in the past, flatter eq with rounder Highs & Lows than the Custom with similar output. More modern sounding than the Custom but I didn't like how it compressed (Not that the Custom is not Compressed...). I remember it sounded huge, but if it paired well with a Whole Lotta Humbucker neck, a Custom should match well too, thanks.

 

[MasterKtulu]

i think youd be fine with the wlh neck and custom bridge

Thanks!

 

[MasterKtulu]

Ha, what a journey. See my recent "d@mn these 85/15 pickups" thread.

https://forum.seymourduncan.com/forum/the-pickup-lounge/6081309-anybody-swap-out-a-85-15/page2

I've had the guitar 1.5 years now and am still figuring out how they fit and to use them. They don't have the vintage cluckey mojo that PAFs or single coils seem to have... they're more like a compressed P90. Recently I discovered some really magical sounds on the bridge pickup with the tone knob between 1 and 3, though. Very stratty. It's almost like there's compression and EQ already applied to them. This is working in my favor recently because I'm running the SE Custom and a bass guitar into a looper and the looper into a full frequency amplifier. Most guitars sound flat into those kinds of amps (because they lack the voicing of a guitar amp), but the SE Custom sounds like a guitar should into that amp. Go figure. Also, the 85/15s sound best to me lowered to be pretty much flush with the pickup rings.

I've tried to like the 85/15 S pickups for 4 years now, and I've experimented with the pickup heights multiple times trying to make me like it more. There's nothing wrong with them, they just don't sound like anything... They don't sound modern but at the same time are too high output & compressed to sound vintage. They can sing but can be dull at the same time if that makes any sense... And I found that they don't split very well, too bright and harsh...

 

[Mincer]

Those 2 pickups should go well together. You don't get a lot of mids, but it sounds like that's not your thing, anyway. The WLH is great for those who want a PAF-type in the neck with more power and compression.

 

[MasterKtulu]

Those 2 pickups should go well together. You don't get a lot of mids, but it sounds like that's not your thing, anyway. The WLH is great for those who want a PAF-type in the neck with more power and compression.

My favorite pickup set is the Duncan Pearly Gates and I love the mids! But I have them in a Fender HH Strat and in a Les Paul Custom already. I also have a Custom Custom in a Kramer Baretta (That are just 80s Mids!) so I wanted something different and slightly more output for my PRS Custom 22... Any other suggestions?

 

[Theobalt]

For what it's worth, on my Godin xtsa, I have a neck PAF Pro and a TB-5 at bridge. Really nice match in my opinion.

 

[Condemned soul]

WLH - Custom
WLH - 59/Custom

Between the Custom and the 59/Custom, I prefer the 59/Custom. For me, it is slightly smoother, more open, and has a slightly lower output. Might be worth your effort to check this pickup out.

Tried the WLH - 59 / Custom in my LPC. Sounded fantastic, just not I wanted for the guitar [ it has a 36 Anniv. set right now ]. The pair then migrated to my PRS Santana SE.

My PRS Santana Se sounded almost lifeless, and the WLH - 59/ Custom made this guitar come alive. The pickups play really well together and sound fantastic.


As for the original posting, I've also had the WLH - Custom in one of my SG's. They work really well together.

 

[Mincer]

My favorite pickup set is the Duncan Pearly Gates and I love the mids! But I have them in a Fender HH Strat and in a Les Paul Custom already. I also have a Custom Custom in a Kramer Baretta (That are just 80s Mids!) so I wanted something different and slightly more output for my PRS Custom 22... Any other suggestions?

You can always try a 59/Custom Hybrid in the bridge, which is a great pickup that doesn't feel too compressed.

 

[alex1fly]

I've tried to like the 85/15 S pickups for 4 years now, and I've experimented with the pickup heights multiple times trying to make me like it more. There's nothing wrong with them, they just don't sound like anything... They don't sound modern but at the same time are too high output & compressed to sound vintage. They can sing but can be dull at the same time if that makes any sense... And I found that they don't split very well, too bright and harsh...

Makes complete sense. 4 years is a pretty fair shake, I think

 

[MasterKtulu]

You can always try a 59/Custom Hybrid in the bridge, which is a great pickup that doesn't feel too compressed.

A 59/Custom is something to think about. It would be more open than a custom but still powerful and aggressive with a more vintage vibe. If I remember correctly it's very versatile and not as mid scooped as a Custom 5 or a 59.

 

[Mincer]

A 59/Custom is something to think about. It would be more open than a custom but still powerful and aggressive with a more vintage vibe. If I remember correctly it's very versatile and not as mid scooped as a Custom 5 or a 59.

You got it. The EQ is like a PAF, but with more power, and not so much that it starts compressing the signal. It is a good pickup if you want a louder, bolder 59. It also splits really well, too.

 

[David Garner]

For whatever reason I keep waffling on my 93 Les Paul -- I had settled on the JB, but then I put a JB in my superstrat and it sounds better in that one than in the LP, so I considered other options. I am about to try a set of Dimarzios that I got for a song ($80 for a Super Distortion bridge and 36th Anniversary neck), but if those don't fly, I've been considering other Duncan pickups.

Which brings me to the 59/Custom. Looking at the EQ on Duncan's website, what strikes me about the 59/Custom is the 59, Custom and especially the Custom 5 are really scooped. All of them have basically the same tone profile -- more bass and treble, less mids. This particular guitar needs mids for any power. It has a natural scoop to the tone, so it's either super low wind PAF types or (if you want it to rock, which I do), you need mids. Hence the JB and before it the stock 498t.

The 59/Custom Hybrid by contrast is voiced a lot more like the JB, but with a touch more mids and a touch less treble. The other pickup that falls in that category is the Custom Custom, which has even more mids and treble (but still the mid/treble balance of the 59/Custom), and less bass. My guess is the CC is going to be more compressed than the 59/Custom, and obviously a little hotter. I like a bit of bass in the tone, so it wouldn't be my first choice for this particular guitar, though the JB also shows a lower bass profile and seems to have plenty of punch.

All of that to say this -- I think the 59/Custom would be a great match for an A5 neck pickup in a guitar that needs more mids. If the guitar is naturally mid-heavy, I'd stick with the SH-5 (or something else with a modest mid scoop).

 

[beaubrummels]

This particular guitar needs mids for any power. It has a natural scoop to the tone, so it's either super low wind PAF types or (if you want it to rock, which I do), you need mids. Hence the JB and before it the stock 498t..

Custom Custom. Power plus mids. The other options are Whole Lotta Humbucker or Pearly Gates, but the latter is bright. (Not a problem if you are ok keeping the tone on 8). If you are hesitant about the Custom Custom, then the Whole Lotta Humbucker might be for you. It's got power and evenness and plays well with Gibsons.; WLH is like the ultimate 59/Pearly.

 

[Hank-]

I didn't like the Custom in my korean prs cu22, I hated the Custom5 in it. The Sh11 was great. What I have in it now it hybrid I made using the OEM pups I had around. For some reason A2 or UOA5 mags based pickups seem to work the best for me in this guitar.

From Duncan's lineup I be looking at the Sh11, 59/C hybrid or maybe the Invader for the bridge position, the neck position choices are huge but I'd avoid the stock 59n, it sounded very generic here as in the upgrade over stock was minimal at best.

 

[alex1fly]

For whatever reason I keep waffling on my 93 Les Paul -- I had settled on the JB, but then I put a JB in my superstrat and it sounds better in that one than in the LP, so I considered other options. I am about to try a set of Dimarzios that I got for a song ($80 for a Super Distortion bridge and 36th Anniversary neck), but if those don't fly, I've been considering other Duncan pickups.

Which brings me to the 59/Custom. Looking at the EQ on Duncan's website, what strikes me about the 59/Custom is the 59, Custom and especially the Custom 5 are really scooped. All of them have basically the same tone profile -- more bass and treble, less mids. This particular guitar needs mids for any power. It has a natural scoop to the tone, so it's either super low wind PAF types or (if you want it to rock, which I do), you need mids. Hence the JB and before it the stock 498t.

The 59/Custom Hybrid by contrast is voiced a lot more like the JB, but with a touch more mids and a touch less treble. The other pickup that falls in that category is the Custom Custom, which has even more mids and treble (but still the mid/treble balance of the 59/Custom), and less bass. My guess is the CC is going to be more compressed than the 59/Custom, and obviously a little hotter. I like a bit of bass in the tone, so it wouldn't be my first choice for this particular guitar, though the JB also shows a lower bass profile and seems to have plenty of punch.

All of that to say this -- I think the 59/Custom would be a great match for an A5 neck pickup in a guitar that needs more mids. If the guitar is naturally mid-heavy, I'd stick with the SH-5 (or something else with a modest mid scoop).

Jealous. Those DMZs sound like a great combination in a Les Paul.