Hi, I'm new here and would like some pickup advice. I recently bought a Godin Freeway Classic and am interested in changing out the stock pickups. After using the Tone Wizard and reading the specs I was pretty set on a Custom 5 in the bridge and a 59 in the neck or possibly checking out some DiMarzios as well. I'm not sure about the middle pu yet. Anyways, I called my tech and he suggested Van Zandt pickups which are twice as much as the Duncans. I'm pretty sure I don't want to spend that much, so I told him I'll probably stick with Duncans or maybe DiMarzios and he said if I did I would probably want a 59 in the bridge as well because I primarily play blues influenced classic rock style stuff and the Custom 5 is a hot sounding more modern pickup. Sooooo, you guys have any suggestions. Would the Custom 5 work for a good powerful classic rock bridge pickup. I don't care about cleans on the bridge. Oh yeah, I play through a Mesa F-50 pretty much dry. Thanks for any replies!
Brand new to furom need PU suggestions
- Thread starter CAC
- Start date
Nite_Maresz_25
on Elm Streetologist
Re: Brand new to furom need PU suggestions
first off: WELCOME TO THE FORUM!!!
yes, the c5(custom 5) will work for powerful classic rock tones in the bridge, and a 59 sounds perfect for the neck position of your guitar. Im assuming the middle position is routed for a single coil(but then again you know what happens when you assume). I would say if you want true single coil tone(will hum and all) then an ssl-1 would be good for you, but if you want a humcancling single coil then either a classic stack, duckbucker, or vintage rails would work.
there are others around here that will be able to give more info/input then i did/can and they will chime in eventually.
nice amp BTW, those mesa F series amps rock
first off: WELCOME TO THE FORUM!!!
yes, the c5(custom 5) will work for powerful classic rock tones in the bridge, and a 59 sounds perfect for the neck position of your guitar. Im assuming the middle position is routed for a single coil(but then again you know what happens when you assume). I would say if you want true single coil tone(will hum and all) then an ssl-1 would be good for you, but if you want a humcancling single coil then either a classic stack, duckbucker, or vintage rails would work.
there are others around here that will be able to give more info/input then i did/can and they will chime in eventually.
nice amp BTW, those mesa F series amps rock
kjrocks
New member
Re: Brand new to furom need PU suggestions
Is that model a fixed bridge? I recently put a C5 in my Godin LG but it was way too bright .This guitar sings unplugged.I swapped it to a Custom and love it.It has a great overdrive and does cleans well too.The c5 was just too musical and not enough growl.If you playing blues ,I'm thinking overdrive and dirt.I think the 59b would be better too.
Is that model a fixed bridge? I recently put a C5 in my Godin LG but it was way too bright .This guitar sings unplugged.I swapped it to a Custom and love it.It has a great overdrive and does cleans well too.The c5 was just too musical and not enough growl.If you playing blues ,I'm thinking overdrive and dirt.I think the 59b would be better too.
Re: Brand new to furom need PU suggestions
It's a strat style trem. I do want that growl in an Angus Young/Page/Gibbons way on the bridge. I dabble in more modern stuff occasinally just for fun but I really need a powerful classic rock tone in the bridge more than anything. The only thing holding me back on the suggestion of the 59 in the bridge is I'm not sure if it will be gritty, growly, and powerful enough if that makes sense.
It's a strat style trem. I do want that growl in an Angus Young/Page/Gibbons way on the bridge. I dabble in more modern stuff occasinally just for fun but I really need a powerful classic rock tone in the bridge more than anything. The only thing holding me back on the suggestion of the 59 in the bridge is I'm not sure if it will be gritty, growly, and powerful enough if that makes sense.
Luke Duke
PRSlustologist
Re: Brand new to furom need PU suggestions
Hey man, WELCOME TO THE FORUM!
First of all I would like to say you made an EXCELLENT choice. Godin guitars are great! I have a LG and with 500k pots it sings! I was actually planning on getting a freeway floyd but ended up with my PRS.
To me the freeway's are bright sounding. I was planning on an Alnico 2 Pro neck, and a Custom Custom bridge. Both of those pups are A2 magnet pups which have more mids for warming guitars up and giving a nice midrange push. These are some of the warmest pups I've heard, and versatility out the wazoo. A while back someone had a chikin pikin clip with the Custom Custom.
Now you specifically mentioned Gibbons, who uses the Pearly Gates. These are the hottest PAF style pups duncan makes. You could go with a set of these as well.
Here is my pup breakdown which focuses on PAF style pups, the custom series, and JB. https://forum.seymourduncan.com/showthread.php?t=32475&page=2&highlight=alouu
For the middle, once again, I'd stick with the A2 mag and get a Alnico 2 pro for strat, staggered, or flat depending on your taste.
Hope this helps!
Luke
Hey man, WELCOME TO THE FORUM!
First of all I would like to say you made an EXCELLENT choice. Godin guitars are great! I have a LG and with 500k pots it sings! I was actually planning on getting a freeway floyd but ended up with my PRS.
To me the freeway's are bright sounding. I was planning on an Alnico 2 Pro neck, and a Custom Custom bridge. Both of those pups are A2 magnet pups which have more mids for warming guitars up and giving a nice midrange push. These are some of the warmest pups I've heard, and versatility out the wazoo. A while back someone had a chikin pikin clip with the Custom Custom.
Now you specifically mentioned Gibbons, who uses the Pearly Gates. These are the hottest PAF style pups duncan makes. You could go with a set of these as well.
Here is my pup breakdown which focuses on PAF style pups, the custom series, and JB. https://forum.seymourduncan.com/showthread.php?t=32475&page=2&highlight=alouu
For the middle, once again, I'd stick with the A2 mag and get a Alnico 2 pro for strat, staggered, or flat depending on your taste.
Hope this helps!
Luke
tone4days
Heel Whacker
Re: Brand new to furom need PU suggestions
yup yup - welcome to the forum
as for the middle, i'd recommend a vintage rails .. i have a duckbucker between my C5 and 59 and it sounds great (duck = VR except for different packaging - VR better for bending strings during solos) ... by splitting the neck or bridge and combining with a VR, you can get some cool 'strat-like' tones in position 2 and 4 ...
agree with luke about the PGs or an AIIP neck / PG bridge
but dont worry about the C5 / 59 set ... i have them in an H-S-H guitar and love it for classic rock
good luck
t4d
yup yup - welcome to the forum
as for the middle, i'd recommend a vintage rails .. i have a duckbucker between my C5 and 59 and it sounds great (duck = VR except for different packaging - VR better for bending strings during solos) ... by splitting the neck or bridge and combining with a VR, you can get some cool 'strat-like' tones in position 2 and 4 ...
agree with luke about the PGs or an AIIP neck / PG bridge
but dont worry about the C5 / 59 set ... i have them in an H-S-H guitar and love it for classic rock
good luck
t4d
Re: Brand new to furom need PU suggestions
Thanks a million guys! I think my tech might have the Custom 5 confused with the Custom, because I've asked a few other knowledgeable people and they agreed that the Custom 5 in the bridge would work. I'll check out the Custom Custom and Pearly Gates as well!
Thanks a million guys! I think my tech might have the Custom 5 confused with the Custom, because I've asked a few other knowledgeable people and they agreed that the Custom 5 in the bridge would work. I'll check out the Custom Custom and Pearly Gates as well!
MikeS
Bengalsologist
Re: Brand new to furom need PU suggestions
One word on the Duckbucker and Vintage Rails... both are great pickups, but in order to insure proper balance across the pickups, you'll want to split the humbuckers in positions 2 and 4. Otherwise, the C5 will over power the VR (I have this problem between the VR and Screamin Demon, and the Demon is lower in output than the C5).
Otherwise, I'd say you've made a pretty good choice.
One word on the Duckbucker and Vintage Rails... both are great pickups, but in order to insure proper balance across the pickups, you'll want to split the humbuckers in positions 2 and 4. Otherwise, the C5 will over power the VR (I have this problem between the VR and Screamin Demon, and the Demon is lower in output than the C5).
Otherwise, I'd say you've made a pretty good choice.
WICKED LESTER
New member
Re: Brand new to furom need PU suggestions
Get a JB to start with this the CONSUMATE pup
BRO you really want some HEALTHY ADVICE?????CAC said:
Get a JB to start with this the CONSUMATE pup
JumpMarine
18 watts of Mayhemologist
Re: Brand new to furom need PU suggestions
Welcome to the forum! At the rate that we are suggesting pups, you may as well try them all. But seriously tried and true combos for classic rock would be the '59 set, Antiquity set, Seth set, C5/'59n, Jazz, or PGn, PGb/'59, Jazz, or PGn. Personally I think that the JB is too modern sounding, but sweet non the less. I'm not sure if we're helping or just adding confusion.
Welcome to the forum! At the rate that we are suggesting pups, you may as well try them all. But seriously tried and true combos for classic rock would be the '59 set, Antiquity set, Seth set, C5/'59n, Jazz, or PGn, PGb/'59, Jazz, or PGn. Personally I think that the JB is too modern sounding, but sweet non the less. I'm not sure if we're helping or just adding confusion.
Re: Brand new to furom need PU suggestions
Actually I had the JB in a Schecter for a couple of months I used as a backup to my other Godin. For me it was not too hot. It's an older Godin with stock pickups but I believe they are Duncan Designed and IM they sound great. The bridge was almost as hot as the JB to my ears. I liked the JB quite a bit and have not ruled it out, but that was my only real time I've had the chance to work in any pickup that wasn't stock. Since then I've been checking out this site and have become aware that there are alot more to choose from, and I think it might work well, but I'm just looking for something that would be even better. I know it's all subjective, and I wish there was a way to try out all of these pickups. That's probably the most frustrating thing, because most guitar stores I go to do not have all of these models stock in a guitar that I can try. The JB is probably the exception as it is used in many mid level price Schecters and ESP Ltd's. Anyways, I'm sure whatever I choose will be better than the stocks in my Freeway, so I'm not too worried. Thanks again everyone!! You have all been extremely helpful!!
Actually I had the JB in a Schecter for a couple of months I used as a backup to my other Godin. For me it was not too hot. It's an older Godin with stock pickups but I believe they are Duncan Designed and IM they sound great. The bridge was almost as hot as the JB to my ears. I liked the JB quite a bit and have not ruled it out, but that was my only real time I've had the chance to work in any pickup that wasn't stock. Since then I've been checking out this site and have become aware that there are alot more to choose from, and I think it might work well, but I'm just looking for something that would be even better. I know it's all subjective, and I wish there was a way to try out all of these pickups. That's probably the most frustrating thing, because most guitar stores I go to do not have all of these models stock in a guitar that I can try. The JB is probably the exception as it is used in many mid level price Schecters and ESP Ltd's. Anyways, I'm sure whatever I choose will be better than the stocks in my Freeway, so I'm not too worried. Thanks again everyone!! You have all been extremely helpful!!
