C5 Have ANY Mids?

nast2112

New member
I know compared to the JB that the C5 has less mids, but does it have ANY? A guitar can sound hollow and not have much character/fullness without SOME mids. Can anyone tell me if there is at least some mids (lower?) that give the pickup some character?

Thanks
Chris
 
Re: C5 Have ANY Mids?

Obviously every pickup has "some" mids. I find the C5 to be low in midrange content compared to the rest of the Duncan line.
 
Re: C5 Have ANY Mids?

Yes, the C5 has mids. Comparing it to the JB is like a lemon to an orange...totally different tone. It's essentially a higher output '59/PAF-type.
 
Re: C5 Have ANY Mids?

It has a decently beefy tone, like a really lean cut of beef. It just has little woof and more sparkle. It's rather sweet sounding, and reminds me a LOT of the 59 only fuller sounding with a little more ooomph. You will feel like your mids are a tad scopped, but not nu-metal scooped. It's pretty classic sounding.

I used it on a couple of sound samples, it's nice. It doesn't do nasty so well.
 
Re: C5 Have ANY Mids?

OlinMusic said:
It has a decently beefy tone, like a really lean cut of beef. It just has little woof and more sparkle. It's rather sweet sounding, and reminds me a LOT of the 59 only fuller sounding with a little more ooomph. You will feel like your mids are a tad scopped, but not nu-metal scooped. It's pretty classic sounding.

I think this is the answer I was looking for.

A big thnks to everyone!
Chris
 
Re: C5 Have ANY Mids?

Don't take the tone chart to heart. I think of the C5 as being neutral in the mids category and depending alot on your guitar, they aren't obviously scooped but they are overpowering either.
 
Re: C5 Have ANY Mids?

I've read countless threads saying that its too scooped and that kept me away, but then my curiousity got the better of me and I magnet swapped my custom.

When I tested it, it reminded me why I rely on this forum as a good source of information and advice... I put the ceramic magnet back the same day. Haha.
 
Re: C5 Have ANY Mids?

I have never understood the C5 has notched mid's deal. The DC with the Ceramic mag should have the least mids, but is like a beefy '59, the CC with the AII mag should have the most, and the C5 should be inbetween. The C5 should be the flastest of the 3, or am I missing something?
 
Re: C5 Have ANY Mids?

The Custom 5 has the least, the Custom is in between and the Custom Custom has the most.

There's also the "Mid" knob on the amp to help bring them back some. I haven't tried the C5 myself but I do have some A5 mags around and might try a swap with my CC just for kicks.
 
Re: C5 Have ANY Mids?

nast2112 said:
I know compared to the JB that the C5 has less mids, but does it have ANY? A guitar can sound hollow and not have much character/fullness without SOME mids. Can anyone tell me if there is at least some mids (lower?) that give the pickup some character? Thanks Chris

I would say that the C5 does have mids. There's no mid-freq-cut circuitry on the back of it.
 
Re: C5 Have ANY Mids?

The C5 is great for rounding out an overly middy or bright guitar, it's strengths are a responsive low end and glassy high end that cuts through without being ice-picky. I think it has a cool throaty lead tone too, but if your guitar is already strongest in the lows and low mids then it's probably not the right choice. I put the C5 in the bridge of a Hamer that was strong in the mids and highs and it perfectly balanced it out, sounded like a monster. It's probably my favorite Duncan bridge pickup next to the Pearly Gates.

NOTE: If you EQ your amp with the mids low then it's going to dramatize the slight mid scoop, mids are the guitar's territory, crank 'em up.
 
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Re: C5 Have ANY Mids?

In my Dean Hardtail, it sounds huge. Lots of mids, Massive, yet tight bass, and sweet highs and harmonics. Sounds good clean, and incredible under gain.
It really excels at classic and hard rock, but also works well for Death Metal.
Works best in a warm (darker) sounding guitar.
 
Re: C5 Have ANY Mids?

FretFire said:
NOTE: If you EQ your amp with the mids low then it's going to dramatize the slight mid scoop, mids are the guitar's territory, crank 'em up.

+1. If you're unsure about why the pickup sounds krappy, I would suggest put all EQ back on "zero" ("5" on fender amps :D) and then play, see how it sounds, then maybe change it up. My philosophy is plug the guitar in and play with everything at "5". Then I try to muddy-out on bass playing some metallic stuff for a while. I back the bass down only as much as needed to remove the muddiness, then do the same with treble, mids, etc. I don't set pedals or guitar knobs to any unrealistic settings while I am doing this: in fact, only realistic settings.
 
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