C5 shrill in a strat?

CoryXC

CoryXC

New member
Hey guys..

I have a C3 in my Alder body strat. (Alnico 3 Mag).. I was thinking about testing out the whole family of Customs in it.. Starting with the C5..Is it to shrill? I find that the C3 is a Harsh CC..lol So how much difference is there going to be going to a C5? And i want to try the C also. Some people said going from a CC to a C isn't that different except it's more articulate.. But you shouldn't be afraid of the ceramic magnet in the C? Input anyone?

Cory
 
Re: C5 shrill in a strat?

I tried an alnico 3 magnet in a Custom 5 in my alder frankenstrat and couldn't pull it out fast enough. With a rosewood fingerboard, etc. the guitar has a bit of mids emphasis anyway, and with the C3 I lost some treble and the bass got muddy.

This guitar does have 250k pots for master volume/master tone - a 500k tone pot proved too bright for the single coils (SSL-2's).

Yep, the C5 has brighter highs, but it also has tighter/cleaner bass IME. You can always roll off the highs - that's what a tone pot's for ;)

Chip
 
Re: C5 shrill in a strat?

I see. So you definitely like the C5 in the strat of yours? I wanna try the CC and the C5... the C3 is Honky and Harsh..It's just weird... :yell:
 
Re: C5 shrill in a strat?

CoryXC said:
Hey guys..

I have a C3 in my Alder body strat. (Alnico 3 Mag).. I was thinking about testing out the whole family of Customs in it.. Starting with the C5..Is it to shrill? I find that the C3 is a Harsh CC..lol So how much difference is there going to be going to a C5? And i want to try the C also. Some people said going from a CC to a C isn't that different except it's more articulate.. But you shouldn't be afraid of the ceramic magnet in the C? Input anyone?

Cory
Click to expand...

I didn't like the C5 in my strat,but liked the CC better with it's extra mids and looser feel...I then tryed a PG+ that I'll probably go back to...After the PG+,I went with an A2 Hybrid...The Hybrid is cool also but I think it would be better if it had the A5 magnet in this strat...So it's either going to be going back to the PG+ or tweaking the Hybrid..

John
 
Re: C5 shrill in a strat?

I've tried the JB, Custom, CC, 59 and C-5 in my alder/rosewood strat.

The C-5 won, and is still in there. I have it next to two Fender Fat 50's.

The JB makes a strat too midrangey IMO. The Custom was good, but overpowered all singles in agressiveness. The CC made the strat sound fat and dense, but the highs sounded a little choked off for my taste.
The 59 is a real good choice, but I like bigger lows. The C-5's claim to fame is a powerful balanced and tight tone. It sounds great in Pauls, and even surprised me in the strat. I know VH never used a C-5, but anytime I pick up that guitar, I swear I can go from SRV to VH from pos 5 to pos. 1.
Try the C-5 tremspaced first. If you don't like it, they're easy to sell, since
everyone's hot on them. :wink:
 
Re: C5 shrill in a strat?

All I have to do is change the magnet! Looks like I'll be trying a C5 very soon! Thanks a lot for the input! So the C5 wasn't too trebley for you? How does the midrange sound?

Cory
 
Re: C5 shrill in a strat?

The best thing about the mids on a C-5 is that they're basically neutral.
That means the wood and your amp will dictate the mids. Those mids sound
better to me than pickup mids. The highs are airy and present, but not spikey or shrill. I really don't even need to back the tone down! And the bass? Perfect.
 
Re: C5 shrill in a strat?

Gearjoneser said:
The best thing about the mids on a C-5 is that they're basically neutral.
That means the wood and your amp will dictate the mids. Those mids sound
better to me than pickup mids. The highs are airy and present, but not spikey or shrill. I really don't even need to back the tone down! And the bass? Perfect.
Click to expand...

I kind of agree.

The alnico 5 C5 has alot more bass and treble than the CC and plenty of usable mids. The big bass response is a plus in a Strat...I think.

The alnico 2 CC has alot more mids and less bass and treble than the C5, tho through a cranked 59 Bassman or Marshall the CC get's a fantastic tone, IMO...very EVH like tho not exact.

It all just comes down to what you like, how you play, what amp you use and how loud you crank that amp up.

Lew
 
Re: C5 shrill in a strat?

I was playing my Strat with C5 last (haven't played it in a while) & I forgot how warm it sounds with the C5! Warm & powerful. I really love that pup in my strat!
 
Re: C5 shrill in a strat?

That'll definitely be happening! I'll tell ya how I like it. I'm getting an A5 in the mail soon! Thanks for the input guys!

Cory
 
Re: C5 shrill in a strat?

I am in a situation where my LP is rather light at 8 lbs and very licely sounding....lot's of presence so I don't want a bright p'up. I am hoping the C5 works. If not, it may be the Rio BBQ or Dimarzio Air Zone.
 
Re: C5 shrill in a strat?

i have installed the c5 in my strat and that's what i found out:while i like very much the sound you get from it when you practice alone at house there is a problem in a band context.I used it for rehearsals with my band the other day and i couldnt get through the mix.You need mids to be heard in a band situation.C5 is a good pickup but(at least in a strat) it lacks the mids that you need to have so as to cut through the mix.I'm sure it will be much better in a les paul.
 
Re: C5 shrill in a strat?

FWIW - my frankenstrat with the C-5 has a master tone (treble cut) and a separate bass cut. Borrowed the idea from the G&L Legacy.

Anyway, it's tough to cut mids with simple, passive circuitry, but you can cut highs & lows - effectively boosting the mids. I love the flexibility the bass cut gives me with the humbucker, especially a "mid-scooped" pup like the C-5.

Chip
 
Re: C5 shrill in a strat?

Stratcat said:
IMHO, the C-5 is the ultimate bridge humbucker for a Strat or Les Paul.
Click to expand...

I am starting to agree because the tones i was getting last night with my C-5 loaded LP Standard were great. The balance and usablity of my guitar/amp went up big time! I finally have total control with the amps tone controls compared to other pickups I've used. So far so good! The big test will be at rehearsal and the next gig which will show me if the C-5/LP will effectively pull off gorgeous cleans, classic crunch, modern mayhem, and liquid leads.......

Now, I need to get that 59 in the neck.
 
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