Can we talk about the Custom?
- Thread starter Artie
- Start date
St_Genesius
New member
God, I loved the Custom I had in a LP copy. It was perfect for copping Bad Religion tones.
misterwhizzy
Well-known member
It's an excellent hard rock to early metal pickup, and it'll easily do Megadeth. The only reason it's no longer in my LP is because I wanted to go slightly lower output and because eventually the ceramic top end in any pickup grates on me, but it pushes the amp just the right amount for hard rock tones and holds up very well under high gain. I hear firm low end and forward mids with a touch of sizzle on the top end.
beaubrummels
Well-known member
Had it in an LP for a while. Sounded like a loud 59 with the bright top end of a Pearly Gates/Jazz. Very usable with the volume and tone, lots of range. Very clear/clean and even, vs say a Distortion which was a little flabby/fuzzy in the bass by comparison (to me.) I actually prefer it over the Custom Custom, though the CC has it's place for certain music and certain guitars. I'm able to play much more music with a straight Custom.
Gtrjunior
New member
I put one in my LP and liked it. It took a little getting used to as it had more top end sizzle than the pickup I had previously in it. (Fokin Hot Breeze).
As mentioned it’s a great hard rock pickup that has a taste of a PAF-ish element.
After a couple of months I found I wanted less of that sizzle and I put an A8 mag in it.
I liked this swap much better and used it for a time.
Recently a clip was posted here of the CC in a LP and I was really digging what I heard so just last weekend (? Maybe the weekend before) I put a RC A2 in it and so far I absolutely love it. Granted it’s still the honeymoon phase but I’ve had the chance to play it in a band situation and it absolutely shone.
Right now the CC is my absolute favorite pickup that I’ve ever used.
As mentioned it’s a great hard rock pickup that has a taste of a PAF-ish element.
After a couple of months I found I wanted less of that sizzle and I put an A8 mag in it.
I liked this swap much better and used it for a time.
Recently a clip was posted here of the CC in a LP and I was really digging what I heard so just last weekend (? Maybe the weekend before) I put a RC A2 in it and so far I absolutely love it. Granted it’s still the honeymoon phase but I’ve had the chance to play it in a band situation and it absolutely shone.
Right now the CC is my absolute favorite pickup that I’ve ever used.
Lewguitar
New member
That's how I hear it too. To me, it's not a great blues pickup . It lacks sweetness. But for metallic aggressive rock it's cool.
Artie
Peaveyologist
Lewguitar
New member
That's what happened to me. I used it for a while then wanted something that allowed me to shape my tone with my right hand picking and left hand vibrato and squeeze those notes out more than the Custom with its ceramic magnet allowed me to do.
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Gtrjunior
New member
I love the wind, it’s just the magnet that I tweaked. It still in my guitar, just in the Custom Custom version.
Artie
Peaveyologist
My point exactly. Does anyone like the ceramic mag? :fingersx:
I'm not saying they don't, I just wonder who does.
St_Genesius
New member
I loved it. Never soured on it. Sold that guitar to pay rent, back when I was poor.
And fwiw, it could do more than just loud and distorted. It was naturally VERY compressed, which also made it work for jangly cleans, so long as I ran it into a preamp section that was able to withstand the output without driving.
And fwiw, it could do more than just loud and distorted. It was naturally VERY compressed, which also made it work for jangly cleans, so long as I ran it into a preamp section that was able to withstand the output without driving.
Rex_Rocker
Well-known member
Don't like it. It's too scooped, and the low-end is too bloated.
I understand not liking it...as good as it is at what it does, it isn't what I do, so I find it a little harsh in the high end.
beaubrummels
Well-known member
FWIW I had it in for a while and gigged with it, maybe half a year. (If I didn't like it I would have taken it out within a couple weeks.) The reason was over time with it, I needed more 'color' or more 'character'. The Custom was versatile, but too plain for my needs. I needed more shape to the sound. I needed some bumps in the EQ, like a bit of the mid-bump that makes PAFs chimey, and the softened top end similar to what rough mags do. This might sound strange, but the Custom and Slash are close neighbors to me. Good plain rock pickups, but lacking some kind of character. Clear, even, no interesting bumps that make it sing on leads or ring on chords. YMMV
LLL
New member
Yes, yes we can.
It's Van Halen 1, Ronni LeTekro (TNT) and others.
For example, Runnin' With The Devil - my guitar, Al & Mike's rhythm:
A phenomenal pickup. Tight but not too tight. Aggressive without being too compressed. Perfect balanced mids. Cleans up really well for the output.
And tracks fast.
"PAF on steroids".
It's Van Halen 1, Ronni LeTekro (TNT) and others.
For example, Runnin' With The Devil - my guitar, Al & Mike's rhythm:
A phenomenal pickup. Tight but not too tight. Aggressive without being too compressed. Perfect balanced mids. Cleans up really well for the output.
And tracks fast.
"PAF on steroids".
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LLL
New member
I have two - one from the very early 80s and a recent one.
Neither of them will be replaced in their respective guitars.
