CC vs. C5 vs. JB

[FretFire]

Alright, I'm nearing a final decision on pickups for my Schecter. I've decided on the Jazz for the neck, and now just have to choose between the CC, JB, and Custom 5 for the bridge spot.

Anyways, on to the question. I'm concerned that the JB might be a bit harsh or shrill in this guitar, since it's fairly thin compared to an LP (2 inches front to back). I was wondering if you could describe the tonal qualities of the C5 and CC a little bit. I don't need a novel of details, just any notable tendencies (smooth highs, flabby bass, honky mids, gutsy lead tone, etc. etc.) I'll be needing it to cover some blues, rock, and occasionally the forsaken "nu"-metal. The guitar will be plugged into a Mesa Rectoverb.

 

[iDunnoMang]

Re: CC vs. C5 vs. JB

i voted for the c5 because i like it better.

thanks.

 

[FretFire]

Re: CC vs. C5 vs. JB

i voted for the c5 because i like it better.

thanks.

Why's that?

 

[Archer_of_Fish]

Re: CC vs. C5 vs. JB

Alright, I'm nearing a final decision on pickups for my Schecter. I've decided on the Jazz for the neck, and now just have to choose between the CC, JB, and Custom 5 for the bridge spot.

Anyways, on to the question. I'm concerned that the JB might be a bit harsh or shrill in this guitar, since it's fairly thin compared to an LP (2 inches front to back). I was wondering if you could describe the tonal qualities of the C5 and CC a little bit. I don't need a novel of details, just any notable tendencies (smooth highs, flabby bass, honky mids, gutsy lead tone, etc. etc.) I'll be needing it to cover some blues, rock, and occasionally the forsaken "nu"-metal. The guitar will be plugged into a Mesa Rectoverb.

For your situation I suggest the C5. My personal pref would be the CC.

 

[FretFire]

Re: CC vs. C5 vs. JB

Thanks again Archer, I appreciate you taking the time to answer multiple times haha. You're a much nicer guy than you're cracked up to be .

 

[BachToRock]

Re: CC vs. C5 vs. JB

The C5 will match better with the Jazz neck... the CC matches better with a APII, SETH or a Pearly Gates neck pickup

 

[FretFire]

Re: CC vs. C5 vs. JB

Haha, don't tell me that, the Jazz just BARELY beat out the APII. I have actually decided on the Jazz though, so the C5 is starting to pull ahead. I'm really surprised I haven't received any comments for the JB...

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: CC vs. C5 vs. JB

Alright, I'm nearing a final decision on pickups for my Schecter. I've decided on the Jazz for the neck, and now just have to choose between the CC, JB, and Custom 5 for the bridge spot.

Anyways, on to the question. I'm concerned that the JB might be a bit harsh or shrill in this guitar, since it's fairly thin compared to an LP (2 inches front to back). I was wondering if you could describe the tonal qualities of the C5 and CC a little bit. I don't need a novel of details, just any notable tendencies (smooth highs, flabby bass, honky mids, gutsy lead tone, etc. etc.) I'll be needing it to cover some blues, rock, and occasionally the forsaken "nu"-metal. The guitar will be plugged into a Mesa Rectoverb.

I think the JB will have thicker more pronounced mids than the C5, IMO. The C5 will probably be brighter and have more genuine highs than the JB. But the JB will probably have more upper mids than the C5 and that is the source of the "bright" quality that some people mention when they describe the JB...it's not extended highs that make the JB bright...it's those upper mids/lower treble frequencies.

The JB is NOT a thin, shrill pickup...not at all.

The CC will have alot more mids and less treble bite than either. In the right guitar, like my Hamer Monoco semi hollow body, I prefer the CC over the C5 and JB.

Lew

 

[FretFire]

Re: CC vs. C5 vs. JB

Thanks Lew. From what I keep hearing, it seems like the C5 might be a little smoother sounding than the JB, with a more even response if not a bit "scooped" in the mids. Right now I have a DiMarzio Fred in the bridge (similar to a Screamin' Demon I've heard, but can't confirm) and it's got that spike in the mids that make it nasaly and honky. It also sounds brittle up top to me, and doesn't have much oomph in the low end. It can do leads pretty well, but for heavier rhythms it doesn't please me.

 

[Johtosotku]

Re: CC vs. C5 vs. JB

I think you just about described the JB when talking about Fred. JB has a spike in the upper mids that can cause problems with certain guitars and amps. So if you don't like that in your guitar now, I suggest to avoid the JB. Otherwise it's a great pickup for many styles.

 

[FretFire]

Re: CC vs. C5 vs. JB

Thanks for that input Johtosotku, I'm definitely leaning more towards the C5 at the moment.

 

[Gearjoneser]

Re: CC vs. C5 vs. JB

So glad you asked. My main guitars all have C-5s, CCs, and JB, and I played them all last night. The C-5 is the most versatile IMO. It's a very neutral sounding pickup with tight/deep bass, neutral mids, and vintagey highs. The type of player that would benefit from it is someone who uses a lot of tones from clean to superhighgain.
Think Lifeson, early VH. The CC has a slightly richer tone, which is denser in low mids, but the highs are more buttery than wide open like the C-5. For the CC, it's everything between later VH/Allmans/Metallica. The JB is like the CC, only the accentuated tone is the upper mids, which will give you a more Dio/Lynch/Jake E Lee type sound. For your guitar, I'd probably use a C-5/Jazz, then if the sound is too vintage and bright for that particular guitar, exchange it for a CC. The Custom is similar, but a bit too metal, meaning the cleans will be a bit abrasive and harder to tame.

I'm not sure what the Duncan numbers are but this is what I hear.

C-5 B8 Lowmids4 highmids 6 H7
CC B7 lowmids 7 highmids 5 H6
JB B6 lowmids 5 highmids 7 H6

 

[FretFire]

Re: CC vs. C5 vs. JB

Gearjoneser, excellent post, my thanks to you . I need above all else versatility and clarity. I love my clean sounds, I like some nice grit for blues, and I like my high gain for leads and heavy rhythms. Sounds like you have a good plan in "try the C5 then the CC", thanks again. You pretty much confirmed my gut feeling haha.

 

[Gearjoneser]

Re: CC vs. C5 vs. JB

What I like about the C-5 is that it's fairly neutral with a solid and tight bass response.
I go back and forth with the C-5 and CC. The C-5 is tighter and clearer, but the CC has nice warmth and growl. Believe it or not, I've actually created ALL the Customs and have heard a Custom, CC, C-3, C-4, and C-5. I asked Seymour about it and he seems to think A-2 and A-5 are all the world needs. I tend to agree, since the C-3 was shrill, the C-4 wasn't quite as good as a C-5. Nowadays, I'm under the impression that my favorite pickup will be an overwound C-5 that reads closer to a JB's resistance. After the Holidays, I might get MJ to make me one or two. The C-5 sounds best with rich sounding amp rig, to fill out it's neutral middle.

 

[FretFire]

Re: CC vs. C5 vs. JB

Well, hopefully it will like the Rectoverb then. The amp is very thick and ballsy, and I usually keep the mids running pretty high on it.

How does the C5 sound split?

 

[FretFire]

Re: CC vs. C5 vs. JB

Oh yeah, my cab is loaded with a Celestion V30 and a G12H30, so it will get a bit of middy coloring from the speakers, the V30 especially.

 

[fenderiarhs]

Re: CC vs. C5 vs. JB

Here are some small reviews of the CC, the C5 and the JB which i used in one of my strats. I have posted these reviews months ago in this forum and I still agree with my descriptions

Duncan Custom Custom(overall 8/10)
Nice pickup.Medium-high output.I liked very much the sweet treble(i never liked the fact that most pickups use more treble than i prefer).The mids are very very prominent.This is the reason that maybe i didn't like so much the sound of the CC when i was practising alone in home but when i used it for rehearsals or the occasional gig......it cuts through the mix like no other pickup.....It's the perfect pickup if you want your guitar to be heard under the most busy mix.The part of this pickup i didn't like is the bass responce.....Not enough bass.....the E and A strings never sounded the way i wanted them to....and that was the reason i changed it for the custom5.
Bass:4.5
Mids:8
treble:5.5

Duncan Custom 5(overall 6.5/10)
Not many things to say about this one.I was certainly expecting something more from this one.While i enjoyed the bass responce(which was the main reason i didn't like the CC)and while i could cope with the more prominent treble i hated the fact that there were no mids to make my guitar be heard in the mix.During rehearsals i always raised the mid controll of the amp to 7-8 and still i found my guitar was lost between the bass and drums.I must say that this is maybe not a bad pickup but not for a strat...i am sure in a les paul will be perfect.
Bass:7.5
low mids:5.5
hi mids:5.5
treble:7.5

Duncan Jeff Beck(overall 8.5/10)
It is a classic.I don't think there is a guitar player that hasn't tried one.Perfect for soloing....a little bit less perfect for chords.One of my favorite pickups.I don't have many bad things to say about this one but i shall point out what i would like it had(maybe a custom shop pickup???)This pickup needs more low mids and just a touch more bass that would compensate for the amount of high mids that this pickup is associated with.That would be the best pickup in the world.
Bass: 6
Low mids:5.5
Hi mids:8
treble:7.5

 

[FretFire]

Re: CC vs. C5 vs. JB

Thanks fenderiarhs, I'm hoping what you say about the C5 in a Les Paul is true, as my guitar is VERY LP-ish in construction and materials.

 

[tone?]

Re: CC vs. C5 vs. JB

hey FEnderArhs, you are from greece? i live in athens greece.

so you didnt think much of the Custom5?
i have put a thread out cause i want to get either a JB or custom 5 for my new guitar that i am making.
i guess i will go for the JB again.

 

[Gearjoneser]

Re: CC vs. C5 vs. JB

Even though I have a C-5/2 Surfers in my H-S-S strat, I'm not sold on the C-5 in a strat. It's good, but not great. In mahogany guitars, the C-5 works great.
After the Holidays, I'm going to yank the Surfers & C-5 out of my HSS strat and put my Fat 50's back in, then audition a bunch of different humbuckers.
I love that particular strat, so I'm going to really split hairs and find out what the absolute best humbucker is for an alder/rosewood strat. My first step is getting the custom shop to make me a C-5 trem with a resistance of 15.5 instead of 14.4.
I asked Seymour how to get the C-5 to have better mids, and he said "just overwind it a bit."