Compare the three 'Custom' pickups
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uOpt
Something Cool
Re: Compare the three 'Custom' pickups
The DC has colder cleans but overall starts out with the same base sound as the C5 on light play. On heavier play the DC compresses, gets smoother and darker, while the C5 just gets louder.
The CC in a Les Paul has no highs to my ears, but then I generally like brighter guitars.
The whole question is 100% guitar and rig dependent:
The DC has colder cleans but overall starts out with the same base sound as the C5 on light play. On heavier play the DC compresses, gets smoother and darker, while the C5 just gets louder.
The CC in a Les Paul has no highs to my ears, but then I generally like brighter guitars.
The whole question is 100% guitar and rig dependent:
- for the C5 you'll need something in the rig to smoothen out the dynamics, or you won't cut through a ba
d mix - the DC needs a solid mass of wood such as a Les Paul or a Flying V or an Explorer. IMHO it doesn't do well in SGs or tremolo guitars
- the CC might do well in a trem guitar. Didn't try
uOpt
Something Cool
Re: Compare the three 'Custom' pickups
I think it is a question of what music you play and whether you use your neck pickup.
When I say the DC has "cold" cleans that means most people wouldn't like it as the only option for clean. But imagine you are a hard rock band with those clean picking song intros. Would you like every one of them to sound the same? If you already have a "sweet" sounding neck pickup, which not deliberately bring in a cold sounding clean pickup for variety?
The C5 as mentioned is also rig-dependent, IMHO. You need some compression somewhere, otherwise you are like a symphony on a construction site.
I think it is a question of what music you play and whether you use your neck pickup.
When I say the DC has "cold" cleans that means most people wouldn't like it as the only option for clean. But imagine you are a hard rock band with those clean picking song intros. Would you like every one of them to sound the same? If you already have a "sweet" sounding neck pickup, which not deliberately bring in a cold sounding clean pickup for variety?
The C5 as mentioned is also rig-dependent, IMHO. You need some compression somewhere, otherwise you are like a symphony on a construction site.
L
Lewguitar
Guest
Re: Compare the three 'Custom' pickups
Real simple:
The Custom has tight strong bass and plenty of mids and when played through my vintage Fenders, smooth highs. It is not cold and sterile like some might have you believe. I have never heard the sizzley grainy highs some attribute to the Custom, nor have I heard highs that fit that description from any Duncan with a ceramic magnet - must be the amps some guys play through. I dunno! It's like a 59B with more mids and more output.
The Custom 5 has tight strong bass, not as much mids as I would like, and a bright treble. It's like a 59B with more output. For some reason it seems brighter to me than a 59B. Sounds best, to me, through a cranked amp. Didn't like it as much played at low volumes but likes it a lot played very loudly.
The Custom Custom has slightly looser bass than either, more mids than either, and a creamy smooth treble that sounds fabulous through a bright crunchy Marshall.
Of the three, the Custom or Custom 5 fit a Les Paul's resonance the best.
And of those two, I would prefer the Custom but many would prefer the Custom 5.
But I think of the Custom as being designed for the Les Paul - whether it actually was or not. Sounds great in a Paul to me...and great in my Strat too.
Real simple:
The Custom has tight strong bass and plenty of mids and when played through my vintage Fenders, smooth highs. It is not cold and sterile like some might have you believe. I have never heard the sizzley grainy highs some attribute to the Custom, nor have I heard highs that fit that description from any Duncan with a ceramic magnet - must be the amps some guys play through. I dunno! It's like a 59B with more mids and more output.
The Custom 5 has tight strong bass, not as much mids as I would like, and a bright treble. It's like a 59B with more output. For some reason it seems brighter to me than a 59B. Sounds best, to me, through a cranked amp. Didn't like it as much played at low volumes but likes it a lot played very loudly.
The Custom Custom has slightly looser bass than either, more mids than either, and a creamy smooth treble that sounds fabulous through a bright crunchy Marshall.
Of the three, the Custom or Custom 5 fit a Les Paul's resonance the best.
And of those two, I would prefer the Custom but many would prefer the Custom 5.
But I think of the Custom as being designed for the Les Paul - whether it actually was or not. Sounds great in a Paul to me...and great in my Strat too.
blueman335
Mojo's Minions
Re: Compare the three 'Custom' pickups
Actually there's a fourth Custom in use, the C8 (A8 magnet). For my needs, the C5 works best in an LP, bright but with an organic alnico quality that ceramics don't have. In a thinner wood, like an SG, I prefer an C8.
No matter which one you get, you can make it into any of the others by swapping magnets. It's a great foundation for all kinds of good tones.
Actually there's a fourth Custom in use, the C8 (A8 magnet). For my needs, the C5 works best in an LP, bright but with an organic alnico quality that ceramics don't have. In a thinner wood, like an SG, I prefer an C8.
No matter which one you get, you can make it into any of the others by swapping magnets. It's a great foundation for all kinds of good tones.
Reload in 5
Just Ultimate Slacker
Re: Compare the three 'Custom' pickups
Custom sounds great in an SG style guitar,
Cleans sounded great, in my situation. Playing with an acoustic, it was a clean with more "bite" to it, stood out in the mix. I dont remember if I played it more split or not, but do remember the cleans working very well for me.
Cranked, it was heavenly. It was the heavy metal sound I had been looking for forever. Except when I found it I was past that and looking for the best classic rock / hard rock sound. Enter the CC. Perfect.
All of this is in a thin, set neck mahogany guitar with a TOM, similar to an SG.
Custom sounds great in an SG style guitar,
Cleans sounded great, in my situation. Playing with an acoustic, it was a clean with more "bite" to it, stood out in the mix. I dont remember if I played it more split or not, but do remember the cleans working very well for me.
Cranked, it was heavenly. It was the heavy metal sound I had been looking for forever. Except when I found it I was past that and looking for the best classic rock / hard rock sound. Enter the CC. Perfect.
All of this is in a thin, set neck mahogany guitar with a TOM, similar to an SG.
L
Lewguitar
Guest
Re: Compare the three 'Custom' pickups
Yes but he didn't ask about a C8 and couldn't buy one if he wanted one.
I agree about the alnico magnets having a more organic quality about them than ceramic. Organic is a good description. I kind of hear it that way too.
Yes but he didn't ask about a C8 and couldn't buy one if he wanted one.
I agree about the alnico magnets having a more organic quality about them than ceramic. Organic is a good description. I kind of hear it that way too.
korovamilkdud
WhoDatologist
Re: Compare the three 'Custom' pickups
I was pretty impressed with the C4 when I tried it too, actually.
Custom is great because under gain you gain the vibe of a PAF with a ton of push. If you liked Aerosmith and GNR, but wanted something more akin to a tight metal tone, the Custom would suit you nicely, ESPECIALLY in a Paul.
C8 was a bit much for me. I didn't like it's lower mids. It's not a terribly bright wind, and doesn't need "the warm ceramic magnet equivalent". Which is really what I think of when I think alnico 8.
C5 I'm not crazy about. In a mix you'll hear it on the top end, but I like to come through in the mids a bit more than the C5 allows. Some might call it scooped, I don't think I really believe that. It just seems to resonate most in the high frequencies.
C4 was interesting to me. The 4 seemed to open the pickup up a little. The neat thing was that it almost seemed like a slightly more airy, more open version of the ceramic Custom. The distorted PAF vibe was still there, just with a slightly less "overwound" quality.
C3 and Custom Custom were similar, most notably that the alnico 3 seemed to have less low mid and body than the alnico 2.
Those are my impressions on the series. But you never know if you agree or not until you try them anyway, right?
I was pretty impressed with the C4 when I tried it too, actually.
Custom is great because under gain you gain the vibe of a PAF with a ton of push. If you liked Aerosmith and GNR, but wanted something more akin to a tight metal tone, the Custom would suit you nicely, ESPECIALLY in a Paul.
C8 was a bit much for me. I didn't like it's lower mids. It's not a terribly bright wind, and doesn't need "the warm ceramic magnet equivalent". Which is really what I think of when I think alnico 8.
C5 I'm not crazy about. In a mix you'll hear it on the top end, but I like to come through in the mids a bit more than the C5 allows. Some might call it scooped, I don't think I really believe that. It just seems to resonate most in the high frequencies.
C4 was interesting to me. The 4 seemed to open the pickup up a little. The neat thing was that it almost seemed like a slightly more airy, more open version of the ceramic Custom. The distorted PAF vibe was still there, just with a slightly less "overwound" quality.
C3 and Custom Custom were similar, most notably that the alnico 3 seemed to have less low mid and body than the alnico 2.
Those are my impressions on the series. But you never know if you agree or not until you try them anyway, right?
blueman335
Mojo's Minions
Re: Compare the three 'Custom' pickups
Have you tried a C5 with 250K's? Although there are those that are not fond of warmer pots (you know your names), that seems to dial in the EQ for me, shifting it down a bit, and you hear more mids. Still plenty of bite for my purposes (9 gauge strings and a beveled pick). My esteemed colleague Zhang is another staunch 250K advocate (maybe we share the same hearing defect?).
There's a number of us C8 fans here, but it's not a PU for everyone. In a guitar where a C5 is too thin, a C8 makes some of us happy. Packs some meat on them bones. Kind of like a mix of ceramic & an A2. Doesn't have quite the dynamics and character of a C5 or CC, but it can be a viable option. Depends on what you want, and the guitar, wood, amp, and genre you're playing.
Have you tried a C5 with 250K's? Although there are those that are not fond of warmer pots (you know your names), that seems to dial in the EQ for me, shifting it down a bit, and you hear more mids. Still plenty of bite for my purposes (9 gauge strings and a beveled pick). My esteemed colleague Zhang is another staunch 250K advocate (maybe we share the same hearing defect?).
There's a number of us C8 fans here, but it's not a PU for everyone. In a guitar where a C5 is too thin, a C8 makes some of us happy. Packs some meat on them bones. Kind of like a mix of ceramic & an A2. Doesn't have quite the dynamics and character of a C5 or CC, but it can be a viable option. Depends on what you want, and the guitar, wood, amp, and genre you're playing.
jafo
Member
Re: Compare the three 'Custom' pickups
To quote Jamie Hyneman of Mythbusters, "When in doubt, C4." Sure, he meant explosives, but... enh, never mind.
It all depends on your gear and your taste. That's why there's an exchange period, after all. I think a C5 is too bright and thin -- and it is, in my setup and for my ears. (Oddly enough, I like how a JB sounds in similar setups, and don't find it to be excessively bright...) I'm currently back at a CC, with a slightly degaussed A2 and slightly raised screws for a touch more treble; you might find a CC to be too dull and round, but I find it warm and rich. Oddly enough, there's a lot of shredders around here who like the CC for just that reason. The more balanced (some say neutral) EQ of a C4 intrigues me, but I'm good for now.
To quote Jamie Hyneman of Mythbusters, "When in doubt, C4." Sure, he meant explosives, but... enh, never mind.
It all depends on your gear and your taste. That's why there's an exchange period, after all. I think a C5 is too bright and thin -- and it is, in my setup and for my ears. (Oddly enough, I like how a JB sounds in similar setups, and don't find it to be excessively bright...) I'm currently back at a CC, with a slightly degaussed A2 and slightly raised screws for a touch more treble; you might find a CC to be too dull and round, but I find it warm and rich. Oddly enough, there's a lot of shredders around here who like the CC for just that reason. The more balanced (some say neutral) EQ of a C4 intrigues me, but I'm good for now.
dd12939
New member
jimijames
New member
Re: Compare the three 'Custom' pickups
I think the C8 will be more of a toss-up than the others - you'll either love it or go "meh". I had one in my strat for a while, and it was like having a boost pedal on - the increased output definitely translates to more sustain when you're playing through an amp. It was the shreddiest pickup I've played, and had some serious low-mids to the tone. It walks a very fine line between being huge and being congested, in the right guitar it sounds like a 20lb sledgehammer, but throw one in a les paul, and IMO the low mids are just too much.
For an LP, I'd go with a Duncan Custom or a Custom 5. Although I feel like the Custom 5 would be better in an SG. I think the Custom would be really killer in an LP. In fact, I'd like to try an LP with a PGn and a Duncan Custom - that set would be seriously good for anything from blues (neck pickup) to hard rock to metal.
I think the C8 will be more of a toss-up than the others - you'll either love it or go "meh". I had one in my strat for a while, and it was like having a boost pedal on - the increased output definitely translates to more sustain when you're playing through an amp. It was the shreddiest pickup I've played, and had some serious low-mids to the tone. It walks a very fine line between being huge and being congested, in the right guitar it sounds like a 20lb sledgehammer, but throw one in a les paul, and IMO the low mids are just too much.
For an LP, I'd go with a Duncan Custom or a Custom 5. Although I feel like the Custom 5 would be better in an SG. I think the Custom would be really killer in an LP. In fact, I'd like to try an LP with a PGn and a Duncan Custom - that set would be seriously good for anything from blues (neck pickup) to hard rock to metal.
Zhangliqun
Questionologist
Re: Compare the three 'Custom' pickups
Just a rule of thumb with me, not an absolute law. If the guitar is naturally dark, I can go with 500k on the volume. I'm a bit more rigorous with 250-300k for the tone because the taper on most 500k pots is just awful for a tone pot to my ear.
Just a rule of thumb with me, not an absolute law. If the guitar is naturally dark, I can go with 500k on the volume. I'm a bit more rigorous with 250-300k for the tone because the taper on most 500k pots is just awful for a tone pot to my ear.
oilpit
Active member
Re: Compare the three 'Custom' pickups
People say that the Custom is best for metal, which I strongly disagree with...
People also say that it has the least cleans of the 3...which I also find to be false
The Custom (IMO) is best for classic and hard rock, C5 is best for metal and the CC for bright guitars.
The C5 has very scooped mids and a horrible....I mean "prominent" bass
Making it best for chugga chugga and other metal-esque aplications
And the bass and lack of midrange gives it far colder cleans than the Custom.
My .02$
People say that the Custom is best for metal, which I strongly disagree with...
People also say that it has the least cleans of the 3...which I also find to be false
The Custom (IMO) is best for classic and hard rock, C5 is best for metal and the CC for bright guitars.
The C5 has very scooped mids and a horrible....I mean "prominent" bass
Making it best for chugga chugga and other metal-esque aplications
And the bass and lack of midrange gives it far colder cleans than the Custom.
My .02$
ericmeyer4
New member
Re: Compare the three 'Custom' pickups
I always thought it would be pretty cool if someone loaded up a 3 pup LP with each of the customs.
I always thought it would be pretty cool if someone loaded up a 3 pup LP with each of the customs.
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MonkeyDungologist
Re: Compare the three 'Custom' pickups
i'm inclined to agree with you, i found the SH-5 more versatile than the C5.
i'm inclined to agree with you, i found the SH-5 more versatile than the C5.
blueman335
Mojo's Minions
Re: Compare the three 'Custom' pickups
They'd sound totally different depending on which position you put them in. Not an idea that ever appealed to me.
They'd sound totally different depending on which position you put them in. Not an idea that ever appealed to me.
