Custom 5, Custom custom, or Custom/59 hybrid?

[MalpacaMusic]

Which would you recommend for the bridge of a PRS SE Floyd custom 24? I play everything from thrash metal to blues. Neck will either be a sentient or an Alnico ii pro.

 

[STLMTLHD79]

Re: Custom 5, Custom custom, or Custom/59 hybrid?

59/Custom Hybrid could be the best all-around humbucker that SD makes. Its very versatile for just about any style of music.

 

[Mincer]

Re: Custom 5, Custom custom, or Custom/59 hybrid?

Well, the Custom 5 and the CC are tonal opposites. One is severely scooped, and the other has a ton of mids. So, are you trying to correct a tonal problem with your guitar (too many/not enough mids), or are you just hoping for something better than what you have?

 

[MalpacaMusic]

Re: Custom 5, Custom custom, or Custom/59 hybrid?

Mostly for just an improvement over the stock pickups, but I do play with a relatively scooped tone, so midrangey pickups might add some extra clarity to the tone. What do you think? Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Mincer]

Re: Custom 5, Custom custom, or Custom/59 hybrid?

Do you like the scooped tone? You won't like the CC. If you want it more scooped, go with the C5. If you are ok with the scoopiness you have now, go with the Hybrid. All 3 are great pickups, though.

 

[Jeff_H]

Re: Custom 5, Custom custom, or Custom/59 hybrid?

Mincer gigs with the CC, so he really knows it. I would suggest either the Hybrid or a strait Custom. The CC will add mids if you want them, but if you already play scooped stay far far away from the C5. That was my very first SD pickup 17 years ago and I can still hear those piercing highs echoing through time and space. It left fairly quickly.

Good luck.

 

[Aceman]

Re: Custom 5, Custom custom, or Custom/59 hybrid?

If I were going pure Thrash - C5

If I were going pure blues - CC

For both? 59/Custom.

 

[MalpacaMusic]

Re: Custom 5, Custom custom, or Custom/59 hybrid?

Great information, everyone. Keep it coming!

 

[Chistopher]

Re: Custom 5, Custom custom, or Custom/59 hybrid?

What about an A2 '59/C? Back in the olden days before it was a production pickup, this was the magnet of choice, along with some who liked A4s.

I have it one in the bridge of my Strat. It fills out the mids nicely (the wind does keep the mids under control though, so it's not like your 100% on the other side of the coin from where you are now) and the rounded treble from the A2 helps tame my Strats natural brightness.

 

[MalpacaMusic]

Re: Custom 5, Custom custom, or Custom/59 hybrid?

One question: the Duncan website lists the 59/C as Alnico 5, but I thought the custom was ceramic. Are both slugs alnico 5 (meaning it's a hybrid of the 59 and the custom 5) or is it a hybrid of alnico 5 and ceramic? (59 and ceramic)

 

[majewsky]

Re: Custom 5, Custom custom, or Custom/59 hybrid?

What about Custom 8?

 

[Mincer]

Re: Custom 5, Custom custom, or Custom/59 hybrid?

One question: the Duncan website lists the 59/C as Alnico 5, but I thought the custom was ceramic. Are both slugs alnico 5 (meaning it's a hybrid of the 59 and the custom 5) or is it a hybrid of alnico 5 and ceramic? (59 and ceramic)

Yeah, technically, it is a Custom 5 half. You can't really combine 2 different magnets like that. But, the Custom 5 coil is the same as the Custom and CC coil.

 

[devastone]

Re: Custom 5, Custom custom, or Custom/59 hybrid?

I would go for the standard Custom, it's in between the C5 and the CC. The CC is great but the bottom and top end is kinda soft. I tried the C5 and thought it was too scooped, sounded thin. The custom is right down the middle with the sharper attack of a ceramic magnet (which I personally like).

 

[MalpacaMusic]

Re: Custom 5, Custom custom, or Custom/59 hybrid?

I would go for the standard Custom, it's in between the C5 and the CC. The CC is great but the bottom and top end is kinda soft. I tried the C5 and thought it was too scooped, sounded thin. The custom is right down the middle with the sharper attack of a ceramic magnet (which I personally like).

Not really a fan of ceramic pickups, they've always sounded kinda harsh to me compared to alnico.

 

[oilpit]

Re: Custom 5, Custom custom, or Custom/59 hybrid?

Not really a fan of ceramic pickups, they've always sounded kinda harsh to me compared to alnico.

I used to get really hung up on things like this and I can tell you that the most liberating decision I ever made was to never rule anything out without listening to it.

I thought I flat out hated ceramic magnets (and for the most part, I do) but the Custom is a straight up amazing pickup. Also the custom can be mag swapped to radically change the sound, I would give it a shot before you write it off.

 

[saladin]

Re: Custom 5, Custom custom, or Custom/59 hybrid?

Custom will get you what you want, don't be put off by the ceramic mag!

 

[TVFV]

Re: Custom 5, Custom custom, or Custom/59 hybrid?

The Custom with a UOA5 magnet is also very popular here.

Sent from my Pixel XL using Tapatalk

 

[Mincer]

Re: Custom 5, Custom custom, or Custom/59 hybrid?

I suggest that most people should just get a Custom with a bunch of magnets and start there.

 

[oilpit]

Re: Custom 5, Custom custom, or Custom/59 hybrid?

I suggest that most people should just get a Custom with a bunch of magnets and start there.

It would be very cool if Duncan sold a "mag swap started kit" with a Custom and a couple alnico magnets so they can figure out which they like best.

I know they probably wouldn't do this considering they sell all four Custom models at full price, but still, fun idea.

 

[Mincer]

Re: Custom 5, Custom custom, or Custom/59 hybrid?

Well, you also have to partially disassemble the pickup to do it, and if you aren't careful, it is easy to rip those tiny wires from their solder points. I understand why they don't do it.