CUSTOM 5 in SG?!

Jones_Tones

Jones_Tones

New member
Hey,

I've been pokin' around and i think it was Lewguitar that said the C5 works well in guitars like SG's. It has 14.4k DC resistance according to the Tonechart. Obviously more than the 59, but equal to a Custom Custom and a little more than the Custom. However on the pickup description page the C5 claims to have "less distortion" compared to the other Customs. What's up with that? Can someone clarify what the C5 really sounds like compared to the Custom & CC. (There's no sound clip to go by on the site).
I'd think that with that much output the C5 would drive your amp harder, right?

PS: what would be an ideal match-up for it in the neck pos.? For clean to overdriven blues tones?

thanks!
 
Re: CUSTOM 5 in SG?!

The reason it's high output, yet still sounds more vintage is because the A5 magnet has deep tight bass, neutral mids, and naturally present highs, like a soft U curve on a graphic EQ. Since SG's are midrangey guitars, that can sound a bit thin, it's nice to have something like a C-5 to beef up the lows, let the mahogany do the midrange talkin, and keep the top end bright and clear, since it has no maple.

As for neck pickup, I'm going to make the educated guess that the Pearly Gates neck would be a great choice. It's a bright A2 neck pickup, so I think it would have a great sound in an SG. I tend to go for 59N's, but I'm starting to wonder if C-5/PG is even better voiced. I'd get that set in nickel covered for an SG.

Another thing to consider is this new Forum 10K pickup. I have a feeling it'll be a GREAT pickup for an SG.
 
Re: CUSTOM 5 in SG?!

I personally think the C5 has "less distortion" not ony thru it's EQ curve, but it's character. I recorded a lot with one. They are verrrry sweet and as balanced as you can get as far as emulating the tone of your guitar. They would make an SG sound "sweeter" as opposed to some of the mid and honk they can tend to have by design (not a bad thing, ask Angus).

You can expect the C5 to be the most open sounding high output pickup ever. It can kick an amp in the butt and at the same time, the pickup cleans gets oh so sweet and clean at 5 - 7 on the vol pot. You can back the highs off without getting dull or round with your tone control.

My criticism, is that it will never give you the slammin' mids to BREAK thru the mix on solos. It's NOT a lead players pickup like a CC or JB might be, in that the mid signature doesn't slice thru a band effortlessly. IF YOU DO NOT PLAY IN THIS TYPE OF BAND YOU DO NOT HAVE TO WORRY. If you do however play with stacks of Marshalls versus someone else with a huge rig and a loud drummer etc, you might want something more "rude" for leads. Overall, I loved my C5, ut I have since gone to a CC.

As far as a match, I actually think it works perfectly with the 59. I am an A2pro man myself, and I actually like the A2Pro/C5 combo, but some people would feel the A2Pro a tad muddy in guitars that lack definition.

The clarity of the C5 is amazing. It has smoothness, and it can shred. it plays Jazzy/Blusy/RnB well too. You will love the bass response when playing rhythm. The clarity and bass on higher gain will give you a full sounding bridge. It's the cleanest in the Custom family, but that means it's like the nicer friend of the bad guy in the PG13 teen flick, it's just not rude. Rock can tend to need some rudeness.

BTW listen to GEARJONESER, he has a lot of great knowledge!
 
Re: CUSTOM 5 in SG?!

I don't own an SG, but I do have an '81 Hamer Special, which is in many ways similar to an SG, except that it has a thin flame maple top and a slightly thicker body. I had a C5 in it for a while and it was a good, traditional sound. I had no trouble getting AC/DC tones with it. It also did a good job of drop D tunes with heavy distortion and the combined clean sounds with the APH in the neck were spectacular. Like others have said, it doesnt have a lot of mids, which is why I changed it.

What can I say, I like mids. :burnout:
 
Re: CUSTOM 5 in SG?!

OlinMusic said:
My criticism, is that it will never give you the slammin' mids to BREAK thru the mix on solos. It's NOT a lead players pickup like a CC or JB might be, in that the mid signature doesn't slice thru a band effortlessly. !
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With that being said, do you think a PG bridge would have the "CUT" for a band situation while having that open full tone as well?
 
Re: CUSTOM 5 in SG?!

I use the CC currently in a PRS

With the mid issue being said - I am not highly experienced with the Pearly's, I might have used an A5 one by accident. Either way, YES the pearly is nice and rude - more in the highs, but it will cut thru! A lead player might dig it a LOT! I do! I play a lot of lead and rhythm as well as singing, so it all has to work for me at the same time.

Just remember, you don't want too much brightness if you are using a Randall and G12K-85s. Though, hmmm a lot of metal players who like the REctos, Mode Four, and Randalls can appreciate the bright top of a JB or Pearly.
 
Re: CUSTOM 5 in SG?!

I had a PG in my bridge briefly...it sounded great, but you tend to dial back the tone often to cut the highs. Wouldn't be a problem except i have a single master tone, so the neck pup would be pretty muddy in quick switch situations. I switched it out for a Custom and now everything's A-OK. I bet a PG in the neck too would have solved my problem, but I'm happy with my APh-1n.:)
 
Re: CUSTOM 5 in SG?!

OlinMusic said:
Just remember, you don't want too much brightness if you are using a Randall and G12K-85s. Though, hmmm a lot of metal players who like the REctos, Mode Four, and Randalls can appreciate the bright top of a JB or Pearly.
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Yea, that cab is on its way out. I'm more interested in pups and speakers that let the guitar woods character speak out.

But that damn ebony fretboard seems to be the thorn in my side. I could go the easy route and stuff it with a Distortion or Invader. But I like the openness of alnico pups over ceramics.
 
Re: CUSTOM 5 in SG?!

I hear SG's as sounding kind of thin, midrangey and twangy so a pickup with alot of bass and treble (like the C5) can be helpful in an SG.

Alnico 5 buckers do seem to have more bass and treble and less mids than alnico 2 buckers...generally.

I have had good luck with alnico 5 pickups such as the Duncan 59's in SG guitars because they have an abundance of bass and that helps make the normally thin and twangy SG sound a little deeper. What might sound woofy and have to much bass in a Les Paul might sound great in an SG.

The Custom 5 is not a favorite pickup of mine though. I had one in my double cutaway Hamer for awhile and found it interesting at first but grew tired of it. To much bass...to much treble...not enough mids...just didn't like it after a while. Seymour could have released the C5 years and years ago but I think he heard the same thing I do in that pickup and it only was released after guys here on the forum started making them for themselves. But I got the distinct impression Seymour wasn't that crazy about it: good but not great.

I could be wrong...when I played the C5 through a really loud and almost fully cranked amp, then the C5 sounded better...much, much better.

Anyways, in an SG I like alnico 5 Duncan 59's...sounds alot like Clapton's tone with Cream and that's a benchmark, IMO, for great humbucker tone.
 
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Re: CUSTOM 5 in SG?!

I had a C5 in my SG for a long time and what Olin says is true - while it does sound good for a beefy-vintage kind of sound, it doesn't have the cut that some other pickups have. My answer to that was an Alnico 8. It produced what sounds to me like a little more output, and quite a bit more in the mid department. More kick, less open, vintage tone.
 
Re: CUSTOM 5 in SG?!

I just got a Custom Custom for my SG standard for christmas, I'll probably put it in tomorrow, and hopefully give you my review for that one sometime this week :dance: :dance: :dance: :dance:
 
Re: CUSTOM 5 in SG?!

ibanezrocks said:
I just got a Custom Custom for my SG standard for christmas, I'll probably put it in tomorrow, and hopefully give you my review for that one sometime this week :dance: :dance: :dance: :dance:
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sweet bro..
 
Re: CUSTOM 5 in SG?!

Sometimes, you have to go through about 4 different pickups on a guitar, till you find that one that reacts best with your playing and amp. Luckily, Duncan distributors have a good exchange policy. Rather than continually buying/selling them, it's best to buy several, then spend a week hearing them all by installing them with a centimeter cut off the leads. Then, make them look like new again, wrap up the losers, and return them.

I like buying them used, trying them, then selling them for what I paid, if I don't like them. It's given me a good opportunity to hear first hand what I like and don't like.
 
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