Custom 5 questions

[Metaldood30]

Ok I am seriously looking into this pup but I had a few people that commented saying although it's a killer pup it's made to be pushed pretty hard with your amp and that bedroom playing levels won't do this pup any justice, is this tru? I play nu-metal, hardcore, modern rock, metal, thrash and so on and I'm a rhythm player only and bedroom player with rare gigs. Is there another pup out there that will suit my needs better that will give me the clarity, bottom end and CHUG like the C5 would.

I do not want to go actives, have before but i like the organic tones from passives.

 

[bryan the rocker]

Re: Custom 5 questions

hi there,

some of the forum Bros. like/dislike the c5,

some say it has scooped mids, I just remedy it with either the EQ in the amp, EQ pedal, and tone control of the guitar, No problem

I you have a mid tone heavy guitar like a les paul, it will ad mids to the c5,

I has a nice clean tone wen you back of the volume, wen you raise the pickup closer to the strings, the mids with increase a bit and the output,

Its true the c5 needs to be played in Real Gig volumes and gain to experience its full potential as a Kick Ass pickup, but on bedroom volumes, it just depend on the Amp,
I sometimes play in bedroom volumes with the c5 and its ok for me,

I have two c5, a F space and a standard space, I like this pickup

I good alternative for your style would be a JB, Duncan Custom or distortion,


or the Alt 8, but I have not tried the Alt 8,


I like the c5 better,

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: Custom 5 questions

I do think that the C5 sounds best played LOUD through a cranked tube amp.

Played at home volumes I felt it was a little to bright and lacking in mids.

Played loud through a cranked tube amp, I felt that the C5 really came alive and sounded just great.

Personally, I like it best in Les Paul or Hamer Studio type guitars: mahogany body and neck with arched maple top. In my Strats it didn't sound as full.

 

[Metaldood30]

Re: Custom 5 questions

It would be going into a Schecter mahogany body strat style dual hum guitar and my amp is a Vox AD50VTXL 2x12 combo. I have a JB already and DO NOT LIKE IT, I've tried the DD before and liked it but I want something better and different.

 

[hanumanlangur]

Re: Custom 5 questions

If you have a JB in your guitar right now, try turning back the tone knob a bit. That takes out the sensitivity and gives you a tone that sounds pretty similar to a fuller, more balanced C5.

 

[Dr.Mavashi]

Re: Custom 5 questions

I dont think there is a duncan that has more CHUG than Invader.

 

[Metaldood30]

Re: Custom 5 questions

I just don't like the JB to me it's lacking the clarity I want, I want to be able to hit a nice heavy chord and then pick certain notes over it and it be clear and they ring out nice and pristine.

 

[A-Ro]

Re: Custom 5 questions

I just don't like the JB to me it's lacking the clarity I want, I want to be able to hit a nice heavy chord and then pick certain notes over it and it be clear and they ring out nice and pristine.

That sounds like a Steve's Special to me.

 

[Empty Pockets]

Re: Custom 5 questions

hah...low-volume bedroom playing doesn't do ANY gear justice.

all knobs must be on 10 at all times, now and forever. amen.

 

[Gearjoneser]

Re: Custom 5 questions

I just don't like the JB to me it's lacking the clarity I want, I want to be able to hit a nice heavy chord and then pick certain notes over it and it be clear and they ring out nice and pristine.

That's what the C5 is, and I think you'll like it. To my ears, it's one of the most well rounded Duncans. It's basically a more ballsy 59, in a sense.

Even with a lot of gain, the C5 stays tight and focused. The bass has a nice tight but bouncy feel under the fingers, and the high end is clear.

I agree with Lew that it's best in LP/PRS type guitars. But it can be good in a strat too, if you definitely don't want something mid-heavy, but bottom heavy and trebly.

My favorite types of bridge pickups are 59, C5, Brobucker, C5/59 hybrids etc.

 

[TheArchitect]

Re: Custom 5 questions

I just don't like the JB to me it's lacking the clarity I want, I want to be able to hit a nice heavy chord and then pick certain notes over it and it be clear and they ring out nice and pristine.

Then you need to turn down the gain a bit.

 

[Diocletian]

Re: Custom 5 questions

I dunno, to my ears the JB has more clarity than the C5.
Marty Friedman uses a JB, and you can't say his playing lacks clarity, or "chug"!
I find the C5 works fine at bedroom levels, if you want an AC/DC type tone the C5 is perfect.
You'll get a million opinions on this, the only way to find out for yourself is to try both pickups.

 

[Rainald]

Re: Custom 5 questions

Well I have both the JB SH4 and the Custom 5. Fisrt thing is to pay some attentionen to the right adjustment. Take yourself some time finding the right hight of the pup to the strings and the right hight of the polepieces. That could be declared fine adjustemnt but it has a big impact on the sound IMO.

To give you a better help it would be cool to know what you didn`t like about the SH4 and it would be good to know what kind of music you are aiming for.

The Custom 5 sounds rawer than than the SH4. But I think the SH4 has more distortion. I really do love the SH4 inside a PRS singlecut SE. Great for rock to hardrock. It does have a bit more of a vintage feel to it compared to the SH-5 for example. The SH 5 sounds more compressed and more steril (but true metal heads will dig the SH-5). The Custom 5 comes back to the more vintage feel and vibe.

But if you buy a SH-5 and à alnico V magnet you turn the sh 5 into a custom 5 and vise versa. Guess you just will have to try and find out what you do like. But spent enough time experimenting with the hight adjustment that is a big deal.