Custom 5 - Your thoughts?

[twoheadedboy]

I just bought one. I want to put it in an Ibanez RG 520 with mahogany body, quilted sapele top, and blocked trem. The guitar I find is inherrently midrangey and honky, and sound nasal with pickups with the high midrange spike (Ex. JB, Dimarzio Norton) How are you guys thinking this is gonna sound? What are your overall opinions of the C-5? Thanks dudes.

 

[theodie]

Re: Custom 5 - Your thoughts?

If your axe is really mid heavy, the C5 should do pretty well in there because, its supposed to be a little on the scooped side of things. I like the C5 myself.

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: Custom 5 - Your thoughts?

I think the C5 sounds best in a guitar like a Les Paul with a single cutaway because the single cutaway design shortens the neck and that combined with the thick mahogany/maple body makes for a guitar with strong bass and thick lower mids.

To my ears, lower mids and mids in general are what the C5 lacks a little of, so it sounds great in a guitar with plenty of lower mids.

In a double cutaway guitar with a long neck, like a Hamer Studio Custom (or double cutaway Les Paul, or PRS) you'll have have a guitar with less mids, less lower mids and less deep bass (at least compared to a single cutaway Les Paul) and in a guitar like that the C5 might sound like it's lacking midrange and perhaps sound "thin" in the mids and less pleasing to the ear...unless you're playing really loud.

Then the C5 rocks!

 

[twoheadedboy]

Re: Custom 5 - Your thoughts?

the reason I went with the C-5 was because the Custom is a bit too much bite and grind for me. I was looking for something more classic. Also, I tried a Custom Custom in my guitar and it was way to fat and thick, almost like Carlos Santana, which is not what I want. The C-5 sounded right because it was supposed to be a good comprimise between the two. Do you think it really does sound like the middle ground between the Custom and the Custom Custom?

 

[italic zero]

Re: Custom 5 - Your thoughts?

It sounds like what you want. It sounds more natural than the Custom, to my ear. It doesn't really sound like it's between the Custom and Custom Custom, but more like you describe what you want it to be.

 

[Stevo]

Re: Custom 5 - Your thoughts?

The c5 is like a 59 with more bass and smoother highs.
I've never had an issue with "scooped mids" with the C5

 

[Gearjoneser]

Re: Custom 5 - Your thoughts?

It's my favorite Duncan pickup, and surprisingly sounds good in every guitar I put it in.
I will say that it excells in mahogany bodies, moreso than basswood, ash, or poplar.
I use the C-5 as my 'go to' pickup for any humbucking guitar, then make a change, only if it doesn't do the job. It's basically a hot vintage Alnico 5 humbucker, like a 59 with more balls. My other faves are CC, JB, Seth, and PG.

 

[Vasshu the humanoid typhoon]

Re: Custom 5 - Your thoughts?

Have the same experience as Stevo and Gear ho
Sounds like a big 59 to me.

 

[suislidE03]

Re: Custom 5 - Your thoughts?

yea i have my JB in my mahogany jackson right now and im starting to wonder if i want to try a differnet SD pickup. I really like the vintage kind of 80s lead sound you get ou tof JB but the clean doesnt sound too great and i was wondering what the custom 5 sounded like. can any of you guys say how it compares on the tone chart? i noticed sd doesnt have a chart for this PU like it does for the other. I wish i had a PU that sounded just like the Jb with out too much highmids and a little less bass... thats my ideal sound. maybe a little more mids to give it a thicker sound. sorry if this is worded bad.. ive been under-age drinking

 

[Vasshu the humanoid typhoon]

Re: Custom 5 - Your thoughts?

Haha underage drinking...what the hell is that anyways
Maybe you should try the CC instead, it has fatter mids than the JB and less bass, but it is the same pickups as both the Custom and the C5, just with an A2 magnet.

 

[MattPete]

Re: Custom 5 - Your thoughts?

the reason I went with the C-5 was because the Custom is a bit too much bite and grind for me. I was looking for something more classic. Also, I tried a Custom Custom in my guitar and it was way to fat and thick, almost like Carlos Santana, which is not what I want. The C-5 sounded right because it was supposed to be a good comprimise between the two. Do you think it really does sound like the middle ground between the Custom and the Custom Custom?

Hmm...I always thought that the Custom sounded between the CC and C5. Either way, try the C5 -- you might like it.

 

[mrid]

Re: Custom 5 - Your thoughts?

I think the C5 sounds best in a guitar like a Les Paul with a single cutaway because the single cutaway design shortens the neck and that combined with the thick mahogany/maple body makes for a guitar with strong bass and thick lower mids.

I agree. I had a C-5 in an SG and it just sounded thin.

 

[Artie]

Re: Custom 5 - Your thoughts?

I don't know why they don't include C5 specs on the tone chart. Its kinda hidden in the description page:

 

[Inge Malmstein]

Re: Custom 5 - Your thoughts?

Hm, i think the tone chart was released, before the C-5 was introduced.
Also the SH-13 which isn't included on the tone chart.
The tone chart should be updated.

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: Custom 5 - Your thoughts?

I don't know why they don't include C5 specs on the tone chart. Its kinda hidden in the description page:

That's interesting. Th 59 is described in my catalog as 6/3/8 low,mid, high too!

I used a C5 for about a year. For whatever reason the 59B sounds better to me.

 

[twoheadedboy]

Re: Custom 5 - Your thoughts?

It's nice to know that if I don't like the C-5, I can experiment and try to make this Custom/'59 hybrid that everybody raves about. Somebody said it sounded like EVH on Fair Warning. That's the tone i want!

 

[Big Mike Blues]

Re: Custom 5 - Your thoughts?

Anybody try a A4 or A3 mag in the C5?

I just got a C5 for my PRS Standard (all mahog) I'm good with the mids and lows, but it's a bit to bright. I could be okay with more mids and less highs, but I'm nut sure about a CC. Too much for me I think

Ideas? Thanks!

 

[Nightburst]

Re: Custom 5 - Your thoughts?

I love the C5 in my LP! To me it sounds like a more smooth and natural sounding Custom with better cleans and lead tone.

 

[papersoul]

Re: Custom 5 - Your thoughts?

I think the C5 sounds best in a guitar like a Les Paul with a single cutaway because the single cutaway design shortens the neck and that combined with the thick mahogany/maple body makes for a guitar with strong bass and thick lower mids.

To my ears, lower mids and mids in general are what the C5 lacks a little of, so it sounds great in a guitar with plenty of lower mids.

In a double cutaway guitar with a long neck, like a Hamer Studio Custom (or double cutaway Les Paul, or PRS) you'll have have a guitar with less mids, less lower mids and less deep bass (at least compared to a single cutaway Les Paul) and in a guitar like that the C5 might sound like it's lacking midrange and perhaps sound "thin" in the mids and less pleasing to the ear...unless you're playing really loud.

Then the C5 rocks!

Lew, i am a little confused. I thought double cutaway guitars always have more solid mids and isn't that why people always say PRS guitars are loaded with mids??

 

[MattPete]

Re: Custom 5 - Your thoughts?

Anybody try a A4 or A3 mag in the C5?

A4 = nasty and harsh

A3 = sounds like a mix between the CC and C5, leaning towards the CC. It's like a CC, but with slightly less mids and slighlty more treble and bass.