Custom 8 paradise!

[orpheo]

Re: Custom 8 paradise!

on the mag x , when going from ceramic to alnico you do not need a diff spacer, just turn the spacer so it is the same height as the new mag, this is straight from MJ @ SD , i did it & it is the correct height..

and if you don't fill the void which is created (the height is more than the width), you get an airbucker, all at the same move!

 

[dr. ad]

Re: Custom 8 paradise!

^ i think MJ was referring to the plastic spacers at the sides, not the metal 'keeper bar' that sits under the screw coil.

airbuckers actually use a plastic or nylon keeper bar with off-centre holes, one of these goes under the screw coil and another (same size/dimensions) under the slug coil, which uses tapered slugs. the gap is on both sides of the bar mag, and is only a couple millimetres.

i believe what you've posted has been tried too.

 

[MetalForBreakfast]

Re: Custom 8 paradise!

would yall suggest doing this to a Duncan Jazz in the neck position, or is the Alnico 8 mag a little too overpowering for neck pickups?

 

[Axewall]

Re: Custom 8 paradise!

Just bumpin' in to be part of the A8 hoolabaloo! Got this strange "JBL"-labeled 14 kOhm pickup that according to Maricela Juarez (sent her some pics and additional description of it) is NOT a JB, but actually a Duncan Custom. Read somewhere that the Custom was developed out of the JB, maybe my strange "JBL" Custom is from the first Custom batch. Anyway, I've done some magnet swapping on this pickup loaded into a Gibson SG Faded and finally found The Holy Grail, A8! I really liked the sound with the stock ceramic magnet, it was punchy and clear and sounded great distorted, maybe a hint of treble harshness but it was easy to eq out, but this Custom 8 is the ****! Very punchy, clear, warm and tight sound! Another thing that blows me away is the dynamics, I can dial in a pretty heavily distorted sound and still get semi-clean sounds just by picking a little lighter on the strings. It's almost a cliché but "notes just jump out of my amp"! Very pick sensitive and I love it!
A5 was way too scooped, no body and too much treble. A2 had more body but lacked everything else. A4 was just thin. A8!

 

[BloodRose]

Re: Custom 8 paradise!

Thats why I love em! Good sound, very dynamic and in different guitars, they let the guitar come thru while still having the same touch. Glad you love it!

 

[Burk]

Re: Custom 8 paradise!

I guess I'm the only one who didn't like it in my '91 LP custom. It was too midrangey for me. It was very woody, but i ended up going back with the Gibson 498T.....I have a pair of Duncan Distortions in another LP-Can't beat that.
I don't know, maybe I'm just weird......

It was an alternative 8...

-B

 

[dominus]

Re: Custom 8 paradise!

I guess I'm the only one who didn't like it in my '91 LP custom. It was too midrangey for me. It was very woody, but i ended up going back with the Gibson 498T.....I have a pair of Duncan Distortions in another LP-Can't beat that.
I don't know, maybe I'm just weird......

It was an alternative 8...

-B

Which isn't a Custom 8. Custom 8 = Duncan Custom with an A8 magnet. Alternative 8 is a different pickup.

 

[WITH FULL DISTORTION]

Re: Custom 8 paradise!

i need to swap magnet swaps
Q: P
Im getting a JB JR neck from CHILL (old style)
and ill try to get a Custom Custom trembucker too.
and then magnet swap with a full shred .Q: P

 

[supercoupe]

Re: Custom 8 paradise!

I just made my first Custom 8 (magnets from Wymore arrived today).
Like an idiot I didn't record the Custom as it was, to really hear a difference between ceramic and the alnico 8. But I DO hear a big difference in the middle position of my 3 way switch (C8 bridge, '59 neck), more "oomph" I could say.
That said, not really "remembering" what the regular custom sounded like, I really do like the C8. I think I'll really notice a difference playing with my "live" setup this Saturday.

 

[koolkat]

Re: Custom 8 paradise!

I just swapped the magnet on my Custom and am truly blown away. It's punchy like the Custom, but has a warmer sound without the harshness on the high end. The leads definitely "sing" like the JB except without that nasally upper-mid spike. I've tried many Seymour Duncan pickups over the past 15 years and this is easily my favorite bridge humbucker. Incredible.

 

[jhale667]

Re: Custom 8 paradise!

I so love this thread...

 

[Jeff5]

Re: Custom 8 paradise!

So, now you all got me thinking about trying a Custom 8!!

Here's my pick up journey. Started with my Hamer Monaco Elite (all mahogany/maple top, very much like an LP) with a:

Custom Custom. Sweet sounding pup, but way too nice, not aggressive enough on the low end and not enough bit on the high end.

C5. Too mid scooped for me. Low's were too..boomy. Maybe too open? I don't know, just didnt' do it for me.

JB. Second favorite. But the JB has a unique tone that I don't always like, especially with power chords. Best lead voice I've heard though.

Distortion. Almost too tight on the bottom end and I didn't like it's lead tone.

So I went to a regular Custom (first Duncan pup I've ever tried), and liked it in a compromise kind of way. Love the aggressive low end, power chords sound mean! I want to keep this. Mids are just right, highs are good. It doesn't sing like the JB, but has a decent lead voice.

So my question is, will a C8 allow me to retain the aggressive, articulate low end of a Custom, especially with palm muted stuff? Yet will it sing like a JB? I play a lot of metal and aggressive stuff, so a tight, mean sounding, aggressive low end is essential for me, and I don't want to lose this. I love the "BIG" sound of a Custom when you hit a power chord. It's full and chunky. I just wish it would sing more and had a bit more..character I guess is the word.

Thanks!

 

[BloodRose]

Re: Custom 8 paradise!

Jeff5, YES! It has all the power and drive of the custom, but has a sweet singing alnico warmth. Plus, I find it very touch sensitive too.(responsive) The only way to know if you'll like it, is to try it. The beauty is that its totally reversible.
its my fav bridge pup! I have them in several guitars. the beauty there is that they all have the same response and touch, but maintain the guitar's voice.

Koolcat,
Glad you like it!!

Supercoupe,
Report back after the gig!

jhale667,
ME TOO!!!! So cool to see how many guys dig it! Ive only heard a couple say it didnt work out

 

[supercoupe]

Re: Custom 8 paradise!

just an update, I played it again today with my "2nd tier" live rig, and right away had to turn down my amp's "low" knob (had it cranked with the regular Custom). The guitar still really sings though, so it looks like you guys may have made a believer out of me!!

 

[Jeff5]

Re: Custom 8 paradise!

Thanks BR. Hey I tried to send you a PM on this (so as to not clutter the thread), but your box is full.

I was looking at the project guitar site on how to magnet swap. Seems pretty strait forward. He did mention that you have to break the wax seal around the magnet. Do you have to re wax it? Or did you just slide it back int? I would be doing this on an uncovered C5, so there's no need for me to remove a cover or add it back on or anything. Any swapping tips would be appreciated =). Thanks!

Jeff

 

[lowenzz]

Re: Custom 8 paradise!

Thanks BR. Hey I tried to send you a PM on this (so as to not clutter the thread), but your box is full.

I was looking at the project guitar site on how to magnet swap. Seems pretty strait forward. He did mention that you have to break the wax seal around the magnet. Do you have to re wax it? Or did you just slide it back int? I would be doing this on an uncovered C5, so there's no need for me to remove a cover or add it back on or anything. Any swapping tips would be appreciated =). Thanks!

Jeff

Of the SD pickups that I've opened, the wax has been very light. I have yet to bother with it and have had no issues yet. You could probably just take a blow dryer to the pickup and "reflow" the wax if it is a concern to you.

Just make sure that you tighten up the base screws evenly and firmly.

 

[BloodRose]

Re: Custom 8 paradise!

Supercoupe,
Sweet!!


Jeff5,

Sorry bro! got alot of things I need to wrap up and clean out.. haha

Lowenzz pretty much covered it.. Wax loss when doing a mag swap is minimal.. No need to rewax. "Breaking the seal" mainly is just freeing the magnet as it can be bonded by wax to the plate. So, just takes alil effort..
just slide it back in and try to center it. and make sure you put it in the same direction as the old one. If the polarity is wrong, it'll sound funky.. What I do is before I pull the old completely out, Ill hold the new magnet up to the old and use the old fashioned opposites attract/repel method to see if I have the new one facing proper and either mark with a sharpie or just pay careful attention as I switch them..

May the force be with you!

 

[Jeff5]

Re: Custom 8 paradise!

Excellent, thanks guys!

 

[BloodRose]

Re: Custom 8 paradise!

Excellent, thanks guys!

let us know how it turns out! Hope you love it

 

[Other1152]

Re: Custom 8 paradise!

have to bump this.

i came across this thread a few weeks back and ordered an A8 mag from Wymore and did a custom5 to an 8. all because of this thread, and then i had to make an account just to say.... THANK YOU GUYS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

this pickup is incredible!