Custom, custom 5 , distortion for replacement of a JB ?

[Micha]

I have a pickup (TB4 JB Model) which I am satisfied but not completely.
I find that he has too much treble, or rather, not enough bass.
after seeing this video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ryzie8mham8&feature=youtu.be

.... it confirmed what I thought.

Looking at the charts tones, I have always known that the pickups "TB-6
duncan distortion" , "TB-5 duncan custom" were interesting to me. The
problem is the magnet. I have the habit of having alnico magnets because
I like the Warmth in a pickup.

I like the treble accuracy of the jeff beck but I find this pickup badly
balanced and not quite homogeneous.
So I search a pickup that has the power of the JB Model but more
homogeneous throughout. A warmer pickup but that gets the same harmonics
as the JB. It's a superb pickup but i miss the punch and bass response....
What I hate is when a pickup is too harsh.

My playing style ist bluesy metal with bluesy solos, and aggressive
style.

My guitar is a guitar with a mahogany body, a maple top, with a maple
neck with rosewood fretboard.

someone told me the custom 5 and the full shred do a good job for what i want to do......


.....so I have tried theese pickups this week.

"custom TB-5"
"full shred TB-10"
"distortion TB-6".


The distortion TB-6 is too aggressive , too dirty and has not enough precision (and for clean sounds it's not very the best one.) it's a big pickup but not versatile enough.


The full Shred TB-10 is very good one but lacks a little distortion. But it's very articulate, but get's not enough power in Low tonalitys. It's interesting too, but it's not what i'm searching for.


The custom TB-5 is well balanced but a little, little, little bit too aggressive
(the highs are a little little bit too harsh) certainly because of the ceramic magnet... i have easely heard the difference between Ceramic and alnico pickup by testing this one...but... the custom is wonderfully well balanced.
It's an intersting one. A great surprise.
In fact, it is the sound of the custom that I like the most, that i have to get.... with it's nice bottom end and great Punch. (this bottom end and punch are exactly want i 've searching for..), with well balanced mids and highs.



I wanted to try the custom 5 but they were all sold, so i could'nt test it.




what differences there are between Custom and Custom 5 ?
Custom 5 does not sounds too dark, muddy and not open enough?

I mean in the comparison chart:


the jeff Beck has:------bass 5 / middle 6 / Treble 8....................and 5,5 Khz

the custom5 has:-----bass 6 / middle 3 / Treble 8.....................and 5,4 Khz

the custom has:-------bass 7 / middle 6 / Treble 9.....................and 6,0 Khz


I ask because I really like the custom and I really do not want to make a mistake by taking a pickup with so little medium. At the Same time, it's precisely these too present mediums that bothered me a little bit in the jeff beck. :banghead:
I imagine that the custom with its heavy bass and midrange has a more punchy and open sound than the custom 5 ???

I must get a more modern jeff beck, jeff beck with the bottom end and midrange (bass/middle) of the custom !!! but with alnico 5 magnet's.
A good mix of both.
good for solos, good rhythm and imposing in ls.


Please help me by developing your choices and your response. I'm lost.
thank you a thousand times


Michael

PS: i wrote this message with google traduction , so please, write for an idiot (Me)
:friday:

 

[Jeff5]

Re: Custom, custom 5 , distortion for replacement of a JB ?

Michael,

I've used all the models you're talking about with the exception of the Full Shred bridge. I like the JB alot, but I still find myself going back to the Custom, mainly due to the reasons you like it. The lead tone isn't as good as the JB, but the trade off for the low end girth and punch was always worth it.

As far as the difference between the Custom and Custom 5, I don't really like the EQ of the Custotm 5. The A5 magnet causes the mids to be very pulled back which really accentuates the highs and lows. It is a cool pup, and I used it for awhile in one of my axes, but for the styles of music I play the Custom worked best.

If you like the Custom and JB, you could try making a hybrid between the two. There are a few tutorials on this site, and depending on how comfortable you are with chopping up pick ups this might not be a bad option. I've tried one with an A5 and Ceramic and liked both. I also put a big Ceramic in a regular Custom and that pick hasn't left my guitar since. All that being said, I'd start with the stock Custom (or whatever pup you're using) before going the ultimate tweaker route =).

 

[Gearjoneser]

Re: Custom, custom 5 , distortion for replacement of a JB ?

I've gone through a lot of pickups, and for what you're wanting, I'd go with a Custom 5/Pearly Gates Neck. That's a great set.

If you want to move the C5 one step in a more vintage direction, loosen the 4 brass bolts on the back, slide magnet out and install an Unoriented Roughcast Alnico 5 magnet. Then, use a PGn in the neck. Or try the C/59 hybrid or Brobucker.

I've split hairs on Duncans, and those are some of the ones I'm settling on.

 

[SFW]

I've really been digging the Custom that I put in my Les Paul. For what I do (hard rock) it really seems to be the perfect pickup.

 

[RayBarbeeMusic]

Re: Custom, custom 5 , distortion for replacement of a JB ?

The custom 5 isn't nearly as scooped as that chart indicates or as people around here always claim. I find it has plenty of mids, and I like in it guitars where a JB doesn't necessarily sound right. A very good pickup for the kind of music you describe.

 

[dvanburen]

Re: Custom, custom 5 , distortion for replacement of a JB ?

You can try and swap the magnet out in your custom to an alnico 8 magnet. Thats a really popular pickup on this board. Its a really nice and versatile pickup if your not quite happy with the custom. You will lose some power and punch but you will tame the high end and get a more present midrange. more even response across the board

 

[GuitarDoc]

Re: Custom, custom 5 , distortion for replacement of a JB ?

Since you know you like the Custom (TB-6) but find the highs are a bit harsh (this is due to the ceramic magnet), it sounds like the perfect answer is to get any of the Customs (Custom, C5, CC) and replace the magnet with an A8. The A8 will keep those glorious mids and tight bass, but soften the highs and give an overall warmer, more organic feel to it.

 

[wolf5150]

Re: Custom, custom 5 , distortion for replacement of a JB ?

This stupid forum is OBSESSED with magnets.
Yea mate do as they say, buy a pickup and totally screw your warranty by performing a totally foolish magnet swap.
Alternatively, do the INTELLIGENT thing and make the right choice in the 1st place based on what you already know you want from a pickup.

The JB was designed for use in a Tele style guitar with 250k pots.
It won't sound as was intended in anything else except maybe a Strat ( that doesn't mean some people don't prefer how it sounds with 500k pots for example , but that's not how Seymour intended )

Based on your choices I'd recommend either a Custom, Custom 5 or actually a Suhr SSH+.

 

[ExplorersRock]

Re: Custom, custom 5 , distortion for replacement of a JB ?

Well, I personally am anti-JB. I love the Custom 5 for everything but metal. Bass isn't tight enough. For metal, I like the Distortion (pure metal) but prefer the Custom (SH-5) as it has a little more versatility for my playing. So... everything but metal? Go C5. Just Metal? Distortion. Somewhere in between? I say go Custom (SH-5).

 

[wolf5150]

Re: Custom, custom 5 , distortion for replacement of a JB ?

Out of interest, have you tried lowering the Custom ?
It will tame the highs and not drastically damage the punch you say you like.

 

[GuitarDoc]

Re: Custom, custom 5 , distortion for replacement of a JB ?

This stupid forum is OBSESSED with magnets.
Yea mate do as they say, buy a pickup and totally screw your warranty by performing a totally foolish magnet swap.
Alternatively, do the INTELLIGENT thing and make the right choice in the 1st place based on what you already know you want from a pickup.

You've gotta be kidding me!

Cavemen DO still exist...in their actions AND their thinking.

You blast our "obsession" with mag swapping, then recommend a Custom 5 that only came about BECAUSE of our mag swapping.

This is called "PROGRESS". And it only comes about by experimenting (in this case by "stupid" mag swapping).

Actually, the "INTELLIGENT' thing to do is to get the sound that you want in the most accurate, efficient and cost effective way possible.

The JB was designed for use in a Tele style guitar with 250k pots.
It won't sound as was intended in anything else except maybe a Strat ( that doesn't mean some people don't prefer how it sounds with 500k pots for example , but that's not how Seymour intended ).

And if it's not used as it was "intended", it won't sound good. So don't put it in an LP, that's not how it was intended to be used. Don't put an A5 (or an A2, or an A8) in a Custom because that's not how it was intended. Don't put an A4 in a 59 either because that's not how it was intended.

And don't even think about putting one coil of a Custom together with one coil of a 59 because that is most certainly not how it was intended.

So do the "intelligent" thing and boycot any pickups that were created by that stupid forum obsession of mag swapping, etc. And absolutely, don't you become a part of all that stupidity by actually participating in it yourself.

You might void your warranty in finding your perfect tone! It's just not worth it.

 

[UberMetalDood]

Re: Custom, custom 5 , distortion for replacement of a JB ?

It sounds like you need something like an Alt8 or Crazy8.

 

[wolf5150]

Re: Custom, custom 5 , distortion for replacement of a JB ?

EXACTLY the point I was trying to make, thank you for reinforcing it.
Leave the experiments to those with more money than sense, then make your choice based on their many failures and few successes.
Simply ask yourself this question.. when you look in the " for sale " section , would you buy a pickup that's been messed about with, had magnets swapped out, been made from 2 other pickups ? Have those held their value ??
YES ?? then do as they suggest.
NO ?? then do as I suggest and choose the right pickup so it will have a warranty and will hold its resale value if you aren't happy.

These guys get really aggressive when they get told the truth about their antics.
Do you see such lunacy in any other pickup forum ?? NOPE.

I still suggest messing with the height of your Custom, since you already have one, if not, the Suhr SSH+ is def worth a try.
It has all the qualities I don't like for my music but you appear to be looking for for yours.

 

[tonello]

Re: Custom, custom 5 , distortion for replacement of a JB ?

You've gotta be kidding me!

Cavemen DO still exist...in their actions AND their thinking.

You blast our "obsession" with mag swapping, then recommend a Custom 5 that only came about BECAUSE of our mag swapping.

This is called "PROGRESS". And it only comes about by experimenting (in this case by "stupid" mag swapping).

Actually, the "INTELLIGENT' thing to do is to get the sound that you want in the most accurate, efficient and cost effective way possible.



And if it's not used as it was "intended", it won't sound good. So don't put it in an LP, that's not how it was intended to be used. Don't put an A5 (or an A2, or an A8) in a Custom because that's not how it was intended. Don't put an A4 in a 59 either because that's not how it was intended.

And don't even think about putting one coil of a Custom together with one coil of a 59 because that is most certainly not how it was intended.

So do the "intelligent" thing and boycot any pickups that were created by that stupid forum obsession of mag swapping, etc. And absolutely, don't you become a part of all that stupidity by actually participating in it yourself.

You might void your warranty in finding your perfect tone! It's just not worth it.

GuitarDoc, I love you.

 

[AlexR]

Re: Custom, custom 5 , distortion for replacement of a JB ?

Wolf, now you're just talking nonsense.

Nobody knows whether any stock pickup will sound precisely what you want without putting it in. So in that regard the idea of choosing 'the right pickup' as a 100% guaranteed no need to tweak it idea is naive beyond belief.

Some may be happy to settle for near enough, either because they are not into tone chasing, or through laziness or technical ineptitude....whatever, all power to them.
Others (like EVH who's gear you have in your screen name) tinkered and found a better solution to what they wanted.

The moral of the story - don't engage in petty small minded ridiculing of those with a different approach to yours. It shows your true personality up too much.

 

[Micha]

Re: Custom, custom 5 , distortion for replacement of a JB ?

thank you all for your answers.

I don't want to customize myself my pickup.
Those who have tried both. What are the differences between Custom and Custom 5?

I think perhaps I do make a pickup in the seymour customshop...

Do you think that by putting an alnico 5 magnet in a custom would make Some Kind Of a jeff beck custom? Power of the custom, with it's punch, but with better solo capabilities?
best of both world's ?

 

[misterwhizzy]

Re: Custom, custom 5 , distortion for replacement of a JB ?

EXACTLY the point I was trying to make, thank you for reinforcing it.
Leave the experiments to those with more money than sense, then make your choice based on their many failures and few successes.
Simply ask yourself this question.. when you look in the " for sale " section , would you buy a pickup that's been messed about with, had magnets swapped out, been made from 2 other pickups ? Have those held their value ??

Dude, one of the reasons I did the mag-swap thing is because I DID NOT have money to spend. I had a pickup that I decided just really wasn't going to be my thing, but it took me more than a month to decide. I could buy another pickup, or I could put another five bucks into it and see what worked. Swapping magnets helped me get a lot closer to what I wanted with that pickup. It actually did so for two pickups, and I only have spots for four.

The one I settled on--and that's the wrong term, because I love it--in the bridge of my Les Paul is a Custom 8. It's not available as a production pickup. The only way to get it is to call a dealer and have them do a Shop Floor Custom or get the magnet and do it yourself. I just did it myself, and it looks like it did when I got it and sounds a lot better.

Sometimes you're just real close, and you have to make the changes on your own. Sometimes you nail it with the stock model, and that's what I have always tried to do for myself and recommend to others. Sometimes, that just isn't possible.

 

[jhale667]

Re: Custom, custom 5 , distortion for replacement of a JB ?

You've gotta be kidding me!

Cavemen DO still exist...in their actions AND their thinking.

You blast our "obsession" with mag swapping, then recommend a Custom 5 that only came about BECAUSE of our mag swapping.

This is called "PROGRESS". And it only comes about by experimenting (in this case by "stupid" mag swapping).

Actually, the "INTELLIGENT' thing to do is to get the sound that you want in the most accurate, efficient and cost effective way possible.



And if it's not used as it was "intended", it won't sound good. So don't put it in an LP, that's not how it was intended to be used. Don't put an A5 (or an A2, or an A8) in a Custom because that's not how it was intended. Don't put an A4 in a 59 either because that's not how it was intended.

And don't even think about putting one coil of a Custom together with one coil of a 59 because that is most certainly not how it was intended.

So do the "intelligent" thing and boycot any pickups that were created by that stupid forum obsession of mag swapping, etc. And absolutely, don't you become a part of all that stupidity by actually participating in it yourself.

You might void your warranty in finding your perfect tone! It's just not worth it.

Absolutely nailed it. Hey Wolf5150, want some salve to go with that wicked burn? :lol:

 

[Micha]

Re: Custom, custom 5 , distortion for replacement of a JB ?

wolf ... etc. remain cool and open minded ^ _ ^

Is this the music that has influenced the musician or the musicians that influenced the music?
Gear that influenced musicians or musicians that influences gear customer?
It's an endless debate. it's like the story of the chicken and egg, a debate without an end .......
I think the two are complementary and every experience is helpful.

...........................................anyway ....................................


I think that changing the pickup is something interresting, but I don 't have the skills and time.
anyway ... I get a good "ear" for sound's and I think knowing exactly what I want, or if you prefer, what i've searchin' for. And all our discussions are very helpful to reach my goal.

What I have heard from the Alnico 8 sound's not good for me. too fat and not open enough.

I 've always loved the Rock sound's with balls. The sound of a 59 with punch but also with heat. My goal here is to find this sound, and I think the custom is the principal element, or the first element in my research.
It only remains for me to find a way to soften the treble for a singing solo sound such the jeff beck.

The custom shop could maybe my solution .....



PS: some forum user's talk about alternative 8, crazy 8 or some Brobucker
I know the A8, but who are the other two?

--

 

[dvanburen]

Re: Custom, custom 5 , distortion for replacement of a JB ?

This stupid forum is OBSESSED with magnets.

you mean the forum that you have made over one thousand stupid posts to?

You are wrong. We are obsessed with tone and making our guitars sound good. not magnets.

a totally foolish magnet swap.

Totally foolish comment...

do the INTELLIGENT thing and make the right choice in the 1st place based on what you already know you want from a pickup.

Maybe we should all come to you since you know what every pickup ever made on planet earth will sound like with every magnet in every guitar with every type of wood. Man, you must be some kind of super genius or somthing...

QUOTE=wolf5150;3236793]
Leave the experiments to those with more money than sense[/QUOTE]

Magnets cost $2-$5. Leave the experiments to those with more passion than laziness, is how it should have been stated. I'm sure that is what you meant right? Must have been a typo....

Simply ask yourself this question.. when you look in the " for sale " section , would you buy a pickup that's been messed about with, had magnets swapped out, been made from 2 other pickups ? Have those held their value ??

Most used pickups sell for half price of what a new one sells for...Again your math stinks.

Most of us keep those pickups and play them ourselves because they sound good. You obviously have no idea what that's like.

And its almost impossible to screw up a pickup by just a mag swap.. This just shows your ignorance

Pickups that are combined with other pickups are called Hybrids and those are custom pickups with the exception of the new 59/custom that was created by Seymour Duncan himself as a direct result of this "stupid" forum doing these kinds of modifications then posting about the (excellent) results on said "stupid" forum. And those sometimes sell for 1/3 of the price of a custom shop order from SD. Man, I don't know how you got through school your math is so terrible...

These guys get really aggressive when they get told the truth about their antics.

You mean that we can buy ONE pickup like the Custom and buy 3-4 magnets for just a couple bucks a piece and as a result, have 4-5 completely different pickups with totally different sonic capabilities... Maybe you should call the guys up at Seymour Duncan and tell them how stupid they are for making the Custom wind pickup then swapping out the magnet only and making the SH-11, SH-14, and SH-5. These are the same exact pickup with different magnets. Or you could just buy all three. You do the math.. (oh yeah, you can't)

Do you see such lunacy in any other pickup forum ?? NOPE.

This is probably where you belong since you just want to bash people about something you know absolutely nothing about. You should really think about what you say and not be so quick to insult people without doing any kind of research whatsoever. There are really great people here willing to help and you are obviously not one of them. You pollute these boards with mindless and senseless banter that shows a great deal of ignorance.

May you be blessed with horrible tone