Custom or C5?

[suaveymcsuave]

I have an Epiphone Les Paul Goth which means it's all mahogany...no alder, no maple, just straight up mahogany which means it is pretty dark. When it comes to the Custom line which would be a better choice for a dark guitar. I play Hard Rock, Alt. Metal, and regular Alternative styles. My fave band is Earshot (which some people confuse with Tool on some of their earlier work...I like that Tool sound too.) and they use the C5, but they also use Gibson LP Customs and PRS so they have a brighter tone quality since maple is involved.

 

[Young Angus]

Re: Custom or C5?

I'd still go with a C5...or better yet a JB

 

[fab.regnaut]

Re: Custom or C5?

In a dark guitar the Distortion does wonderfull job !
The C5 would still be hollow in the mid and the Custom could have muddy lows .
Or if you go with the C5 a good trick is to put a row of allen head screws to tighten it up and to have more presence and harmonics .
But for metal in this guitar the distortion should rip !

 

[papersoul]

Re: Custom or C5?

I was curious - how do you know the guys in Earshot use the C-5?

Keep in mind the C-5 may have MORE than enough mids in your LP. I have the Gibsons Burstbucker Pros and I cut through our band like a knife.

I went to Earshot's website to hear some songs but their site is frustrating! I tried to watch that video but they have that one blasted song playing when the site opens and it won't stop playing!

 

[ColdHit]

Re: Custom or C5?

Or if you go with the C5 a good trick is to put a row of allen head screws to tighten it up and to have more presence and harmonics !

Can you explain this further. I don't quite understand how the sound will differ from regular screws, allen head screws, or regular slugs?

 

[Neeradj]

Re: Custom or C5?

...or better yet a JB

+1!
Depending on your amp the JB is an excellent choice! If you have a moderately high gain tube amp you'll be sure to nail a great metal sound with it. If you need something more compressed which has slightly less usable cleans get the Custom. The Custom is a bit more agressive than the JB and has a different voicing as well.

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: Custom or C5?

I'd go for the Custom. Or maybe the JB.

The Custom has thicker mids than the C5.

The C5 sounds killer when played through a cranked Marshall or similar amp but at low to moderate volumes I think it needs more mids...though some might disagree

I know Gearjoneser loves the C5, and I respect his opinion, but the Custom has a fuller tone than the C5 and is a great pickup in a Les Paul.

I've installed the JB in a few Epi Les Pauls too, BTW, and the JB sounds killer in all the Epi Les Pauls I've used it in.

 

[fab.regnaut]

Re: Custom or C5?

Can you explain this further. I don't quite understand how the sound will differ from regular screws, allen head screws, or regular slugs?

Well i use to have a C5 in a bassy Gibson with 300k vol pot and with allen head screws (from a dimarzio p-u but with black allen from a Duncan it should work ) the bass were less muddy and it added presence and harmonics , making this p-u more balanced .
By the way I am selling a Sceaming Demon with alnico 8 and this is a wild beast , not in the same world than the C5 .
Like a Distortion but more hi-fi ; less compression , more bite and clarity , more kick .

 

[theboatcandream]

Re: Custom or C5?

I have an Epiphone Les Paul Goth which means it's all mahogany...no alder, no maple, just straight up mahogany...

Are you sure about the woods?



Also, the darker sound probably comes from cheep pots. Replace the pots first and see what difference it makes.

 

[suaveymcsuave]

Re: Custom or C5?

I was curious - how do you know the guys in Earshot use the C-5?

Keep in mind the C-5 may have MORE than enough mids in your LP. I have the Gibsons Burstbucker Pros and I cut through our band like a knife.

I went to Earshot's website to hear some songs but their site is frustrating! I tried to watch that video but they have that one blasted song playing when the site opens and it won't stop playing!

Well, I'm pretty sure they use the C-5 since the artists section on the main SD site says so, but of course people can change things without updating the public. And yes their site is frustrating. You have to turn the volume slider all the way down, then click on the video section, choose a video, hit stop on the audio player, turn the volume slider back up then it is finally tuned into the what the video is playing...kinda retarded.

 

[suaveymcsuave]

Re: Custom or C5?

+1!
Depending on your amp the JB is an excellent choice! If you have a moderately high gain tube amp you'll be sure to nail a great metal sound with it. If you need something more compressed which has slightly less usable cleans get the Custom. The Custom is a bit more agressive than the JB and has a different voicing as well.

I have a Crate GT212.