Custom SH-5 and what neck pickup?

[bubbahotep2k3]

Hey guys,

I have decided to replace the pickups in my 2006 Schecter C-1 Classic (thanks to dominus, Franknfilms, Metalman_666, surface54, hamerfan, bagouser, misterwhizzy, blueman335, Tomy, Benjy_26 for their comments and help with ideas for the bridge pickup!)

The guitar is Mahogany with Quilted Maple Top, a Maple neck, and a Rosewood fingerboard.

I am going to put a Duncan Custom (SH-5) in the bridge.

Question: What neck humbucker should I pair it with?

(a) I could leave the Duncan Jazz in there
(b) I have heard that a Pearly gates is a great companion to the duncan Custom sh-5...
(c) any other ideas? Maybe an air norton or something else?

I want something that will blend well with the duncan custom sh-5 and that will give me: (a) good clean chord strumming sound (as well as good clean single notes/finger picking) and (b) that can be used to solo too. The good clean tones are more important though...

I play metal (80s and contemporary melodic/power metal stuff)

The guitar is down-tuned to Drop C: C, G, C, F, A, D.

Any help is greatly appreciated.

Thanks!
__________________
http://www.bubbahotep.com/
Last edited by bubbahotep2k3; 07-29-2010 at 12:1

 

[dominus]

Re: Custom SH-5 and what neck pickup?

Measure the string spacing, you may want a TB-5 Custom instead of an SH-5.

Leave the Jazz neck in there for now and try it with the Custom. If it doesn't work, go for the 59n or PGn.

 

[Simon_F]

Re: Custom SH-5 and what neck pickup?

The Jazz neck is a great candidate for pairing with a Custom so I would leave it in there and see how you get on. It has a bright clear top end and sounds very 'precise'. If that works for you keep it. If not, try a PGn - smoother, more vintage tone, evenly balanced, slightly less top end cut.

 

[DrNewcenstein]

Re: Custom SH-5 and what neck pickup?

JB in the neck works great with a Custom bridge.

 

[bubbahotep2k3]

Re: Custom SH-5 and what neck pickup?

Thanks for your help guys.

Right now the jazz neck pickup has a gold cover on it. I think I would like the look of the guitar better without pickup covers though.

I can order a black sh-5, but do you think it is worth it to remove the jazz cover?

I mean is it easy to mess up removing the wax? I don't want to screw it up and have microphonic problems. Also, do you think the pickup under the gold cover is black? Is that standard? ... the last thing I want is mismatched colors....

Thanks!

 

[Gearjoneser]

Re: Custom SH-5 and what neck pickup?

Leave the Jazz neck in there for now and try it with the Custom. If it doesn't work, go for the 59n or PGn.

^ This

And keep them under covers. That model looks better with them....or maybe zebras.

 

[Benjy_26]

Re: Custom SH-5 and what neck pickup?

Definately try the jazz if it's already in there. It sounds pretty cool when tuning down.

 

[bagouser]

Re: Custom SH-5 and what neck pickup?

I use the same tuning and the Jazz and Full Shred are my favorite neck pickups. Runners up would be the PG or the Phat Cat, which is suprisingly awesome in the neck position.

 

[SFW]

Re: Custom SH-5 and what neck pickup?

I'm fond of the C5/59n combo. With that said, the DiMarzio 36th Anni PAF that I have in the neck of my Les Paul is divine.

 

[Franknfilms]

Re: Custom SH-5 and what neck pickup?

It doesn't sound like you're necessarily a candidate for the 59, PG, or any paf really. With the low tuning and your taste for the 80's I would say that the jazz is probably perfect. I loved the jazz in my schecter, didn't even know what I was missing until I tried a 59. The 59 has more vintage flavor, but not as clear and clean as the jazz, not as good under high gain. My schecter stays in standard tuning and I wanted to get classic tones from it instead of making it a metal monster. If you can coil split then I'd say go with the air norton for crazy smoking leads and great split cleans. Really, you're best option is to keep that jazz in and try to take off the cover. It is most likely all black. Or, better yet, try putting the gold jazz on the trading post for a black one. The covered humbuckers are technically worth more so maybe someone will trade you straight up for an all black jazz.

 

[guitarkid]

Re: Custom SH-5 and what neck pickup?

Stay away from the 59 in that guitar, I put a 59 in the neck of my C-1 Classic and it just sounds like a puddel of mud! I'm switching to a Jazz.

 

[bagouser]

Re: Custom SH-5 and what neck pickup?

I would say watch out where you put the '59 too. I had one in the neck of a Schecter S-1 and it sucked big time. Sounded like wet cardboard on the low strings and a squeaky mattress on the high strings.
The Jazz does handle drop tuning well but I'm telling you, the Full Shred neck has won me over. If you have the disposable income, try a FS neck in that guitar if you don't like the Jazz.

 

[bubbahotep2k3]

Re: Custom SH-5 and what neck pickup?

I ended up putting an Alnico Pro II neck pickup in my Schecter Classic C-1 and I'm loving it. The clean chords sound of the neck is awesome and so are the creamy smooth leads when distorted.

Thanks so much to everyone who helped me.

 

[blueman335]

Re: Custom SH-5 and what neck pickup?

The Jazz neck is a great candidate for pairing with a Custom so I would leave it in there and see how you get on. It has a bright clear top end and sounds very 'precise'. If that works for you keep it. If not, try a PGn - smoother, more vintage tone, evenly balanced, slightly less top end cut.

+1. Always try to make what you already have work. If the Jazz isn't lively enough for you, a PGN or '59N should be.

 

[SlopternatePicking]

Re: Custom SH-5 and what neck pickup?

Something that goes along with the Custom's EQ curve, I guess. The Jazz has almost no bass, which the Custom has tons of. The Jazz sounds pretty bland too, I never thought it was spectacular in my C-1 Classic. Not a very full ranged clean tone, just a lot of thin sounding highs. If absolute clarity is what you're looking for then it might be good to keep the Jazz.