Custom Shop 59 and Custom 5. Can it be ordered.

PINKBITS

PINKBITS

New member
I really like the standard 59 and Custom 5 I have in my Lester. I was just wondering if you could order these two from the custom shop?

Just thought that custom shop pu's may just add the little extra something special that these seem to be missing. What ya's think?

Oh, I took a couple of new pics yesterday so I just thought I'd post em.

MYLESTER002.jpg


MYLESTER003.jpg


I was actually really considering giving the Brobucker a go in the bridge though. It does sound like a really nice pickup.
 
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Re: Custom Shop 59 and Custom 5. Can it be ordered.

Nice guitar. What about the pickup's current tone would you want to change?
 
Re: Custom Shop 59 and Custom 5. Can it be ordered.

Rowan said:
Nice guitar. What about the pickup's current tone would you want to change?
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Thanks mate.

I was just hoping that a custom shop wound pu would add a bit of smoothness to these. Maybe add a little mids to the bridge pu.
 
Re: Custom Shop 59 and Custom 5. Can it be ordered.

PINKBITS said:
Thanks mate.

I was just hoping that a custom shop wound pu would add a bit of smoothness to these. Maybe add a little mids to the bridge pu.
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That is probably the case. Everything I heard out of the Custom Shop just has that extra little sparkle.

I wouldn't say "I want Seymour or MJ to wind a 59 and a C5". I would say I want "I want an A5 PAF-class and an A5 custom class pickup, hand-wound, somewhat like 59 and C5 but a little smoother".

Note that one "secret" to what I hear in CS pickups could just be the lack of potting. Then you could just order a floor shop custom pair of 59 and C5 unpotted and/or you wouldn't get what you want out of the Custom Shop if they pot the things.
 
Re: Custom Shop 59 and Custom 5. Can it be ordered.

Well, for cheaper, you could get a neo disk magnet from stew-mac, and a polarity tester, then degauss the magnets a bit. If you want smoother and more even (but just a little bit) degaussing will do what you want and more. In fact, I feel like if you called up the custom shop and ordered what uOpt suggested, they'd just wind up a standard 59/C5 set (with less potting), degauss the magnets and send 'em off to you.

It's not difficult to do, completely reversible, and you don't even have to take off your strings! Hanumanlanguar (sp?) has the link in his sig, it's called zhang-aging, and is the brainchild of a pickup winder on the forum, Zhangulin.

For what you're asking, I would highly recommend it.
 
Re: Custom Shop 59 and Custom 5. Can it be ordered.

I too wouldn't spend the cash on CS versions of standard pickups. Now a full blown S Deco set, THAT'S something I'd be interested in.
 
Re: Custom Shop 59 and Custom 5. Can it be ordered.

Benjy_26 said:
I too wouldn't spend the cash on CS versions of standard pickups. Now a full blown S Deco set, THAT'S something I'd be interested in.
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+1 and +1
 
Re: Custom Shop 59 and Custom 5. Can it be ordered.

PINKBITS said:
I was just hoping that a custom shop wound pu would add a bit of smoothness to these. Maybe add a little mids to the bridge pu.
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Hang on to your cash. We warm our bridge PU's with magnets & pots. Much cheaper & it put the control of your tone in your hands.

I have a few C5's & '59B's in various guitars, and like you, I think both are very good, but a little bright & thin. I warm these with two 250K pots on the bridge (500K on the neck). Gives a richer, fuller bridge tone and balances better with the neck PU.

I also use warmer magnets (A2, A3, A4, A6, & A8) on bridge PU's to reach a similar goal. They'll give you varying amounts of mids, treble, low end, and output so you can tweak & get what you want. A C5 with an A2 magnet is the CC, and with a ceramic is the Custom; so that basic PU makes a great foundation for modifications. The '59B is pretty flexible too.

This is easy & inexpensive to do. Lots of old threads to teach you about it (verbal & video); very low tech, and virtually idiot-proof. You can do it, we're glad to help.
 
Re: Custom Shop 59 and Custom 5. Can it be ordered.

Benjy_26 said:
I too wouldn't spend the cash on CS versions of standard pickups.
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I would. I just want to know whether the CS magic that I hear in the actual CS pickups is in the wind.

Not that I like the 59 or C5, though.

What I want is CS wound JB coils with A2.
 
Re: Custom Shop 59 and Custom 5. Can it be ordered.

For the neck there IS th possibility of a 59B in the neck. The few extra wire turns are going to give you SLIGHTLY more mids. For the bridge you can trim down the polepiece screws to beef up the sound, but only you'll know if that's enough.

In any case it could be done, but I would order it in a generic way like was suggested earlier.

I want an alnico 5 PAF style pup with more mids

I want an alnico 5 Custom style pup with more mids.

The trick is to tell the CS what you want tonally, and maybe even use existing pups for starting points. HOWEVER you can't get all hung up on wire gauge, gauss, etc if you want them to be able to really work. Now if you are wanting it vintage correct or something tell them Antiquity bobbins/baseplate etc, but that's not so restrictive as saying . I want a 42 gauge plain enamel PAF wound to 8.32476410k because you have really only described a 59 bridge.

I also have the feeling you're gonna end up with an S Deco set.

Great looking guitar btw, it reminds me of Al Pitrelli's Les Paul he uses with TSO.

Luke
 
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Re: Custom Shop 59 and Custom 5. Can it be ordered.

Luke Duke said:
I would order it in a generic way like was suggested earlier.

I want an alnico 5 PAF style pup with more mids

I want an alnico 5 Custom style pup with more mids.

The trick is to tell the CS what you want tonally, and maybe even use existing pups for starting points. Luke
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But then after this expense, if it doesn't sound like he thought it would (after all, the CS doesn't know your guitar wood's tone, or your amp & speakers, and how all these gell together), then what? He'll never be able to resell it for that kind of money.

The first place to start is with the inexpensive stuff that he can do himself. This forum is all about doing that. If need be, he can gradually escalate to more expensive options. If a $5 magnet can give him what he wants, why immediately steer him to far more expensive course? How many of us spend our own money like that? "Yes I know all all I need is an oil change, but I'd like to replace the engine."
 
Re: Custom Shop 59 and Custom 5. Can it be ordered.

blueman335 said:
But then after this expense, if it doesn't sound like he thought it would (after all, the CS doesn't know your guitar wood's tone, or your amp & speakers, and how all these gell together), then what? He'll never be able to resell it for that kind of money.

The first place to start is with the inexpensive stuff that he can do himself. This forum is all about doing that. If need be, he can gradually escalate to more expensive options. If a $5 magnet can give him what he wants, why immediately steer him to far more expensive course? How many of us spend our own money like that? "Yes I know all all I need is an oil change, but I'd like to replace the engine."
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Well you know what opinions are like! :biglaugh:

It's not like I didn't give him other options.

I don't know if a magnet is going to help I mean that's going to radically change tone, good or bad. I still think polepiece trimming is a great option. Besides I doubt he'd have a problem moving a S-Deco set.

Luke
 
Re: Custom Shop 59 and Custom 5. Can it be ordered.

Luke Duke said:
I don't know if a magnet is going to help I mean that's going to radically change tone, good or bad. I still think polepiece trimming is a great option.
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Well, lets get him some info & instruction on magnets swaps, trimming pole pieces, and replacing pots.

If this gives him what he wants, and he does the work himself, he'll feel like a million bucks.
 
Re: Custom Shop 59 and Custom 5. Can it be ordered.

The do-it-yourself ideas are definately going to be cheaper and get one closer to the tone they are after. After the ideas run out, call the custom shop, and you'll have all the info they will need to design the perfect tone for you.

It's a great plan, but who has the time.
 
Re: Custom Shop 59 and Custom 5. Can it be ordered.

All great suggestions guys. Don't pickup questions just suck.


I'm still throwing up whether to lash and get a set of WCR American Steeles or WB Firewaters as yet.

Decisions, decisions.

Your suggestions certainly have given me food for thought though.

You guys rock :wave:
 
Re: Custom Shop 59 and Custom 5. Can it be ordered.

PINKBITS said:
Decisions, decisions. Your suggestions certainly have given me food for thought though.
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I was reluctant at first to try this stuff. But you can spends hundreds of dollars on PU's that you don't like, and pay a tech hundreds to do the work. And where are you at the end of it? Broke & you still don't have the tones you want.

That was the notivation for me to learn what shapes my tone, and to take control of it. Now my guitars soud great, and I have money left over. We're more than willing to induct you into our not-so-secret- society & teach you this stuff.
 
Re: Custom Shop 59 and Custom 5. Can it be ordered.

blueman335 said:
I was reluctant at first to try this stuff. But you can spends hundreds of dollars on PU's that you don't like, and pay a tech hundreds to do the work. And where are you at the end of it? Broke & you still don't have the tones you want.

That was the notivation for me to learn what shapes my tone, and to take control of it. Now my guitars soud great, and I have money left over. We're more than willing to induct you into our not-so-secret- society & teach you this stuff.
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That's why you're the man. :headbang:
 
Re: Custom Shop 59 and Custom 5. Can it be ordered.

Here's another stinkin opinion.

Like you, I've always really liked the C5/59 in LP's, and did a bit of the tone chasing mentioned above, including going to the Duncan factory and making my own slightly overwound C5. I asked Seymour how to get a bit more mids and smoothness, and he simply answered "overwind it a bit." So, I made a 15.3K Custom 5 nickel. It's a great pickup, but almost bordered on too pushed, which is why the Customs top out at 14.4K. If you ever make one, I'd say 15K C5 tops.

Also, consider trying the Brobucker and also a C5/59 hybrid. Those are 2 other great pickups, closely related to the family. You might like a Jazz neck too. It also goes good with a C5.

But overall, I've found that chasing minute details in tone can be like chasing your tail. It detracts from making music, and wastes time. It's almost better to focus on getting the pickups you already have to sound great with your guitar's setup and amp setup. Focus some time on that, and it'll cost you no more money.
 
Re: Custom Shop 59 and Custom 5. Can it be ordered.

Gearjoneser said:
Here's another stinkin opinion.

Like you, I've always really liked the C5/59 in LP's, and did a bit of the tone chasing mentioned above, including going to the Duncan factory and making my own slightly overwound C5. I asked Seymour how to get a bit more mids and smoothness, and he simply answered "overwind it a bit." So, I made a 15.3K Custom 5 nickel. It's a great pickup, but almost bordered on too pushed, which is why the Customs top out at 14.4K. If you ever make one, I'd say 15K C5 tops.

Also, consider trying the Brobucker and also a C5/59 hybrid. Those are 2 other great pickups, closely related to the family. You might like a Jazz neck too. It also goes good with a C5.

But overall, I've found that chasing minute details in tone can be like chasing your tail. It detracts from making music, and wastes time. It's almost better to focus on getting the pickups you already have to sound great with your guitar's setup and amp setup. Focus some time on that, and it'll cost you no more money.
Click to expand...

Now that is some of the best advice I have got. I just love this guitar and just want the best pu's I can get for her. When I pick it up i just don't want to put it down. It just feels perfect for me. I feel I am really lucky in that regard.
 
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