CustomCustom trouble

[massy]

Hi!
new here, and with a question ;-)
I have a PRS ce22 maple top, with a 59 in the neck and a CC in the bridge...
Well, for me this pickup is trebly and harsh, with a spongy and dull bass response...
I play prog metal, with rectifier and slo amps, and I need a darker and tighter pickup, possibily a ceramic one...
Any suggestion?
Thanks for your attention.
Max

 

[bryvincent]

Re: CustomCustom trouble

try some dimarzios. super distortion or a d-sonic

 

[Robert S.]

Re: CustomCustom trouble

Are you sure you have it wired in correctly?

Too bright is something rarely said about the CC.

The Duncan Distortion might be more to your liking for more agressive styles but if you have the PRS 5 way rotary switch it is easy to wire the new pickup incorrectly.

More info needed.

 

[Dru Edwards]

Re: CustomCustom trouble

I believe the CC is described as having a "spongy bass". it's not meant to have a tight-sounding bass sound like you're looking for.

^ +1 on the Duncan Distortion.

 

[massy]

Re: CustomCustom trouble

thanks for the replies...
I've the AirNorton/DropSonic combo in my mind, already appreciated on a MM BFR1 petrucci signature, very similar to a prs CE for the body materials and to me the DSonic sounds very good...
I know that is strange to say that the CC is trebly but just to make an example, the EVO7 in my prestige rg1527 is much more tighter and smooth...
I've replaced the 5way rotary switch with a common 3way toggle and push pull on the tone pot, wiring checked a million times, no errors...It's just not the pickup for my needs...so you suggest the Duncan Distortion...from the eq on the tone chart seems to be a treble heavy pickup...

 

[blueman335]

Re: CustomCustom trouble

Please don't get in the cycle of buying on PU after another without tweaking your magnets & pots. You may spend a lot of money & may still not get what you want. A ceramic magnet in your CC is the first step for your dersired sound (which makes it a "Custom"), maybe an A5 (which makes it a Custom 5").

If you follow recommendations for PU's you'll soon find that these guys rarely agree on anything, let alone what sounds good, and none of them know how a PU will sound in your guitar (and wood) thru your amp. Since it's your cash, not theirs, you really don't want to end up chasing your tail following contradictory recommendations. Get a variety of spare magnets & pots, and you can dial in your tone in hours, if not minutes.

 

[massy]

Re: CustomCustom trouble

thanks,
thats an interesting and clever answer...the only problem is that I don't know where to find spare alnico or ceramic magnets...
I've got some DiMarzio and unmarked spare pickups but I don't want to destroy them...
Any suggestion where to find spare magnets?
thanks a lot...

 

[theboatcandream]

Re: CustomCustom trouble

If you like the amp and the amp sounds good with other guitars, you probably just have to play around with your amp settings.

 

[blueman335]

Re: CustomCustom trouble

thanks,
thats an interesting and clever answer...the only problem is that I don't know where to find spare alnico or ceramic magnets...
Any suggestion where to find spare magnets?
thanks a lot...

Wymore Guitars.com. Most magnets are $5 each. Get an assortment of different kinds & you can hit $50 to get free shipping. This way, when you get a new guitar or HB, you can do your tweaking without having to wait for something to be delivered. One hour or one evening, and you're done.

The CC is a popular PU, and it's pretty flexible (Custom & C5 are regular production models). There are a few more magnets that'll give you tones in between these. Think about what you want to add or subtract tone-wise. There's a good chance magnets will get you to a tone you want. If not, then you can honestly say that PU doesn't work for you, and then look at manufacturer's tone charts for something different than a Custom. Make it a focused & well-thought out search and you'll do it faster & less expensively.

 

[heymcz]

Re: CustomCustom trouble

It's a very rare pickup that's darker than a CC. Methinks the problem might be with your amp or guitar, but you checked the guitar...have you tried it in another amp? I had a bright amp that threw me off for a long time....The Custom or DD would be way too bright, but would deliver the tightness you want. From the standard Duncan line I would say, "Invader"....

 

[theboatcandream]

Re: CustomCustom trouble

I think the Duncan shop will do magnet swaps for $20...? For me, it's worth the extra money so I know the job is being done right.

 

[massy]

Re: CustomCustom trouble

Wymore Guitars.com. Most magnets are $5 each. Get an assortment of different kinds & you can hit $50 to get free shipping. This way, when you get a new guitar or HB, you can do your tweaking without having to wait for something to be delivered. One hour or one evening, and you're done.

The CC is a popular PU, and it's pretty flexible (Custom & C5 are regular production models). There are a few more magnets that'll give you tones in between these. Think about what you want to add or subtract tone-wise. There's a good chance magnets will get you to a tone you want. If not, then you can honestly say that PU doesn't work for you, and then look at manufacturer's tone charts for something different than a Custom. Make it a focused & well-thought out search and you'll do it faster & less expensively.

thank you for all the infos! I'll try some swaps to see if I can get something for my needs!

 

[massy]

Re: CustomCustom trouble

It's a very rare pickup that's darker than a CC. Methinks the problem might be with your amp or guitar, but you checked the guitar...have you tried it in another amp? I had a bright amp that threw me off for a long time....The Custom or DD would be way too bright, but would deliver the tightness you want. From the standard Duncan line I would say, "Invader"....

The amps are not bright...the dual recto is set pretty dark and so the slo clone amp...honestly I can't think to a darker sound for my needs...the Invader is a great pickup, I use it on a Esp guitar but on a PRS is a ugly looking:chairshot

 

[hamerfan]

Re: CustomCustom trouble

a black invader with black screws is an all black pickup - nothing ugly on it!!

 

[blueman335]

Re: CustomCustom trouble

I think the Duncan shop will do magnet swaps for $20...? For me, it's worth the extra money so I know the job is being done right.

Where's your self-confidence? I don't have any more handyman or electrical skills than you do (I have none), and I've learned how to do it. And I'm an "old dog" too. There's a lot of techs that don't know what they're doing. I wouldn't trust someone else blindly.

 

[ErikH]

Re: CustomCustom trouble

So, blueman, you wouldn't trust anyone at the Duncan Custom Shop to do it if you couldn't or didn't want to? That's pretty much what it sounds like considering theboatcandream mentioned them. Kind of a kick in the teeth to MJ, dontcha think?

 

[ErikH]

Re: CustomCustom trouble

massy, how close do you have the CC adjusted from the strings? Have you tried lowering just the treble side a turn or two?

I've used this pickup in Strats and Les Pauls with great results, no harshness on the highs at all no matter what amp I ran them through.

More treble can be coaxed out of the CC by cranking up the treble side of it closer to the strings. If you back it away some, that may solve your issue.

 

[daemon barbeque]

Re: CustomCustom trouble

Well if you play with rectifier and Slo clones ,and need tightness ,you would be happy with Fullshred...
Perfect for Progressive music..Lot's of definition ,not dark but not bright...

 

[Empty Pockets]

Re: CustomCustom trouble

My Custom Custom doesn't sound bright in a maple-necked Strat so it's kinda baffling that you find it bright in a PRS. I'd mess with the height of the pup and the pole pieces for a bit, then if that doesn't work do some magnet swaps...

Actually, honestly, if it was MY PRS, I would just sell it and get an old Les Paul.

 

[Yngwiestein]

Re: CustomCustom trouble

Are you sure you have it wired in correctly?

Too bright is something rarely said about the CC.

The Duncan Distortion might be more to your liking for more agressive styles but if you have the PRS 5 way rotary switch it is easy to wire the new pickup incorrectly.

More info needed.

+1 Did you buy used? Might have been duped!

thanks for the replies...
I've the AirNorton/DropSonic combo in my mind, already appreciated on a MM BFR1 petrucci signature, very similar to a prs CE for the body materials and to me the DSonic sounds very good...
I know that is strange to say that the CC is trebly but just to make an example, the EVO7 in my prestige rg1527 is much more tighter and smooth...
I've replaced the 5way rotary switch with a common 3way toggle and push pull on the tone pot, wiring checked a million times, no errors...It's just not the pickup for my needs...so you suggest the Duncan Distortion...from the eq on the tone chart seems to be a treble heavy pickup...

Sounds like you already have a good solution. The Custom Custom is not a "tight" pickup. I'm with Blueman on this. You really should check out all your wiring, pots etc. CC is a warm smooth pickup. I would liken it to a JB but smoother highs and maybe less bottom. You're also using it in a PRS mahogany guitar. I got two of them. Mahogany is a very warm smooth sounding wood. Something sounds wrong if the CC is giving you that trouble!