Difference between a Custom SH-5 and a Custom 5 SH-14?

[weinergod]

I wanted to order a Custom 5 but accidentally ordered the Custom SH-5 because of the misleading name... ugh


Order can't be reversed now. How different are the two pickups?

It's for the bridge position in a mahogany Les Paul style guitar

I'm afraid this will sound like **** now :banghead:

 

[dominus]

Re: Difference between a Custom SH-5 and a Custom 5 SH-14?

I wanted to order a Custom 5 but accidentally ordered the Custom SH-5 because of the misleading name... ugh


Order can't be reversed now. How different are the two pickups?

It's for the bridge position in a mahogany Les Paul style guitar

I'm afraid this will sound like **** now :banghead:

It will sound better. The only difference is the magnet. The Custom has a Ceramic, the Custom 5 has an Alnico 5. The Custom sounds great in Mahogany.

 

[blueman335]

Re: Difference between a Custom SH-5 and a Custom 5 SH-14?

You're not the first one to get confused by the similarity in names, and Duncan needs to do something to clarify that.

You just might like the C5 better. I prefer my C5's with 250K pots, to take off some treble, but if you use a lot of overdrive & effects, you'll want lots of treble to avoid mud. The Custom is the same thing as a C5, but with a ceramic magnet. A swap takes 10 minutes & a few dollars, low tech stuff any 12-year old can do, so I imagine you shouldn't struggle with it too much. Ceramics have higher output, but a harsher tone. For some music, like metal, that's great, but not really for blues. If you're wanting a warmer high output HB with some alnico personality, a number of us here like the C8, which is the same PU again, but with an A8 magnet.

The Custom as a foundation is a very versatile and popular PU, and work well with a number of different magnets, each giving a different EQ and output.

 

[weinergod]

Re: Difference between a Custom SH-5 and a Custom 5 SH-14?

It's good to know that there's always the magnet swap, at least...


I'm not too sure if I'll like it stock. I don't play metal, so the SH-5 sounds like it will be too harsh and cold to my tastes, and lack dynamics :|

 

[weinergod]

Re: Difference between a Custom SH-5 and a Custom 5 SH-14?

Although, come to think of this, I might have some use for it.
I really like Doug Aldrich's tone, how would this compare to his signature Suhr pickup? His pickup is really high gain too IIRC

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: Difference between a Custom SH-5 and a Custom 5 SH-14?

I wanted to order a Custom 5 but accidentally ordered the Custom SH-5 because of the misleading name... ugh


Order can't be reversed now. How different are the two pickups?

It's for the bridge position in a mahogany Les Paul style guitar

I'm afraid this will sound like **** now :banghead:

It's good to know that there's always the magnet swap, at least...


I'm not too sure if I'll like it stock. I don't play metal, so the SH-5 sounds like it will be too harsh and cold to my tastes, and lack dynamics :|

Don't sweat it man. The Custom doesn't sound anything like you're imagining. It's not harsh and it's not cold and it's not a metal pickup. Lot's of non-metal guys use the Custom in their Les Pauls - I think it was originally meant for the Les Paul. There's plenty of players who like the Custom better than the Custom 5 - I do! To suit me, the Custom 5 needs to be wound a little hotter and needs to have more mids. Without those mids it sounds to bright to me. The Custom is a great pickup and those who claim it's harsh and to bright and all that other nonsense are just wrong. I think you'll like it!

 

[GoDrex]

Re: Difference between a Custom SH-5 and a Custom 5 SH-14?

I started out with a Custom in my mahogany LP. I liked the C5 a lot better. For the most part I don't care for ceramic magnets.

 

[weinergod]

Re: Difference between a Custom SH-5 and a Custom 5 SH-14?

Don't sweat it man. The Custom doesn't sound anything like you're imagining. It's not harsh and it's not cold and it's not a metal pickup. Lot's of non-metal guys use the Custom in their Les Pauls - I think it was originally meant for the Les Paul. There's plenty of players who like the Custom better than the Custom 5 - I do! To suit me, the Custom 5 needs to be wound a little hotter and needs to have more mids. Without those mids it sounds to bright to me. The Custom is a great pickup and those who claim it's harsh and to bright and all that other nonsense are just wrong. I think you'll like it!

I hope so!

Nothing like waiting for it to get here and trying it now..

 

[Surgeon]

Re: Difference between a Custom SH-5 and a Custom 5 SH-14?

The custom is far from being cold or harsh as was said... great pick-up indeed... I, for one (kind of a rare one actually) don't like the custom 5 but the custom is great. It's not cold or too hot by any means but it still adds a bit of "zing" to liven up les pauls a bit.

It's all a matter of taste but don't be too hasty switching the magnets, give it a try first.

 

[weinergod]

Re: Difference between a Custom SH-5 and a Custom 5 SH-14?

Yeah, I'll definitely leave it in for a while. And hopefully I might even like it stock!


Two final questions:

I have an Alnico Pro II in the neck, how will they balance out?
And is anyone here familiar with Doug Aldrich's tone? If the custom can do something in the same ballpark it would be a pretty cool option

 

[blueman335]

Re: Difference between a Custom SH-5 and a Custom 5 SH-14?

The custom is far from being cold or harsh as was said... great pick-up indeed... I, for one (kind of a rare one actually) don't like the custom 5 but the custom is great. It's not cold or too hot by any means but it still adds a bit of "zing" to liven up les pauls a bit.

I play Chicago/British blues and like warm bridges. To my ears, the Custom is overly bright & harsh, even in an LP with 250K's. Did not like it at all. But putting in an A5 solved that issue. Maybe the alnico coloring made the difference. Other guys use Customs for rock, and maybe even blues, and they like the tone. Personal preference.

 

[Surgeon]

Re: Difference between a Custom SH-5 and a Custom 5 SH-14?

I play Chicago/British blues and like warm bridges. To my ears, the Custom is overly bright & harsh, even in an LP with 250K's. Did not like it at all. But putting in an A5 solved that issue. Maybe the alnico coloring made the difference. Other guys use Customs for rock, and maybe even blues, and they like the tone. Personal preference.

I hear ya bro! All in one's tastes... for sweeter/bluesier tones I just roll back the treble a bit and it sounds great. Depends a lot on the rig too of course.

That's why I said that I was one of a tiny bunch who don't like the C5, even for smoother applications... I don't know why really: I love the '59 bridge but can't get along with the C5.

 

[Aceman]

Re: Difference between a Custom SH-5 and a Custom 5 SH-14?

As ceramics go, and I am a fan of them, I find the custom a lot warmer than many...Like the Duncan Distortion, or the 500T. Much better all around hot bridge pickup. with all of those things, however, I generally use a 300k (or 250) pot. That keeps the harsh down.

C5 = Pop/rock/hard rock
Custom = Rock/Hard rock/Metal
Custom Custom = Blues, VH, and whatever it is we all use that pup for.

An A2P will balance with it, but you'll have a bit of an extreme tone change. The highs will be very fat compared to the bridge. That sort of sound may or may not be what you dig. I like it in my 79 LP with a T-Top and Distortion. Gives me a big range of sounds, makes it easy to mix fat in with the bridge or cut in with the neck.

 

[Gearjoneser]

Re: Difference between a Custom SH-5 and a Custom 5 SH-14?

Duncan has an exchange policy too, but I agree with all those who said you should try it.

Don't forget that Seymour designed the Custom as the answer to all the players who wanted a beefed up PAF. When the Custom came out, LP players rejoiced over that pickup, because it's ballsy, but retains an organic tone. The C5 is a bit more organic and more like a hot 59B.

Honestly, I like both pickups. The Custom is sort of like a JB's output without the mid spike, making it better for mahogany guitars. The C5 is similar, but sweeter with completely flat mids like a 59's EQ curve.

 

[MattPete]

Re: Difference between a Custom SH-5 and a Custom 5 SH-14?

The Custom sounds great. The c5/sh-14 sounds scooped, with shrill highs and thumping bottoms.

 

[blueman335]

Re: Difference between a Custom SH-5 and a Custom 5 SH-14?

The Custom sounds great. The c5/sh-14 sounds scooped, with shrill highs and thumping bottoms.

Yeah, with 500K's. But with 250K's, the highs are tamed and the mids seem stonger. As much as I like C5's, they gotta have 250K's to work for me. And if that's still a bit bright, I put in an A8.

 

[weinergod]

Re: Difference between a Custom SH-5 and a Custom 5 SH-14?

The Custom sounds great. The c5/sh-14 sounds scooped, with shrill highs and thumping bottoms.

Yeah, I'm kinda confused here

People here are commenting that the SH-5 is cold.. but I'm currently looking at Seymour Duncan's tone chart and the Custom 5's mids are rated at 3... while the Custom's are rated at 6? :eyecrazy:


Wouldn't the Custom be warmer then? I'm not too familiar with tone charts, but here they are for reference

SH-14 Custom Five Four Con. Bridge: 14.4 k
Bridge: 5.4 KHz Alnico V Bar 6 / 3 / 8


SH-5 Duncan Custom Four Con. Bridge: 14.1 k
Bridge: 6 KHz Ceramic Bar 7 / 6 / 9

 

[blueman335]

Re: Difference between a Custom SH-5 and a Custom 5 SH-14?

Yeah, I'm kinda confused here

People here are commenting that the SH-5 is cold.. but I'm currently looking at Seymour Duncan's tone chart and the Custom 5's mids are rated at 3... while the Custom's are rated at 6? :eyecrazy:


Wouldn't the Custom be warmer then? I'm not too familiar with tone charts, but here they are for reference.

C5's are scooped, not cold. They have that alnico color & character that ceramics lack. There's been plenty of comments here that members don't agree with the EQ ratings of some PU's. But of course, it also depends on your guitar design, wood, and amp.

 

[weinergod]

Re: Difference between a Custom SH-5 and a Custom 5 SH-14?

Hmm... I see. I don't have the experience with different pickups and magnets so I can't quite understand that yet... But thankfully I have your experience guys, cheers!

 

[James Rock]

Re: Difference between a Custom SH-5 and a Custom 5 SH-14?

I heard the C5 works best in non maple cap guitars (like SG's) like everyone has said its personal preference I haven't liked any ceramics I've played but they are all single coils (and filtertrons) or cheap hb's. I personally like brighter less mids (hence why I play mainly single coil guitars) and find alnico 5 have the right dynamics and mids for me. Just my 2 cents. Its hard to explain sound with a 3 band tone chart becuase its more then just the eq its the dynamics of certain frequencies and how the guitar, amp,fx etc deal with those frequencies.