Distortion vs Custom

B

Bill Dennis

New member
What is the practical difference between the two? Hot winds and Ceramic magnets in both.

Which would yo pick for a "Frankie" inspired partsocaster?
 
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they are voiced very differently. custom is a hot PAF sound, distortion has more treble and more aggressive IMO.

for a frankie i'd go custom...actually i'd go custom custom, but btwn the 2, custom.
 
The Custom isnt quite as bright and is a little more scooped. To my ears, it's a more versatile rock tone
it's an excellent pup. I'd own & use it if it wasnt so hot.

The Custom would be my choice between the 2--hands down--with what you're aiming for.
 
I have multiple of these in guitars right now, and am a huge fan of both.

For a "Frankie" I'd go with the Custom. You'll get a lot of mileage from it that you won't need to get from a pedal or the amp. That said, it wouldn't be my go to...but it is the right "style" if somewhat overly hot.

The Custom is a serious metal pickup. It is often described as a "PAF on steroids" and that is true. I'd say it is way more than steroids though...It has a fundamental PAF character about it. Good bass, scoop-ish mids, and a clear high end. We can debate perception of the the mids as scooped or not as present as the bass and highs. It definitely has mids about it. The bass is tight and has a "Thump" factor. If you need bottom in your sound, this is the pickup you want. The highs scream as any 17k or so ceramic pickup would. They may/may not be juicy enough for your Frankie goals.

The Distortion is a full-on Metal pickup. I might play a lot of rock/hard rock with a Custom, but the Distortion really leans into the metal zone. It has nothing to do with a PAF sound. The bass is tight and notably less than a Custom. The mids are very present, and a little towards the higher side vs low mids. The highs are the same as the Custom. 17k or so ceramic screamer. The mids+highs really makes the Distortion scream and bass + mids gives it a chunk that is tight and super crunchy.

I think of the Custom as Def Leppard/Iron Maiden, and the Distortion as Judas Priest/Metallica, if that helps.

custom/59 Hybrid might be a better choice that is hotter, but not over the top. Of course, there is a volume knob. You could get a lot of mileage out of the right taper to roll off a touch of highs for that VH sound if that's what you want.

There are a number of pickups that ARE the same wind, with different Magnets. The Distortion and JB are NOT that. However - the Custom and the Custom Custom are! So...if you want even more EVH tone, on a FLoyded Frankie, get the Custom, try it. If you don't like it, swap the mag to an A2 from Ceramic. Then you have a Custom Custom...very popular around "1984" if you know what I mean...
 
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I put each of them thru F guitars back in the '80s. The Custom when JB's were hard to come by and later I switched the JB I did get for a Distortion while I was chasing Lynch tones.

If I was picking exclusively between those 2, I'd go Custom for a Frankie. I still use both but I am Custom biased. If you're open to a third option, the Custom Custom as already recommended should nail the Frankie tones.

The good news is if you get any of the Customs, and they aren't quite what you want, you're only a $5 magnet swap away from trying another (Custom, Custom 5 or Custom Custom).

Finally, Aceman has a solid description of the differences above.
 
Aceman said:
I have multiple of these in guitars right now, and am a huge fan of both.

For a "Frankie" I'd go with the Custom. You'll get a lot of mileage from it that you won't need to get from a pedal or the amp. That said, it wouldn't be my go to...but it is the right "style" if somewhat overly hot.

The Custom is a serious metal pickup. It is often described as a "PAF on steroids" and that is true. I'd say it is way more than steroids though...It has a fundamental PAF character about it. Good bass, scoop-ish mids, and a clear high end. We can debate perception of the the mids as scooped or not as present as the bass and highs. It definitely has mids about it. The bass is tight and has a "Thump" factor. If you need bottom in your sound, this is the pickup you want. The highs scream as any 17k or so ceramic pickup would. They may/may not be juicy enough for your Frankie goals.

The Distortion is a full-on Metal pickup. I might play a lot of rock/hard rock with a Custom, but the Distortion really leans into the metal zone. It has nothing to do with a PAF sound. The bass is tight and notably less than a Custom. The mids are very present, and a little towards the higher side vs low mids. The highs are the same as the Custom. 17k or so ceramic screamer. The mids+highs really makes the Distortion scream and bass + mids gives it a chunk that is tight and super crunchy.

I think of the Custom as Def Leppard/Iron Maiden, and the Distortion as Judas Priest/Metallica, if that helps.

custom/59 Hybrid might be a better choice that is hotter, but not over the top. Of course, there is a volume knob. You could get a lot of mileage out of the right taper to roll off a touch of highs for that VH sound if that's what you want.

There are a number of pickups that ARE the same wind, with different Magnets. The Distortion and JB are NOT that. However - the Custom and the Custom Custom are! So...if you want even more EVH tone, on a FLoyded Frankie, get the Custom, try it. If you don't like it, swap the mag to an A2 from Ceramic. Then you have a Custom Custom...very popular around "1984" if you know what I mean...
Click to expand...

Well-put.
 
Aceman said:
I have multiple of these in guitars right now, and am a huge fan of both.

For a "Frankie" I'd go with the Custom. You'll get a lot of mileage from it that you won't need to get from a pedal or the amp. That said, it wouldn't be my go to...but it is the right "style" if somewhat overly hot.

The Custom is a serious metal pickup. It is often described as a "PAF on steroids" and that is true. I'd say it is way more than steroids though...It has a fundamental PAF character about it. Good bass, scoop-ish mids, and a clear high end. We can debate perception of the the mids as scooped or not as present as the bass and highs. It definitely has mids about it. The bass is tight and has a "Thump" factor. If you need bottom in your sound, this is the pickup you want. The highs scream as any 17k or so ceramic pickup would. They may/may not be juicy enough for your Frankie goals.

The Distortion is a full-on Metal pickup. I might play a lot of rock/hard rock with a Custom, but the Distortion really leans into the metal zone. It has nothing to do with a PAF sound. The bass is tight and notably less than a Custom. The mids are very present, and a little towards the higher side vs low mids. The highs are the same as the Custom. 17k or so ceramic screamer. The mids+highs really makes the Distortion scream and bass + mids gives it a chunk that is tight and super crunchy.

I think of the Custom as Def Leppard/Iron Maiden, and the Distortion as Judas Priest/Metallica, if that helps.

custom/59 Hybrid might be a better choice that is hotter, but not over the top. Of course, there is a volume knob. You could get a lot of mileage out of the right taper to roll off a touch of highs for that VH sound if that's what you want.

There are a number of pickups that ARE the same wind, with different Magnets. The Distortion and JB are NOT that. However - the Custom and the Custom Custom are! So...if you want even more EVH tone, on a FLoyded Frankie, get the Custom, try it. If you don't like it, swap the mag to an A2 from Ceramic. Then you have a Custom Custom...very popular around "1984" if you know what I mean...
Click to expand...

When I say Frankie, I am referring to the Black/White VH1 non Floyd era version of it. To my ear, I think it had something like a Super DIstortion/Mighty Might pickup in it at that time. It could be the Explorer i am hearing too. Can't be sure. I think the VH II - WACF era was a PAF (ish) wind. Less gain and top end in those sounds. Some time before Fair Warning it turned into what I think became essentially the Custom Custom. I think that stayed in from there on. The gain notches back up but without the sizzle.

The top end in VH1 could also just be the JBL. Perhaps they didn't use that in the later albums...

I am not looking to nail the sound verbatim. Just cop the vibe

The 5150 Kramer I really have no idea about. EVH said it was a Duncan 59. I have never seen anything to suggest it isn't but he told tales so often you can never 100% believe any of it..
 
Don't forget on VH1 Ed also used Ibanez super 70 pickups as well .
Those A8 magnets deliver a different crunch even in lower winds .
 
I'd pick the Custom and change the magnet to A2. The ceramic magnet is a little 'hard' sounding for a Frankie sound.
 
Aceman said:
I think of the Custom as Def Leppard/Iron Maiden, and the Distortion as Judas Priest/Metallica, if that helps.
Click to expand...

Can you please mention which albums/songs you mean? IMHO any of those band's sound has changed a lot over the years.

Edit: Every tome I look for a demo comparison on YT it is al about cranked high gain amps with TS infront, it is hard to notice any difference other that the big bass as described by ACE. I don't use overdrive pedals at all and I like to roll the volume for tone versatility so a pickup that can push the amp hard and then back the volume is something I really like.
 
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Can't speak for Ace, but my experience with the Distortion would be it is great for getting the raw "Kill em All" tones or the cutting "and justice" sounds. "Painkiller" era priest would be an ideal use as well.

I only briefly used a Custom so i can't say what Maiden/DL albums, but my memory says almost anything up to/including Powerslave could be nailed with a Custom. They started getting a little more experimental tone wise around Somewhere in Time.
 
IMENATOR said:
Can you please mention which albums/songs you mean? IMHO any of those band's sound has changed a lot over the years.

Edit: Every tome I look for a demo comparison on YT it is al about cranked high gain amps with TS infront, it is hard to notice any difference other that the big bass as described by ACE. I don't use overdrive pedals at all and I like to roll the volume for tone versatility so a pickup that can push the amp hard and then back the volume is something I really like.
Click to expand...
The Distortion is a great pickup for doing that, especially if you are just playing straight into an amp with crunch or edge of break up.
Turn it down by half and it cleans up. Roll it back up and suddenly, it's a whole different ballgame.

Sent from my SM-A115A using Tapatalk
 
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