Duncan 59 vs. Custom Custom...

[walt]

Re: Duncan 59 vs. Custom Custom...

One thing I notice immediately with 59's is how well they sustain and sing.....probably because of the decreased string pull, compared to a Custom series.

I like the CC, but it never lasts long in any of my guitars. I guess I like less mids, since I use amps that are midheavy, and I'd rather hear THOSE mids. For me, the 59's, C-5's, and Seth Lovers are always my 'go to' pickups. The C-5 kinda bridges the gap between the 59 and CC. For awhile, I was using my overwound UGD Custom 5 (15.3K), but pulled it out of my gold top and went back to the regular nickel C-5. I think Seymour made the Customs 14.4K because they're right at that median point where they're hot enough, but are still open sounding, not compressed.
My overwound C-5 has a hint of compression like a JB or CC, and I think it's not what I want.

Just a thought, could you make or have the custom shop convert a stock JB, CC, or C5 into an Air Bucker like DiMarzio has?? I think the JB and C5 "might" be too bright but it may reduce string pull and add the missing openess of the 59 to the pup. I have a Virtual PAF and Virtual Hot in my wolfie and I have to admit that these pickups (while lacking the Duncan Character) are very open sounding and sound great in that guitar. Too bad that Duncan doesn't offer the same.

 

[Zhangliqun]

Re: Duncan 59 vs. Custom Custom...

I asked Lindy what he thought was the diff in tone between a2, a4 and a5, and he told me he thought that in HIS PICKUPS: a4 had more mids than a5 and more bass and treble than a2.

Works for me, except that I would add that on a relative scale, the A4 sounds that way compared to 2 and 5 in ANY pickup, not just Fralins.

 

[Zhangliqun]

Re: Duncan 59 vs. Custom Custom...

What exactly is an Air Bucker? I know it's a DiMarzio but what have they done about string pull?

 

[papersoul]

Re: Duncan 59 vs. Custom Custom...

What is airbucking? I know on the Bareknuckle forum thet laugh about it and say it is a joke.

 

[walt]

Re: Duncan 59 vs. Custom Custom...

What exactly is an Air Bucker? I know it's a DiMarzio but what have they done about string pull?

AirBucker is a pickup that has a small plastic spacer between the magnet and the screw bobbons I believe. This helps reduce the magnetic field and allow the strings to vibrate more. It's been done to a few duncans by other users on this board (I'm not brave enough to try it on one of mine). I've owned an AirZone (air version of the tonezone), AirNorton (same thing done to a Norton). Dimarzio says it's like a vintage version of the norton and tonezone. It's a very cool way to get a vintage version of a modern pickup.

 

[Zhangliqun]

Re: Duncan 59 vs. Custom Custom...

I would think you could get the same effect by just lowering the pickup.

 

[walt]

Re: Duncan 59 vs. Custom Custom...

I would think you could get the same effect by just lowering the pickup.

not to the extent of what a Air bucker can. you would have to play one inorder to see what I mean. I think you can get a Duncan done this way thru the custom shop or maybe theodie might be able to do it also.

 

[tone4days]

Re: Duncan 59 vs. Custom Custom...

lew, any chance you could hook up a split switch in that single humbucker guitar to compare / contrast the split sounds of the 59b and the C5?

if not, care to venture your educated guess as to what they'd sound like?

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: Duncan 59 vs. Custom Custom...

So...I had a chance to tweak the adjustment of the Custom Custom and followed my own advice that I've given to others: MOVE the pickup closer to the strings and raise the middle four polepieces to match the arch of the fingerboard.

When the pickup is set at 1/8" away from the underside of the strings when held down at the 21st fret, raising it a little more makes a big diff in the treble and the volume of the pickup. I raised the four polepieces a little more accurately and raised the pickup itself and the Custom Custom sounds alot brighter and more powerful.

The CC can be set closer to the strings than the '59...maybe because of the weaker magnetic field of alnico 2???

The CC is definately louder than the '59 now...although the '59 is still a little brighter.

Adjusting the middle four plepieces closer to the strings really bumped up the treble of the CC...don't leave them flat! Adjust them to at least match the arch of the fingerboard...and maybe even a little more.

I'm loving the tones I'm getting from both pickups now...although I'm still favoring the open quality of the '59.
It's just a tone I'm used to and familiar with I guess.

Lew


PS: Regarding the coil splitting thing: I might do that later on but I want to keep these two test guitars simple for the time being so I can swap bridge humbuckers in and out of them without having to do micro-surgery! :smack: My eyesight at 56 is such that it's a real pain to solder those four little wires onto a on/on/on mini switch.

 

[Zhangliqun]

Re: Duncan 59 vs. Custom Custom...

The CC can be set closer to the strings than the '59...maybe because of the weaker magnetic field of alnico 2???

You are CORRECT, sir. Although the string pull is more pronounced on the neck pickup for obvious reasons, which is why I shy away from Alnico 5 in my neck pu's...