Duncan Distortion vs Custom 5

Im more of a fan of the DD than any of the Custom family but if I had to pick one from the Custom family, it would be the Custom. The Custom just doesnt sound as full as the Distortion to me. I think you would be pushing the limits with the Custom for some of the bands you listed if you used the Custom but some of those bands would be fine with the Custom. I have a Custom and to me, it just doesnt work for Metallica or Megadeth, depending on the era of Ozzy it could work, GNR, probably the Custom would be a better fit. The Custom family is often paired with a Jazz neck which is an A2P with an A5 mag.

Not sure how the Distortion would pair with the A2P, but if you are looking at chug between the two sets of pickups, Distortion all the way. I think the Custom has more bite than the Distortion, to me the Custom family has a kinda bright growl to it or at least in the guitar I have it in which is all mahogany w maple neck.

I have the Distortion in a mahogany/maple capped guitar that I absolutely love, it can go from 80s hair to Metallica/Megadeth and maybe a bit more.
 
fretburner said:
Did you swap out the magnet yourself to turn the ceramic Custom into a Custom 8?
Click to expand...

Yes. It's been through life as a Custom, a Custom Custom, and a Custom 8. Same wind, different magnet. I was on the Custom 8 bandwagon for several years, but there was always something weird in the mids that I couldn't dial out. I'm pretty happy with the stock ceramic Custom, but I admit that sometimes I wish the output were just slightly less and the high end slightly less harsh, but that may just be because I'm getting old.
 
I'd say the Distortion chugs better, while the Custom has a little more presence.
Perhaps it's just because the Custom's lows (and output) aren't as huge.
Not that the DD lacks cut - it sizzles plenty.
 
misterwhizzy said:
Yes. It's been through life as a Custom, a Custom Custom, and a Custom 8. Same wind, different magnet. I was on the Custom 8 bandwagon for several years, but there was always something weird in the mids that I couldn't dial out. I'm pretty happy with the stock ceramic Custom, but I admit that sometimes I wish the output were just slightly less and the high end slightly less harsh, but that may just be because I'm getting old.
Click to expand...

I put doublethick A8s in my Distortion set to smooth the fizz a bit. It worked; also made the feel a little bouncier.
Not playing metal myself so I appreciated that aspect. Definitely made the midrange more prominent too, though.
For a 70s Les Paul Custom, it was a good change.
 
fretburner said:
Bought a Les Paul Custom in Heritage Chery Sunburst.

For whatever reason, the pickups are flipped in that the 498T is at the neck position while the 490R is on the bridge. I will replace it anyway, so no big deal.

I will definitely put an APH2n at the neck position and leaning towards a Duncan Distortion at the bridge.

I have a Custom and 59 Custom hybrid in my other LPs, and a Custom Custom in a super strat... so you could say I'm a big Custom fan.

I play mostly old school heavy metal (Megadeth, Metallica, Ozzy Osbourne) and hard rock (Guns n Roses)...

Should I get a Custom 5 instead?

I'm worried it being too scooped. Not worried about it's output since I love the 59 Custom hybrid.

I dunno if it matters but it has the 50s wiring. First guitar I had with it.

Also... I should keep the covers
right?
2cbdd514ebb3a472075584c57329d2df.jpg


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Flippin' nice guitar OP!

I didn't think the C5 was too scooped at all in a 1995 Hamer that I once had. Hog body and neck, maple cap, double cut. Sounded good and full enough for hard rock through any of my amps then, and heavenly through a late 70s Marshall JMP that I used on occasion then. Again, playing older school hard rock (whatever that is) and hard blues.

I have not used the Distorsion. Closest I've used to that was an Invader, in a Strat, some years before the above described rigs, so memory comparisson is a bit opaque.
 
fretburner said:
The DD should have more power right?

I'd be playing mostly metal with it, so I'd surely go for the pup which "chugs" better.

Is it also brighter? More presence?

The other major factor for me - apart from having good power/output and being bright - is the contrast with the APH2n and keep that "bite" for solos/single notes.

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The distortion is brighter/has more presence. The bass is tighter, and allows use of the amps bass knob more.

The A2P neck does NOT have the bite of a Jazz, a 59, or a Demon or full shred for the neck solos.
 
Yeah just get a Distortion and call it a day. When you want a more classic tone like ozzy/g'n'r maybe come off the boost pedal and/or roll back the guitar's volume knob a good deal.
 
I'd go for the distortion since you already have the custom variants in other guitars and I don't see the point of repeating it. The distortion is instant metal tone. Leave the GnR for another guitar.

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I have LP's loaded with the Custom and the Distortion.

The Custom is my favorite, and these days my amps have enough gain available that the Custom works for everything. However, if I am using an 80's/90's gain amp, I would use the Distortion for those Megadeth and Metallica tones.

Given what you already have, I will vote Distortion for more variety.
 
bigcupholder said:
I'd go for the distortion since you already have the custom variants in other guitars and I don't see the point of repeating it. The distortion is instant metal tone. Leave the GnR for another guitar.

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Click to expand...
I'm still leaning towards the DD... I think might regret it if I didn't do it haha

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I had some pups laying around and decided to drop them in, so I can say I can have (1) a sort-of hot rodded set, and (2) see how uncovered pups look like in an LPC...

I would say, black uncovered pups don't look good in an LPC, while zebras look "okay". Covered still look the best.

The 59 Tribute has less bass (less boomy) but less honky than the Duncan 59

The JB (90's, pulled from a Washburn MG90, wound by MJ) still sounds like a JB...Still middy and has that "sizzle". Bass is good enough, especially through a 4x12. I can feel the floor vibrate doing the intro riff to "rock and roll" rebel.

I can understand why the JB+59 is quite a popular set even on LPs

Rock on! \m/
19412ae669c1c236aa214af588c7f6a8.jpg


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fretburner said:
I had some pups laying around and decided to drop them in, so I can say I can have (1) a sort-of hot rodded set, and (2) see how uncovered pups look like in an LPC...

I would say, black uncovered pups don't look good in an LPC, while zebras look "okay". Covered still look the best.

The 59 Tribute has less bass (less boomy) but less honky than the Duncan 59

The JB (90's, pulled from a Washburn MG90, wound by MJ) still sounds like a JB...Still middy and has that "sizzle". Bass is good enough, especially through a 4x12. I can feel the floor vibrate doing the intro riff to "rock and roll" rebel.

I can understand why the JB+59 is quite a popular set even on LPs

Rock on! \m/
19412ae669c1c236aa214af588c7f6a8.jpg


Sent from my SM-M315F using Tapatalk
Click to expand...

I say, put some covers on those!
 
bigcupholder said:
I'd go for the distortion since you already have the custom variants in other guitars and I don't see the point of repeating it. The distortion is instant metal tone. Leave the GnR for another guitar.

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Click to expand...

That would be my call too. G'N'R needs those buttery highs and purring alnico midrange.
 
A custom really usually calls for the covers to be on, aesthetically. Not always, but I think most of the time. If no covers, go with cream pickups, so that means a Super D and a PAF from DiMarzio!

I also say, lose the black knobs and get gold speed knobs. Black just looks cheap on cherry sunburst.
 
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