Favorite Custom variation for the SG bridge
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Funkfingers
Guest
Re: Favorite Custom variation for the SG bridge
Gonna be controversial in some circles but my favourite Seymour Duncan "Custom" in an SG would be an SP90-3n in the bridge position.
Excuse me while I buy a toaster.
Gonna be controversial in some circles but my favourite Seymour Duncan "Custom" in an SG would be an SP90-3n in the bridge position.
Excuse me while I buy a toaster.
Myaccount876
Amira-Maker
Re: Favorite Custom variation for the SG bridge
I've heard the Custom 8 is very popular for SGs on the forum.
I've heard the Custom 8 is very popular for SGs on the forum.
Rockstar216
New member
Re: Favorite Custom variation for the SG bridge
Either the C8 or the C5 or CUOA5 ive heard people say the A5 works well in the SG mahogany body
Either the C8 or the C5 or CUOA5 ive heard people say the A5 works well in the SG mahogany body
Andrew Lamprecht
Minion of One
Re: Favorite Custom variation for the SG bridge
Standard C5 was my favorite. Did not like the C8 much but I just don't like the pushed A8 sound in general.
Standard C5 was my favorite. Did not like the C8 much but I just don't like the pushed A8 sound in general.
blueman335
Mojo's Minions
Re: Favorite Custom variation for the SG bridge
UO C5 and C8. Like many others here, I used to like the C5 best before those two came along. I need warmth and mids in my bridge PU's, and C5's are good, but kind of bright and thin.
UO C5 and C8. Like many others here, I used to like the C5 best before those two came along. I need warmth and mids in my bridge PU's, and C5's are good, but kind of bright and thin.
STRATDELUXER97
Stratoblaster Tone Meister
Re: Favorite Custom variation for the SG bridge
I have a Brobucker in mine..
I have a Brobucker in mine..
T
tonello
Guest
Re: Favorite Custom variation for the SG bridge
Probably a standard Custom for me, if I wasn't allowed to put a Distortion in the guitar. God knows I've bought enough DD's.
Probably a standard Custom for me, if I wasn't allowed to put a Distortion in the guitar. God knows I've bought enough DD's.
Re: Favorite Custom variation for the SG bridge
In that order? Honestly I never can decide between the 3 you've mentioned, hehehe. In you mag swapping journey, have you ever tried a C4?
In that order? Honestly I never can decide between the 3 you've mentioned, hehehe. In you mag swapping journey, have you ever tried a C4?
blueman335
Mojo's Minions
Re: Favorite Custom variation for the SG bridge
Yes, I like 'the Blueman Signature Custom' best (UOA5), for the texture and dynamics, more vintage-sounding (much more vintage-sounding than a C5). C8's are very good, and my second choice. I haven't tried a C4 yet.
Yes, I like 'the Blueman Signature Custom' best (UOA5), for the texture and dynamics, more vintage-sounding (much more vintage-sounding than a C5). C8's are very good, and my second choice. I haven't tried a C4 yet.
Re: Favorite Custom variation for the SG bridge
The one thing with the UO C5 is that I really love my 59n and, to me, they don't match perfectly in tone. The bridge has MUCH more mids and the amp settings have to be a little different. With the regular C5, I solve this with the tone knob, but it's kinda thin. The C8 has a great tone, but too much in everything, especially in output.
In time, I mostly play classic rock and a little blues. I really like AC/DC, pink floyd, clapton, led zeppelin and slash stuff. And other 70's rock bands, of course.
The one thing with the UO C5 is that I really love my 59n and, to me, they don't match perfectly in tone. The bridge has MUCH more mids and the amp settings have to be a little different. With the regular C5, I solve this with the tone knob, but it's kinda thin. The C8 has a great tone, but too much in everything, especially in output.
In time, I mostly play classic rock and a little blues. I really like AC/DC, pink floyd, clapton, led zeppelin and slash stuff. And other 70's rock bands, of course.
blueman335
Mojo's Minions
Re: Favorite Custom variation for the SG bridge
Maybe an A4 in the '59N, whch is popular here.
Maybe an A4 in the '59N, whch is popular here.
LtKojak
New member
Re: Favorite Custom variation for the SG bridge
Custom 8, no doubt 'bout it.
To be matched with an A4 59n. With this set you can play just about any music style, even the heaviest.
If you decide to go "vintage-r", the UOA5 Custom, paired with an A3 59n for articulation, or an UOA5 '59n for all-'round "vintage-ness", is to prefer.
This is the set that has the subtliest but most complex harmonic structure of'em all.
HTH,
Custom 8, no doubt 'bout it.
To be matched with an A4 59n. With this set you can play just about any music style, even the heaviest.
If you decide to go "vintage-r", the UOA5 Custom, paired with an A3 59n for articulation, or an UOA5 '59n for all-'round "vintage-ness", is to prefer.
This is the set that has the subtliest but most complex harmonic structure of'em all.
HTH,
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Re: Favorite Custom variation for the SG bridge
I've been playing with the Custom 8 in my SG for awhile, but I just can't get into it. It seems like it has all the qualities of a metal pickup but without the output. I'll probably get around to trying another round of A2/A5/Ceramic once I get time to take it out of there. The only problem with that is that the batwing SG pickguards have to come off, along with the bridge, just to dismount the pickups. I love the look, but it's such a hassle compared to the models with mouting rings.
My experiences with SG bridge pickups so far have been:
498T - Stock pickup on SG Standards. A common complaint is that these guys are muddy and have a harsh high end. SGs are thin, so the 498T fills out the sound quite a bit. I really like it. Cleans were pretty good. I think it's a perfect match for an SG, but probably not so much for other guitars.
Custom - A little tighter than the 498T, and a bit more refined. I like the cleans just a little bit less than the 498T, but there were still nice. I keep coming back to the Custom, there's just something about that seems so natural despite the ceramic.
Custom 5 - I found this one scooped, but nice sounding. I didn't spend too much time with it though. I was happier with the Custom.
Custom 8 - As much as the Custom 8 is hyped on this forum, I just don't hear what everyone else seems to in it. The cleans seem less organic, not more. It feels pushed and stiff, but had less output than the other Customs. Works great with high gain and stays tight though. I made my own from a regular Custom, and got the Custom Shop to make me one, and tried putting an A8 in a 498T, and none of them sounded like what other people here described.
490R w/ A5 - The 490R is meant to be a neck pickup, but is pretty much a T-Top with an A2. I put an A5 in one to make it to T-Top spec and put it in a Xaviere SG copy. It's awesome for that Fugazi/TPR/Sleater-Kinney kind of vibe.
60ST - This came stock in my Epi Elitist SG. This pickup is incredible. Very loose and organic, despite measuring in at about 14k. It's either an A5 or an A2, but I can't seem to find a reliable source to confirm that, since it seems like Epiphone was inconsistent with their marketing. The body on the Elitist SG is thinner than a Standard, but the 60ST really fills it out and can still handle high gain pretty well.
I've been playing with the Custom 8 in my SG for awhile, but I just can't get into it. It seems like it has all the qualities of a metal pickup but without the output. I'll probably get around to trying another round of A2/A5/Ceramic once I get time to take it out of there. The only problem with that is that the batwing SG pickguards have to come off, along with the bridge, just to dismount the pickups. I love the look, but it's such a hassle compared to the models with mouting rings.
My experiences with SG bridge pickups so far have been:
498T - Stock pickup on SG Standards. A common complaint is that these guys are muddy and have a harsh high end. SGs are thin, so the 498T fills out the sound quite a bit. I really like it. Cleans were pretty good. I think it's a perfect match for an SG, but probably not so much for other guitars.
Custom - A little tighter than the 498T, and a bit more refined. I like the cleans just a little bit less than the 498T, but there were still nice. I keep coming back to the Custom, there's just something about that seems so natural despite the ceramic.
Custom 5 - I found this one scooped, but nice sounding. I didn't spend too much time with it though. I was happier with the Custom.
Custom 8 - As much as the Custom 8 is hyped on this forum, I just don't hear what everyone else seems to in it. The cleans seem less organic, not more. It feels pushed and stiff, but had less output than the other Customs. Works great with high gain and stays tight though. I made my own from a regular Custom, and got the Custom Shop to make me one, and tried putting an A8 in a 498T, and none of them sounded like what other people here described.
490R w/ A5 - The 490R is meant to be a neck pickup, but is pretty much a T-Top with an A2. I put an A5 in one to make it to T-Top spec and put it in a Xaviere SG copy. It's awesome for that Fugazi/TPR/Sleater-Kinney kind of vibe.
60ST - This came stock in my Epi Elitist SG. This pickup is incredible. Very loose and organic, despite measuring in at about 14k. It's either an A5 or an A2, but I can't seem to find a reliable source to confirm that, since it seems like Epiphone was inconsistent with their marketing. The body on the Elitist SG is thinner than a Standard, but the 60ST really fills it out and can still handle high gain pretty well.
blueman335
Mojo's Minions
Re: Favorite Custom variation for the SG bridge
Yes, there is a bit of the 'less organic' sound to a C8, and the high output makes it a little stiff, but it's fuller and richer than a C5, and still far superior to the harsh and stiff sound of a regular Custom (SH-5).
Everything I've seen about the 60ST/50SR has said A5. I have a set and they're fairly bright, and I'd think the bridge would be noticeably warmer if it had an A2; I swapped out the mag to get more warmth and mids.
Yes, there is a bit of the 'less organic' sound to a C8, and the high output makes it a little stiff, but it's fuller and richer than a C5, and still far superior to the harsh and stiff sound of a regular Custom (SH-5).
Everything I've seen about the 60ST/50SR has said A5. I have a set and they're fairly bright, and I'd think the bridge would be noticeably warmer if it had an A2; I swapped out the mag to get more warmth and mids.
Re: Favorite Custom variation for the SG bridge
C8, absolutely. 10 times better than any of the other choices.
I don't get mremic01 saying that the C8 has less output than the other Customs. That just is not true. The ceramic may have a slight edge in output, but the C8 is lots higher than any of the others. Makes me think that he hasn't really had an A8 (fully charged) in his Custom.
C8, absolutely. 10 times better than any of the other choices.
I don't get mremic01 saying that the C8 has less output than the other Customs. That just is not true. The ceramic may have a slight edge in output, but the C8 is lots higher than any of the others. Makes me think that he hasn't really had an A8 (fully charged) in his Custom.
blueman335
Mojo's Minions
Re: Favorite Custom variation for the SG bridge
+1. Some 'experts' here have said that A8's are more powerful than the common ceramic. Not sure, but either way, both are strong magnets and output isn't lacking in either. While A8's don't have nearly the texture, dynamics, and response of an A2 or UOA5, they have more than a ceramic.
+1. Some 'experts' here have said that A8's are more powerful than the common ceramic. Not sure, but either way, both are strong magnets and output isn't lacking in either. While A8's don't have nearly the texture, dynamics, and response of an A2 or UOA5, they have more than a ceramic.
Re: Favorite Custom variation for the SG bridge
I don't find the Custom harsh or stiff at all. In both my LP and SG, it's still nice and looser than a lot of alnico pickups. I got my first one not knowing the difference between magnets and just by looking at Duncan's description, and years later surprised that a ceramic can sound so natural. To my ears it's a little tighter, smoother, and more modern than the 498T, but does the same thing. I think it suites LPs better, but with SGs both seem to work really well depending on what you want to get out of that particular guitar.
People who have called Epiphone to ask about the Elitist pickups are told that they're A2s, while on paper they're supposed to be A5s. It doesn't help that ads for the Elitists never mentioned what was in them and there were tons of rumors about them going around for awhile. Some people also say they're 498Ts with an Epi logo, others say they're '57s. I assumed they were more on the vintage side of things until I measured mine and it read about 14k. Either way, they're great pickups and I kept putting them back in until I decided they were staying.
I don't get it either. It makes me worry about my ears/sanity a bit, since what I'm getting isn't at all what everyone else is describing. But I got an A8 from Wymore back when they were selling them, then tried one from Addiction FX, then got a C8 from the Custom Shop. None of them matched the output from my bridge '59s without being very very close to the strings. I've pretty much given up on A8 and I'm going back to traditional magnets.
I don't find the Custom harsh or stiff at all. In both my LP and SG, it's still nice and looser than a lot of alnico pickups. I got my first one not knowing the difference between magnets and just by looking at Duncan's description, and years later surprised that a ceramic can sound so natural. To my ears it's a little tighter, smoother, and more modern than the 498T, but does the same thing. I think it suites LPs better, but with SGs both seem to work really well depending on what you want to get out of that particular guitar.
People who have called Epiphone to ask about the Elitist pickups are told that they're A2s, while on paper they're supposed to be A5s. It doesn't help that ads for the Elitists never mentioned what was in them and there were tons of rumors about them going around for awhile. Some people also say they're 498Ts with an Epi logo, others say they're '57s. I assumed they were more on the vintage side of things until I measured mine and it read about 14k. Either way, they're great pickups and I kept putting them back in until I decided they were staying.
I don't get it either. It makes me worry about my ears/sanity a bit, since what I'm getting isn't at all what everyone else is describing. But I got an A8 from Wymore back when they were selling them, then tried one from Addiction FX, then got a C8 from the Custom Shop. None of them matched the output from my bridge '59s without being very very close to the strings. I've pretty much given up on A8 and I'm going back to traditional magnets.
Re: Favorite Custom variation for the SG bridge
I don't get it either. Comparing to the C5 and the UO C5, the C8 has a lot more output. It is, by the way, the thing that I don't like so much about it.
I don't get it either. Comparing to the C5 and the UO C5, the C8 has a lot more output. It is, by the way, the thing that I don't like so much about it.
