roadstar II
New member
I would like to hear which of the customs you like best and if you want post why?
Favorite duncan custom?
- Thread starter roadstar II
- Start date
Re: Favorite duncan custom?
C5! hands down.
I am a little curious to know who likes CC. my washburn idol came with a CC at bridge and hated it. it was so nasal and compressed. I wonder what kind of guitar it sounds good in?
I love alnico 2 in phat cats and single coils, strat or tele
C5! hands down.
I am a little curious to know who likes CC. my washburn idol came with a CC at bridge and hated it. it was so nasal and compressed. I wonder what kind of guitar it sounds good in?
I love alnico 2 in phat cats and single coils, strat or tele
T
theodie
Guest
Re: Favorite duncan custom?
Depends on the guitar! If its a dark guitar, the C5. If the guitar is neutral or anything other than dark, the Custom!
Depends on the guitar! If its a dark guitar, the C5. If the guitar is neutral or anything other than dark, the Custom!
Re: Favorite duncan custom?
Overall tone - I LOVE THE C5, beautiful, full and bassy
Now why don't I use one? heheh well I found that the CC cuts better, but damn it's a tad muddy and mean. Not nearly as touch responsive.
SEYMOUR ARE YOU LISTENING? A hot, specially wound version of the APH1 built to be fatter and louder but relatively the same EQ - that would be a beautiful thing.
I tried Zhang's C3 once, but never used it thru a Marshall rig, so I am dying to hear it LOUD! I have yet to gig with a C3, but so far A2s are my fave mag.
How did I arrive at the 5? Well, a lot of paying gigs are behine female singers. so I can rock with a 5, but it also backs off and plays smooth rhythm - something the other Customs have not done as well for me. Plus I have recorded with the 5 and it is NICE. Works well with Volume and Tone controls.
It's funny - the C5 came from this board, and the most detractors of the C5 are on this board are well - funny, no?
Overall tone - I LOVE THE C5, beautiful, full and bassy
Now why don't I use one? heheh well I found that the CC cuts better, but damn it's a tad muddy and mean. Not nearly as touch responsive.
SEYMOUR ARE YOU LISTENING? A hot, specially wound version of the APH1 built to be fatter and louder but relatively the same EQ - that would be a beautiful thing.
I tried Zhang's C3 once, but never used it thru a Marshall rig, so I am dying to hear it LOUD! I have yet to gig with a C3, but so far A2s are my fave mag.
How did I arrive at the 5? Well, a lot of paying gigs are behine female singers. so I can rock with a 5, but it also backs off and plays smooth rhythm - something the other Customs have not done as well for me. Plus I have recorded with the 5 and it is NICE. Works well with Volume and Tone controls.
It's funny - the C5 came from this board, and the most detractors of the C5 are on this board are well - funny, no?
ibanezrocks
HardtailPisser
Re: Favorite duncan custom?
It's perfect in my SG, it is compressed and has tons of mids and especially lower mids, so it beefs up the sound which is a really nice touch under moderate gain, and it handles high gain really nicely as well. It has spongey bass which is really organic sounding, but overall its still articulate.rguser said:
Gearjoneser
Gear Ho
Re: Favorite duncan custom?
I went through this Custom tonesearch extensively!
At one point, I had a
Custom (ceramic)
CC (A2)
C-3
C-4 (great pickup....it's for sale by the way...PM me)
C-5
and at User Group Day, I made an overwound 15.3 Custom 5
Not surprisingly, every one of them sounds totally useful in the right guitar.
My favorite is the regular nickel Custom 5, but the overwound one has better mids, and the top is a little creamier than the stock one. GREAT pickup for metal, if you ever want the Custom Shop to make you one.
The CC is best for bluesrock or fusion, with the bulky low mids and creamy highs. The Custom is best for a guy plugged into gain at all times, but also does midgain nicely too. The A3 magnet, IMO, is best on neck pickups that need more treble, but isn't as pleasing to me as a bridge C3. The C4 is like a C-5 with the U scoop flattened out a bit, and the feel is less spongy and harder like a Jazz Bridge with Custom power. Great pickup for adding clarity and power to a less punchy sounding guitar like and Explorer or 335.
One thing I've discovered about the Customs is that Seymour seems to have found the right resistance and wind, then just changed the magnets. Seymour is right about 14.4K, because if it's underwound, it gets thinner, and if you overwind it, it gets more compressed. He found the optimum platform to change magnets in......and that's what the Custom series is.
I went through this Custom tonesearch extensively!
At one point, I had a
Custom (ceramic)
CC (A2)
C-3
C-4 (great pickup....it's for sale by the way...PM me)
C-5
and at User Group Day, I made an overwound 15.3 Custom 5
Not surprisingly, every one of them sounds totally useful in the right guitar.
My favorite is the regular nickel Custom 5, but the overwound one has better mids, and the top is a little creamier than the stock one. GREAT pickup for metal, if you ever want the Custom Shop to make you one.
The CC is best for bluesrock or fusion, with the bulky low mids and creamy highs. The Custom is best for a guy plugged into gain at all times, but also does midgain nicely too. The A3 magnet, IMO, is best on neck pickups that need more treble, but isn't as pleasing to me as a bridge C3. The C4 is like a C-5 with the U scoop flattened out a bit, and the feel is less spongy and harder like a Jazz Bridge with Custom power. Great pickup for adding clarity and power to a less punchy sounding guitar like and Explorer or 335.
One thing I've discovered about the Customs is that Seymour seems to have found the right resistance and wind, then just changed the magnets. Seymour is right about 14.4K, because if it's underwound, it gets thinner, and if you overwind it, it gets more compressed. He found the optimum platform to change magnets in......and that's what the Custom series is.
MattPete
New member
Re: Favorite duncan custom?
In this order:
Custom
C3
CC
C5
C4
I thought the C4 sounded nasty and harsh -- maybe it will well in an all mahogany guitar like an Explorer, but it didn't sound good in my maple capped guitar. It had more mids than the C5, but there was something at the top I didn't like. The C5 was too scooped, with massive bass, thin highs, and no mids.
The CC sounds great, but at times can sound a bit too middy (ala Dire Straits "Money for Nothing") and the bass can be weak. The C3 is an improvement, as it reduces the mids a hair and adds bass and treble. I think the Custom is the best balanced, but it's clean sound isn't too hot, so I rank the Custom 1st, but the C3 is a close second.
In this order:
Custom
C3
CC
C5
C4
I thought the C4 sounded nasty and harsh -- maybe it will well in an all mahogany guitar like an Explorer, but it didn't sound good in my maple capped guitar. It had more mids than the C5, but there was something at the top I didn't like. The C5 was too scooped, with massive bass, thin highs, and no mids.
The CC sounds great, but at times can sound a bit too middy (ala Dire Straits "Money for Nothing") and the bass can be weak. The C3 is an improvement, as it reduces the mids a hair and adds bass and treble. I think the Custom is the best balanced, but it's clean sound isn't too hot, so I rank the Custom 1st, but the C3 is a close second.
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hamerfan
Well-known member
Re: Favorite duncan custom?
I mostly with MattPete, but he forgot (and all of you) the C8. It is less harsh and more alnico sounding version of the Ceramic Custom. Most of the Power, but a little less bass and highs, so that the mids coming better (in the direction of the C3).
My super strat (maple, alder) is now carrying the C3 and my Hamer Special (all mahogany) has the C8. I tested every C version (except the C4) in both guitars.
I mostly with MattPete, but he forgot (and all of you) the C8. It is less harsh and more alnico sounding version of the Ceramic Custom. Most of the Power, but a little less bass and highs, so that the mids coming better (in the direction of the C3).
My super strat (maple, alder) is now carrying the C3 and my Hamer Special (all mahogany) has the C8. I tested every C version (except the C4) in both guitars.
L
Lewguitar
Guest
Re: Favorite duncan custom?
I love the Custom Custom and like (but don't love!) the Custom 5.
To me, the Custom 5 sounds great when played at loud volumes through a cranked and great sounding rock amp with plenty of mids...but played at normal volumes through most amps the Custom 5 sounds to me like it needs more midrange and sounds to bright and bassy.
Of the three, my fave is the Custom Custom...closely followed by the Custom...and then the Custom 5.
Lew
I love the Custom Custom and like (but don't love!) the Custom 5.
To me, the Custom 5 sounds great when played at loud volumes through a cranked and great sounding rock amp with plenty of mids...but played at normal volumes through most amps the Custom 5 sounds to me like it needs more midrange and sounds to bright and bassy.
Of the three, my fave is the Custom Custom...closely followed by the Custom...and then the Custom 5.
Lew
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Re: Favorite duncan custom?
Custom suits my style the best out of the three.
Great chunky sound for rock/metal. Stays nice and clear downtuned too. The cleans on it aren't that great as a humbucker, but split it sounds alright. I'm not a big fan of bridge humbucker cleans anyway!
Custom suits my style the best out of the three.
Great chunky sound for rock/metal. Stays nice and clear downtuned too. The cleans on it aren't that great as a humbucker, but split it sounds alright. I'm not a big fan of bridge humbucker cleans anyway!
bloodswords
New member
Re: Favorite duncan custom?
i have the following & love them ALL!!
Custom (Ibanez RG321)- deep bass response, not as much as Invader, nothing lacking either.
CC (Ibanez SZ320)- stinging midrange, balances well with an inherently bass-inclined guitar.
C5 (Gibson SG Special)- a surprising metal performance from this one, able to replicate that nasty, old-school black metal tone (with the correct supplementary set-up of course)
i have the following & love them ALL!!
Custom (Ibanez RG321)- deep bass response, not as much as Invader, nothing lacking either.
CC (Ibanez SZ320)- stinging midrange, balances well with an inherently bass-inclined guitar.
C5 (Gibson SG Special)- a surprising metal performance from this one, able to replicate that nasty, old-school black metal tone (with the correct supplementary set-up of course)
W
WGTP
Guest
Re: Favorite duncan custom?
I have an old double cream coil custom in a les paul with a maple neck and 1Meg pot. It's pretty bright, but sort of sounds like a BIG PG. When I tried the C5, it was cool, but sort of reminded me of the plain old 70's gibson humbucker, which wasn't so cool. I love the CC's nasty spongy bottom and sweet top, but it doesn't cut thru things very well. Need a LP with a CC and DC.
I have an old double cream coil custom in a les paul with a maple neck and 1Meg pot. It's pretty bright, but sort of sounds like a BIG PG. When I tried the C5, it was cool, but sort of reminded me of the plain old 70's gibson humbucker, which wasn't so cool. I love the CC's nasty spongy bottom and sweet top, but it doesn't cut thru things very well. Need a LP with a CC and DC.
wildstar
New member
Re: Favorite duncan custom?
Roadstar, when are you going to stop fighting destiny and just get a JB/Custom hybrid?
BTW, I voted for Custom. I love the CC, but if I could only pick one I'd choose the attitude of the Custom over the sweetness of the CC. MYHO
try the hybrid... try the hybrid... try the hybrid...
Roadstar, when are you going to stop fighting destiny and just get a JB/Custom hybrid?
BTW, I voted for Custom. I love the CC, but if I could only pick one I'd choose the attitude of the Custom over the sweetness of the CC. MYHO
try the hybrid... try the hybrid... try the hybrid...
roadstar II
New member
Re: Favorite duncan custom?
NEVER
that would be my END
:18: :wave: :beerchug:wildstar said:
NEVER
that would be my END
L
Lewguitar
Guest
Re: Favorite duncan custom?
I'm going to revise this post...now that I've had a chance to try the Custom with the Pearly Gates neck, it's become my favorite of the Customs.
I do love the Custom Custom, but the Custom is starting to pull ahead.
I had the Custom in a single pickup Strat and love it in that guitar...now I've installed it in a two humbucker Strat and love it even more!
Killer single coil tones when split too!
Lew
Lewguitar said:I love the Custom Custom and like (but don't love!) the Custom 5.
To me, the Custom 5 sounds great when played at loud volumes through a cranked and great sounding rock amp with plenty of mids...but played at normal volumes through most amps the Custom 5 sounds to me like it needs more midrange and sounds to bright and bassy.
Of the three, my fave is the Custom Custom...closely followed by the Custom...and then the Custom 5.
Lew
I'm going to revise this post...now that I've had a chance to try the Custom with the Pearly Gates neck, it's become my favorite of the Customs.
I do love the Custom Custom, but the Custom is starting to pull ahead.
I had the Custom in a single pickup Strat and love it in that guitar...now I've installed it in a two humbucker Strat and love it even more!
Killer single coil tones when split too!
Lew
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JacksonMIA
Lemur-buckerologist
Re: Favorite duncan custom?
Custom Custom all the way. I'm more of an A2 kinda guy, so I guess that's where a lot of it comes from. It's extremely versatile and well suited for my Predator. It sounds great when split, especially when paired with my Hot Rails. In fact, I'm planning on building a superstrat to put my PATB2 in so I can put a CC back in the Predator.
I know it's a weak excuse, but it's good enough for me!!
Custom Custom all the way. I'm more of an A2 kinda guy, so I guess that's where a lot of it comes from. It's extremely versatile and well suited for my Predator. It sounds great when split, especially when paired with my Hot Rails. In fact, I'm planning on building a superstrat to put my PATB2 in so I can put a CC back in the Predator.
I know it's a weak excuse, but it's good enough for me!!
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