Favorite Humbuckers pt. 2

[Metalblaze]

The Custom

 

[JALIN]

JB all da way

 

[cvansickle]

My current fave is the C5 - it's great for classic rock, southern rock, blues, all the stuff that I'm playing currently. I love the sound of my Les Paul with the C5.

In the past 20 years, I've used the Custom, the Distortion and the JB too. They each have their purpose - the Distortion is best for all-out heavy metal, like Judas Priest and Metallica. The Custom was best for 80s pop-metal, like Def Leppard and Bon Jovi. The JB was my Guns N' Roses tone.

Now, my sound is geared toward my original music, and the Custom 5 is my voice. Thank you, Seymour!

 

[papersoul]

Funny thing is, the C-5 will also do those other styles you mention. It's that good.

 

[cvansickle]

Funny thing is, the C-5 will also do those other styles you mention. It's that good.

Yeah, it does. With the help of some good EQ and boost pedals, I can get really any sound I want. But it helps to have a good tough pickup to start with. I use a 59 neck on this axe too.

Check out my stuff - www.cvansickle.net/peds.htm

 

[guymanperson]

CC roxors

 

[papersoul]

Yeah, it does. With the help of some good EQ and boost pedals, I can get really any sound I want. But it helps to have a good tough pickup to start with. I use a 59 neck on this axe too.

Check out my stuff - www.cvansickle.net/peds.htm

The thing I like is that the C-5 is like a combination of vintage and modern......nice bite, yet still has some of the vintage flavor similar to my Burstbucker Pros. I say vintage because of the PAF voicing.....but they have that modern output and bit for old school metal and nu-metal. We do a little of both.

 

[cvansickle]

The thing I like is that the C-5 is like a combination of vintage and modern......nice bite, yet still has some of the vintage flavor

By George, I think you've hit it right on the head - the best aspects of vintage and modern in one pickup. I couldn't agree with you more. I think the C5 has gives me a much tighter bottom end than a typical vintage pickup, but also avoids the shrill top end that a lot of modern pickups have.

Perhaps another way to put it is that the Custom 5 is a versatile pickup. It allows the player to player to let his or her own playing style determine the sound of the guitar, as opposed to the sound of the pickup determining the player's style.

Any reader of this forum must understand that any opinions expressed here are just that - opinions - and that sound is subjective. Every player has their own likes and dislikes when it comes to music and gear. I enjoy and appreciate the opportunity to communicate on this forum. Thanks for listening.

 

[adamski]

I vote for the SH-5 Custom. It's my current favorite SD pickup. I didn't
have oportunity to try many pickups but since I put Custom in my axe I just love it's sound and I don't need to swap it.

 

[papersoul]

By George, I think you've hit it right on the head - the best aspects of vintage and modern in one pickup. I couldn't agree with you more. I think the C5 has gives me a much tighter bottom end than a typical vintage pickup, but also avoids the shrill top end that a lot of modern pickups have.

Perhaps another way to put it is that the Custom 5 is a versatile pickup. It allows the player to player to let his or her own playing style determine the sound of the guitar, as opposed to the sound of the pickup determining the player's style.

Exactly, and I think that is the reason a lot of people dislike the C-5. I find it similar to my Burstbucker Pros but a little beefier and more percussive. Both allow the guitar to come through which I guess is surprising since it has so much bass. I don't find it dominating the guitar like many midrange monsters.

Not sure if you notice this...but leads are very defined and percussive with the C-5...not sure why. Also, chords are oh so clear and defined bordering on active pickup clarity.

Now, if I could just find the best neck pickup to match. The 59 to me is too muddy in the neck. Maybe I'll try the PGn.

 

[Hunter1974]

Pickup question

Pickup question

When you guys say custom 5,do you mean the TB-14 custom 5 or the SH-5?Because the TB-14 is what the tone wizard said to get for my guitar combined with the jazz or 59.

 

[cvansickle]

Re: Pickup question

Re: Pickup question

When you guys say custom 5,do you mean the TB-14 custom 5 or the SH-5?Because the TB-14 is what the tone wizard said to get for my guitar combined with the jazz or 59.

Yes, the SH-14 is also known as the Custom 5, as in the winding of a Custom but with an Alnico 5 magnet instead of a ceramic magnet. Forum posters also refer to it as the C5.

I use a 59 neck with the C5 in my '79 Les Paul Custom. I've never used a Jazz, but one of these days I'm going to get another Les Paul and try that JB-Jazz combo that Seymour raves about. 15 years ago, I had a Gibson Challenger that I upgraded with a JB and a 59 neck, and it was awesome. I tuned it to E flat and used it as my Guns N' Roses, Kiss, Thin Lizzy, Ozzy guitar. It had a solid mahogany body and a maple neck. Man, I wish I still had that guitar!

 

[Thames]

Be careful guys about commenting on those who dont like the C5....:foot:

I don't like the C5, no I'm not crazy, I'm no deaf either. It didnt let the SG ring at all when I tried it. Too much of everything. I don't like it's EQ. True tone of the guitar ? :bs2:

And concerning this :
"It allows the player to player to let his or her own playing style determine the sound of the guitar, as opposed to the sound of the pickup determining the player's style."

Sorry, but its not the case of *any* med/high output HB IMHO. The Antiquities, '59 and Seth Lovers does a better job than the C5 when it comes to the true sound of the guitar.


Me too I think that if Seymour hasn't released this model before, it was because he didnt like it too.

 

[cvansickle]

Sorry, but its not the case of *any* med/high output HB IMHO. The Antiquities, '59 and Seth Lovers does a better job than the C5 when it comes to the true sound of the guitar.

I've never used an Antiquity or a Seth myself, so I won't dispute you on this. I used a Gibson 57 Classic + before I switched to the C5. I liked it at first, but it had a tendency to get real muddy on me.

I guess I'm an Alnico 5 fan. I use a Les Paul Special with stock P90s, which are Alnico 5 loaded, and I have a Strat that now has a Duncan Quarter Pound in it, another Alnico 5 beauty.

 

[Jocelyn]

I am J.B. all the way

 

[Jocelyn]

i am J. B all the way

 

[Kent S.]

Custom Custom , although the custom is a second.

 

[papersoul]

Two very knowledgable guys on the forum, Robert S and Gearjoneser are huge C-5 fans and got me started on one. Gearjoneser especially has said that it does allow the guitar to come through mor ethan other medium to high output pickups....not necessarily more than low output p'ups but also seems to work well with most mahogany/maple topped guitars. I personally find it extremely balanced in a mahogany guitar with superb clarity.

But, I will say that the lower output Burstbucker Pros allow more of the guitar to come through....but still don't have the lead tone of the C-5.

The JB is a weird animal. For years guys new and old said to avoid the JB as it was midrange hell, shrill, and would mud up an already midrange heavy guitar or give an 80s metal shred type tone. No body. I believed them and steared clear of the JB till i finally bought two Hamers that came stock and low and behold, what a nice pickup! It really does sing and has a great clean tone for a high output bucker. I only wish it had a little more beef.

I finally tried a Custom in a friend's Hamer and kind of felt the C-5 was a little warmer.

 

[Young Angus]

Re: Favorite Humbuckers pt. 2

JB certainly seems popular

Got my vote!

 

[shred-dog]

Re: Favorite Humbuckers pt. 2

J freakin' B !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! but as gearjones said i'm stupid or something ! :grumble: but that could change as soon as i get my EL DIABLO from MJ!!!!!!!!!!!!!! tremspaced 14.5k alnico5 mag !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! can't wait :headbang: :cool2: