For Blues, Classic Rock n Roll and Hard Rock

[DI_IORIO]

Hello brothers, here I go again with another question...

To get some balanced tone, not too much mids, highse and bass, on a middle gain distortion for an Explorer (From Cream, Led Zeppelin to Whitesnake's John Sykes tone, Judas Priest), which pick up is better on bridge? JB, Custom or Distortion? I want a fat tone with good low mids, clarity when using distortion, nice sustain, but not so thick as a Dimarzio Super Distortion, Invader, neither Tone Zone.
Something like a little less bassy and hotter than 500T, but not so bright as a JB. I should go with the Custom?
Thanks again!

 

[OlinMusic]

Re: For Blues, Classic Rock n Roll and Hard Rock

I would say the JB. The custom is a good choice as well. I think the Custom gives you more in the bass, the JB gives you the mids for those 80s style leads.

 

[DI_IORIO]

Re: For Blues, Classic Rock n Roll and Hard Rock

Thanks man
I've never tried a custom.. i hope it doesn't sound too muddy
Sometimes i like to roll down the gain just to get more classic rock or blues tones, and with the 500T, it was impossible
Like we can read at seymour's website, the Custom is a PAF on steroids.. so it's not so bright, but not bassy, am I right?
There's not a certain other guitar player's tone that I would like..just a good distortion, not very bright, and not too bassy...it's hard to explain heheh.. just to make my gibson sound like a gibson again.. the EMG's are cool but not what I really wanted..

 

[Benjy_26]

Re: For Blues, Classic Rock n Roll and Hard Rock

Get a Custom for the bridge and a Pearly Gates neck in the neck.

 

[DI_IORIO]

Re: For Blues, Classic Rock n Roll and Hard Rock

That's a good combination.. I think i will try, thanks man!
just another question.. can I get a good crunchy sound with the Custom model? or is it better with JB? A friend of mine said that the Duncan Custom is kind of "harsh", but he plays extreme metal, so... i'm in doubt..
By the way..if the Custom is really a PAF on steroids..I can't go wrong right?

 

[Jocelyn]

Re: For Blues, Classic Rock n Roll and Hard Rock

I play the smae styles u described Classic hard and blues I got a JB and it works well

 

[Lake Placid Blues]

Re: For Blues, Classic Rock n Roll and Hard Rock

Is this a Gibson or a super strat type? I used to play with a 83 Charvel that had a Customb/59n combo from time to time. In the super strat it could of used a bit more on the bottom end for the heavier rythim stuff, but otherwise it was able to cover all the bases you listed above rather well. In the Charvel it was smooth and sustainy with nice mids. It wasn't all that "hot" sounding, basically like a PAF that didn't get too thin for soloing. The Charvel was alder with a rosewood board, and a vintage six point trem. It may have the extra bottom end too, in a Gibson.

 

[madguitar26]

Re: For Blues, Classic Rock n Roll and Hard Rock

i hate the custom ,does crunch up thow but in a very harsh way when turning treble in your amp up.bass is to much at times.
id go for the custom custom
prefer the JB 4 times more.

 

[JeffB]

Re: For Blues, Classic Rock n Roll and Hard Rock

I've had the custom in a couple o' explorers...out of the three you mentioned, it no doubt would be the best choice, but I don't think it's your best choice in the Duncan line.

However, you're going from clapton to John Sykes....Sykes used the hottest pups Gibson has ever made for most of his career...Clapton the lowest output.

I personally would prolly go with a PG or a Seth in your situation...good mids with a bit more bite on top to help with no maple cap.

59s are bright as well and work decent in the neck, but as a bridge pup, it does not sound very good in an Explorer for copping higher gain sounds. It loses clarity.

CC IMO would be way too middy in an already dark sounding guitar (lotta mahogany, no maple cap in an Explorer)

JB is a harsh pickup IME..much harsher than a Custom...And certainly not "balanced" as you asked for: the high mid spike is fine at lower volumes, and yes cuts through the mix, but is annoying as hell at any kind of volume and anywhere outside of a gig.

Ultimately..if you are gonna spend more time with medium crunch to high gain, go custom...if you are gonna spend more time in medium crunch to lower gain/cleans, go PG or Seth.

 

[DI_IORIO]

Re: For Blues, Classic Rock n Roll and Hard Rock

Yeah, thanks guys! I think you try the Custom.. it must be the best choice for the sound I'm looking for
Thanks a lot!