Full Shred vs Custom 5 vs Custom vs JB

[TRex]

I'm looking for a bridge pickup for my old Epi Les Paul.

To me she seems fairly balenced acousticly, and the stock pups are so muddy it's hard to tell if it's the guitar and pups or not when plugged in.

I play Classic Rock (like Led Zep, cream, etc), old school metal (like sabbath), late 80's thrash (like Megadeth&Metallica), stuff like Mastodon, some bluesy stuff here and there, and I do do cleans a bit.

I'm looking for a pickup that's hot enough for metal, tight enough for rhythm work, and can clean up well enough for some lightly driven cleans withe the volume knob.

The Full shred and Custom 5 are in theory the same besides the hex screws, right? If so, why is the full shred shown with drastically more mids? Does the screws do that much?

I know with either custom, I can always swap magnets and get the other or a C2 or C4 or C8 or whatever I want to try. But which one is more likely to be my sound if it is even one of these two?

The JB with less compression and tighter lows sounds good as well.

 

[chassless]

Re: Full Shred vs Custom 5 vs Custom vs JB

i'm curious what would people say. the Full Shred has a pretty balanced EQ, with a low end that's not so prominent and which makes it comparatively far less scooped sounding than the other SD pickups. it should suit you fine for what you want, though it might be a bit too 'clean' sounding if that's what you like.

 

[Mincer]

Re: Full Shred vs Custom 5 vs Custom vs JB

I'd check out a 59/Custom Hybrid or something else vintage-to-medium output. It has an upper midrange thing but not as pronounced as the JB, and doesn't compress the sound as much either. The Custom is a good choice but is also pretty hot, and might be too bold.

 

[TRex]

Re: Full Shred vs Custom 5 vs Custom vs JB

i'm curious what would people say. the Full Shred has a pretty balanced EQ, with a low end that's not so prominent and which makes it comparatively far less scooped sounding than the other SD pickups. it should suit you fine for what you want, though it might be a bit too 'clean' sounding if that's what you like.

That's kinda my thinking about it. Blanenced (with some light scoop in the mids), tight, and moderately hot

I'd check out a 59/Custom Hybrid or something else vintage-to-medium output. It has an upper midrange thing but not as pronounced as the JB, and doesn't compress the sound as much either. The Custom is a good choice but is also pretty hot, and might be too bold.

I forgot about that pup, hmm I guess I'll have to hear more from it

 

[Mr. B]

Re: Full Shred vs Custom 5 vs Custom vs JB

After trying dozens of pickups in Les Pauls, I have come to a conclusion about what sounds good to me in them. The Les Paul body style, by design, has a fat bottom end and clear strong highs. They seem to lack mids acoustically. I prefer pickups that add some mids and don't compound the lows and highs to the point where it is too much of a good thing. That is why I would avoid the Full Shred, Custom 5, Demon, etc.

The Custom is good if you like a big brash PAF tone. I don't like the JB in Les Pauls for other reasons. The 59/custom might be a good choice. Personally, I have mine loaded with a Whole Lotta Humbucker set, and it covers a lot of ground.

 

[Demanic]

Re: Full Shred vs Custom 5 vs Custom vs JB

I'm surprised you haven't considered the Distortion. A friend of mine has one in the bridge of a Jay Turser LP and it rocks. If you want to tame the top a bit, just roll back the tone. It also responds well to the the volume knob.

Sent from my MotoE2(4G-LTE) using Tapatalk

 

[LazNovak]

Re: Full Shred vs Custom 5 vs Custom vs JB

I'm looking for a pickup that's hot enough for metal, tight enough for rhythm work, and can clean up well enough for some lightly driven cleans withe the volume knob.

Alternative 8. I have it in my Les Paul Trad Pro II and it does just that. It's truly remarkable.

 

[Mincer]

Re: Full Shred vs Custom 5 vs Custom vs JB

I forgot about that pup, hmm I guess I'll have to hear more from it

Check it out:

 

[TRex]

Re: Full Shred vs Custom 5 vs Custom vs JB

Check it out:

That's really cool for sure.

I'm not sure which I wanna go with now, Full Shred or 59CH