Full shred vs SH-5 Duncan custom for low tuning

O

Onionofownage95

New member
Hi there. I'm looking to replace the bridge pickup in my ibanez sz720. I want a tight, clear, defined crunch. I'm considering the full shred (which I've never tried but heard is awesome for low tuning) and the custom, which I had in an all mahogany guitar similar to my 720 and loved.
Basically what I'm asking is, what pickup would you recommend for low tuned, aggressive modern metal (I'm not looking for a thrash tone, so nothing overly bright or scratchy, it needs to be pretty beefy sounding. I'm also not a shredder, so lead tone isn't important, as long as the rhythm tone is up to par.)
Clarity, definition and balls is the name of the game here. Just for info: please dont recommend the JB, had it in an all mahogany guitar and it was so awful- the most searing, ear piercing sound ever, even on palm mutes, but yet super loose and muddy, notes just smeared together. I also hate blackouts with a flaming passion, as well as anything else active. I've tried the custom as I stated before, but how do you think it does against the full shred? Are there any other pickups youd recommend for detuning?
The guitar will either be tuned to drop C or AGCFAD by the way.
Any advice you could give me would be much appreciated.
 
Re: Full shred vs SH-5 Duncan custom for low tuning

even though i love the custom the FS is the one for you here....
 
Re: Full shred vs SH-5 Duncan custom for low tuning

Ed Hunter said:
even though i love the custom the FS is the one for you here....
Click to expand...

Awesome. Why do you think that exactly? Not doubting you one bit I'm just curious as to how the FS and custom compare. I really like the custom too, just wondered if there was anything better for what I'm doing, guess its the full shred.
 
Re: Full shred vs SH-5 Duncan custom for low tuning

Ed Hunter said:
even though i love the custom the FS is the one for you here....
Click to expand...

+1.


Definitely.

All of the original Hellbilly Deluxe (Rob Zombie/Mike Riggs) was recorded with a Full Shred in Drop C.
 
Re: Full shred vs SH-5 Duncan custom for low tuning

The Full Shred should do the job here. It's the tightest pickup SD has to offer. I loved it for fast, palm-muted riffing but it lacks low end imo. If you want big and powerful chugs, look for something else or get an eq pedal.

My personal favorite for br00talz is the Distortion though. I have it in one of my axes which is tuned to B standard and it slays! It's tight, aggressive, punchy and has an enormous low end (the tuning provides for a lot of that of course). This is the best you can get for such music but you gotta take your time to tweak it right (overall height, polepieces, amp settings).
 
Re: Full shred vs SH-5 Duncan custom for low tuning

Chuck_Norris said:
The Full Shred should do the job here. It's the tightest pickup SD has to offer. I loved it for fast, palm-muted riffing but it lacks low end imo. If you want big and powerful chugs, look for something else or get an eq pedal.

My personal favorite for br00talz is the Distortion though. I have it in one of my axes which is tuned to B standard and it slays! It's tight, aggressive, punchy and has an enormous low end (the tuning provides for a lot of that of course). This is the best you can get for such music but you gotta take your time to tweak it right (overall height, polepieces, amp settings).
Click to expand...

Surely I could just turn the low end up on my amp? Hopefully the low tuning and inherently dark guitar the pickup is going in will help with the low end?
The distortion is a little "thrash" sounding for me of you know what I mean. I'm pretty sure I'm gonna go for the custom or full shred.
 
Re: Full shred vs SH-5 Duncan custom for low tuning

I say full shred with a ceramic. It adds a bit of lows but they're tight. Worked really well in C tunings.
 
Re: Full shred vs SH-5 Duncan custom for low tuning

Yeah the FS should be the winner here. Its more like a custom 5 with the lows chopped down. Because of that it has the impression of having slightly more mids.
 
Re: Full shred vs SH-5 Duncan custom for low tuning

It does. Its not overly dramatic, but it sounds good with a ceramic for a modern metal. The FS is nice and crunchy and it beefs up with a ceramic too.
 
Re: Full shred vs SH-5 Duncan custom for low tuning

I vote FS, focused and tight, lacks a bit of low end, but that is easily adjusted. My favourite Duncan, it has a very nice crunch to it.

I thought the bridge was ceramic... Apparently it's not:)
 
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Re: Full shred vs SH-5 Duncan custom for low tuning

DarkMatter said:
It does. Its not overly dramatic, but it sounds good with a ceramic for a modern metal. The FS is nice and crunchy and it beefs up with a ceramic too.
Click to expand...

I think I'm gonna go with the custom as its a little more scooped- I just plugged into my 6505 with my new mxr gt-od and the tone is pretty mid heavy (how I like it) but I'm thinking with a pup as mid heavy as the FS my guitar sound may turn into a permanent half cocked wah.
 
Re: Full shred vs SH-5 Duncan custom for low tuning

I've got an MJ wound FS it's a little underwound IIRC 12.78 ohms, double black. I'll sell it for the right price. PM me if interested.
 
Re: Full shred vs SH-5 Duncan custom for low tuning

I Have the Full Shred Set in my Neckthru Ibanez Iceman ( Maple and walnut neck

w/mahogany wings) tuned to Drop C. The Full Shred Bridge has just enough chunk to keep

the low strings tight although the bass is the least present in the Pickups EQ. The Mids are

definitely present , I'd say Mids at 12 o'clock. Treble Response is

most definitely there buts its not harsh, more like sharp and cutting in the pick

attack.....and VERY ARTICULATE. Which can be a blessing and a curse IMO. If your

right hand picking technique is tight you will LOVE the Full Shred because you can still

hear every detail in a chord ringing clearly when the Gain is pushed to its absolute

limits. On the other hand If your right hand picking technique is more on the sloppy side

of things the FS articulation will expose your flaws loud and clear. The FS comes stock

with an Alnico V Mag. And for your info Frank Falbo has said in previous posts that the

Full Shred is based on the Duncan Custom Wind. The only difference being the FS has a

double row of hex poles compared to the Customs Screw Coil/ Slug Coil.
 
Re: Full shred vs SH-5 Duncan custom for low tuning

JOEBACCA said:
I Have the Full Shred Set in my Neckthru Ibanez Iceman ( Maple and walnut neck

w/mahogany wings) tuned to Drop C. The Full Shred Bridge has just enough chunk to keep

the low strings tight although the bass is the least present in the Pickups EQ. The Mids are

definitely present , I'd say Mids at 12 o'clock. Treble Response is

most definitely there buts its not harsh, more like sharp and cutting in the pick

attack.....and VERY ARTICULATE. Which can be a blessing and a curse IMO. If your

right hand picking technique is tight you will LOVE the Full Shred because you can still

hear every detail in a chord ringing clearly when the Gain is pushed to its absolute

limits. On the other hand If your right hand picking technique is more on the sloppy side

of things the FS articulation will expose your flaws loud and clear. The FS comes stock

with an Alnico V Mag. And for your info Frank Falbo has said in previous posts that the

Full Shred is based on the Duncan Custom Wind. The only difference being the FS has a

double row of hex poles compared to the Customs Screw Coil/ Slug Coil.
Click to expand...

Lucky for me my right hand technique is about the only thing I like about the way I play! The full shred really does sound ideal, I'm just worried that its gonna sound like a wah is always on with those mids. Does your full shred sound like a cocked wah?
 
Re: Full shred vs SH-5 Duncan custom for low tuning

Personally I don't hear the pickup as having a half cocked wah tone at all. The mids are

present but thats a good thing. Mids are definitely your friend in a band mix. Scooped Mids

= FAIL but I'm sure you know this.....I hope. ;)
 
Re: Full shred vs SH-5 Duncan custom for low tuning

JOEBACCA said:
Personally I don't hear the pickup as having a half cocked wah tone at all. The mids are

present but thats a good thing. Mids are definitely your friend in a band mix. Scooped Mids

= FAIL but I'm sure you know this.....I hope. ;)
Click to expand...

Hahahahaha scooped mids ALWAYS sound like crap to my ears. I play through a 6505+ (crazy mid heavy) with the mids on 6 boosted with a GT-OD (more mids)
I love a mid heavy sound but you can have too much mid content y'know, hence why I tend to go for scooped pups, but I'd the FS doesn't sound like a nasty cocked wah I don't see why I shouldn't go for it, it sounds ideal.
 
Re: Full shred vs SH-5 Duncan custom for low tuning

I think there are difference in the mids. Low, middle, and high. I like having a pup with good dose of middle mids, but I like to avoid low and high mids when it's there in excess.

So my guess would be that Custom has good dose of low mids, but unlike the Custom 8, I don't think it will be too much when tuned that low. Full Shred takes things even further no doubt, tightening the bass while shifting some of the low mids towards the high end.
 
Re: Full shred vs SH-5 Duncan custom for low tuning

6505 with the MXR OD? We have the same rig...I'm in drop b right now in my parker loaded with DDJs and am very happy with the tone...guitar is mahogony body with maple neck and ebony fretboard....
 
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