Getting a Custom Custom for bridge, stock neck or PG neck?

[AkiraSpectrum]

I have a Custom Custom on order for my Godin Freeway Classic (HSH) from 2004. There is a decent deal on a Pearly Gates Neck on my local classifieds (Kijiji: $47 USD, $60 CAD). I'm not sure if I should get it to match the Custom Custom or keep the stock Godin (made by G&B Korea) neck pickup in there which is an 8.85 K ceramic. I like the neck humbucker but i'm not necessarily in love with it.

Any thoughts here? Would the Custom Custom match well enough with the stock neck pickup?

Thanks!

 

[elelpe]

Re: Getting a Custom Custom for bridge, stock neck or PG neck?

If you don't play a lot in neck position, maybe you should keep the original pickup. Pearly Gates neck is hard to come by though.

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: Getting a Custom Custom for bridge, stock neck or PG neck?

The PGn is one of the best neck humbuckers on the planet.

Couldn’t imagine it not being a lot better than a Korean made ceramic magnet pickup.

I’d grab it.

Same color as the CC?

 

[gregory]

Re: Getting a Custom Custom for bridge, stock neck or PG neck?

At that price? You'd be a fool not to buy it. If you don't want to buy it, please get me in touch with the seller so I can.

 

[Mincer]

Re: Getting a Custom Custom for bridge, stock neck or PG neck?

What don't you like about the current neck pickup? The CC and PG might be an interesting combo, with the CC showcasing more mids and the PG spotlightling the highs. But this all depends on what you don't like about the neck pickup, and what tonal problems you are trying to correct.

 

[AkiraSpectrum]

Re: Getting a Custom Custom for bridge, stock neck or PG neck?

The PGn is one of the best neck humbuckers on the planet.

Couldn’t imagine it not being a lot better than a Korean made ceramic magnet pickup.

I’d grab it.

Same color as the CC?

Yes, regular black color.

What don't you like about the current neck pickup? The CC and PG might be an interesting combo, with the CC showcasing more mids and the PG spotlightling the highs. But this all depends on what you don't like about the neck pickup, and what tonal problems you are trying to correct.

I'm relatively happy with the neck, although I would like it a little more if it had some more 'high end' detail? It's a little stale/bland sounding. Not horribly bland, but not as rich as I'd prefer.

 

[Mincer]

Re: Getting a Custom Custom for bridge, stock neck or PG neck?

Well, the PG will certainly emphasize the high end. It looks like a pretty amazing price, too.

 

[elelpe]

Re: Getting a Custom Custom for bridge, stock neck or PG neck?

... I would like it a little more if it had some more 'high end' detail? It's a little stale/bland sounding. Not horribly bland, but not as rich as I'd prefer.

Then proceed

 

[AkiraSpectrum]

Re: Getting a Custom Custom for bridge, stock neck or PG neck?

Well, everyone convinced me, lol.
The pickup looks to be in pretty good shape although the screws look like there is some black marks on them.
Either way, hopefully I can snatch it before someone else does!

 

[AkiraSpectrum]

Re: Getting a Custom Custom for bridge, stock neck or PG neck?

aaaaand I'm too late, lol. Seller said they found a buyer last night.
I did tell them that I'd buy it if the deal happens to fall through though, so here's to hoping it does :18:

 

[gregory]

Re: Getting a Custom Custom for bridge, stock neck or PG neck?

The PG has some congestion at the top end of its curve (which I like). I wouldn't call it detail. The Jazz gives you high end detail. I'd say the APH-1N does too because it doesn't have the have the congestion, rather a bit more high-end extension. Others will undoubtedly disagree. Same DCR, more less the same amount of 42 AWG wire, different insulation. Not really any different than comparing the Jazz Neck to the 59 Neck.

I once pondered of the Jazz/APH used ~42.5 AWG and that was shot down.

 

[AkiraSpectrum]

Re: Getting a Custom Custom for bridge, stock neck or PG neck?

The PG gives a little bit of high end compression. I wouldn't call it detail. The Jazz gives you high end detail. I'd say the APH-1N does too because it doesn't have the high end compression. Others will undoubtedly disagree. Same DCR, same amount of 42 AWG wire, different insulation. Not really any different than comparing the Jazz Neck to the 59 Neck.

I once pondered of the Jazz/APH used ~42.5 AWG and that was shot down.

Thanks for the info. Because I don't have a lot of cash to put into this guitar i'll probably just stick with the stock neck now that I was too late on the used PG Neck pickup.

 

[gregory]

Re: Getting a Custom Custom for bridge, stock neck or PG neck?

If you like your current neck pickup there's no reason to change it. If I liked all the neck pickups in all my better guitars, I'd still have tried for a $50 PGn and then looked for a worthy guitar to put it in when funds became available, if I was lucky enough to get it.

 

[eclecticsynergy]

Re: Getting a Custom Custom for bridge, stock neck or PG neck?

I'm not familiar with the pickups G&B makes for Godin. But IMO the ones G&B makes for the PRS SE series are kind of lackluster too. Not awful like the Epiphone mudbuckers, but like your Godins they just seem a little bland.

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: Getting a Custom Custom for bridge, stock neck or PG neck?

I'm not familiar with the pickups G&B makes for Godin. But IMO the ones G&B makes for the PRS SE series are kind of lackluster too. Not awful like the Epiphone mudbuckers, but like your Godins they just seem a little bland.

A magnet swap helped the G&B pickups in my SE Singlecuts a bunch.

But not enough that I kept them.

They eventually got replaced with Duncan Seth Lovers.

 

[AkiraSpectrum]

Re: Getting a Custom Custom for bridge, stock neck or PG neck?

I'm not familiar with the pickups G&B makes for Godin. But IMO the ones G&B makes for the PRS SE series are kind of lackluster too. Not awful like the Epiphone mudbuckers, but like your Godins they just seem a little bland.

Yeah, I've played G&B PRS SE pickups (HFS/VB ones) and they are in the same ballpark as these Godin ones. Bridge pickups are almost exactly the same (15K Ceramic) and sound pretty good for stock pickups but are all lows and low mids, very little high-mid and high-end detail; good for thick heavy tones, but not very musical sounding at all.

The PRS SE VB Neck was pretty good though, and this Godin Neck is different (Ceramic, rather than Alnico) but still pretty good overall, just not as musical and rich as I'd like.

I don't have a lot of funds and I still am happy with the neck so i'll probably just leave it.

A magnet swap helped the G&B pickups in my SE Singlecuts a bunch.

But not enough that I kept them.

They eventually got replaced with Duncan Seth Lovers.

Good to know, thanks.

 

[eclecticsynergy]

Re: Getting a Custom Custom for bridge, stock neck or PG neck?

Yeah, I've played G&B PRS SE pickups (HFS/VB ones) and they are in the same ballpark as these Godin ones. Bridge pickups are almost exactly the same (15K Ceramic) and sound pretty good for stock pickups but are all lows and low mids, very little high-mid and high-end detail; good for thick heavy tones, but not very musical sounding at all.

The PRS SE VB Neck was pretty good though, and this Godin Neck is different (Ceramic, rather than Alnico) but still pretty good overall, just not as musical and rich as I'd like.

I don't have a lot of funds and I still am happy with the neck so i'll probably just leave it.



Good to know, thanks.

You might try an A5 mag in that neck pickup. Given that it's under 9K, an A5 might clear out the mids some and add a little more bounce & character overall. I've generally found alnicos to give better fingertouch than ceramics with the same coils.