surface54
New member
Re: giving Sh-5 another go
sounds amazing bro!
what more could you ask for in a metal tone? im loving it!
sounds amazing bro!
what more could you ask for in a metal tone? im loving it!
giving Sh-5 another go
- Thread starter surface54
- Start date
Re: giving Sh-5 another go
The Custom is a great pickup, I don't think there's one best. I can think of a half-dozen pickups that beat it in one respect or another. A lot depends on the player, guitar and rig.
I subscribe more to matching the pickup to the guitar, player and rig.
And I'm sad that surface54 left the Custom 8 again. Preferred those samples. Tastes vary.
The Custom is a great pickup, I don't think there's one best. I can think of a half-dozen pickups that beat it in one respect or another. A lot depends on the player, guitar and rig.
I subscribe more to matching the pickup to the guitar, player and rig.
And I'm sad that surface54 left the Custom 8 again. Preferred those samples. Tastes vary.
surface54
New member
Re: giving Sh-5 another go
comparing my clips C8 to SH5 all i hear is a less bottom end and mids with the SH5. im sure ill go back.
i attached the two wav examples of each pickup using same exact drums and tuning.
i matched there post recording process exactly.
can you tell which one is the C8 and which is the SH5?
i can actually make them sound very much the same, give or take focus in certain ranges.
C8 has more of a resonancey mid range and the SH5 is dryer with a harder mid range.
The Custom is a great pickup, I don't think there's one best. I can think of a half-dozen pickups that beat it in one respect or another. A lot depends on the player, guitar and rig.
I subscribe more to matching the pickup to the guitar, player and rig.
And I'm sad that surface54 left the Custom 8 again. Preferred those samples. Tastes vary.
comparing my clips C8 to SH5 all i hear is a less bottom end and mids with the SH5. im sure ill go back.
i attached the two wav examples of each pickup using same exact drums and tuning.
i matched there post recording process exactly.
can you tell which one is the C8 and which is the SH5?
i can actually make them sound very much the same, give or take focus in certain ranges.
C8 has more of a resonancey mid range and the SH5 is dryer with a harder mid range.
King IzzO)))
Ultimate Kitten Puncher
Re: giving Sh-5 another go
Have you tried a big ceramic in it yet? I liked it better than with the small one. The Custom with the 3 500T mags sounds like a insanely tight cheap pickup, super flat EQ, like a stock epiphone ceramic, but it's super fun to play thrash riffs on. One big ceramic seems to be the right balance, BUT I finally tried the C8 and it's not a competition, for me anyway.
I don't think it's been mentioned before, the response of the A8 in the Custom is quite a bit different than in the JB/DD/Detonator I had previously experimented with. The midrange rawwr thing is not near as pronounced on the C8, and it's still pretty bright, the others seemed to get dark-ish. I like it a lot so far.
Have you tried a big ceramic in it yet? I liked it better than with the small one. The Custom with the 3 500T mags sounds like a insanely tight cheap pickup, super flat EQ, like a stock epiphone ceramic, but it's super fun to play thrash riffs on. One big ceramic seems to be the right balance, BUT I finally tried the C8 and it's not a competition, for me anyway.
I don't think it's been mentioned before, the response of the A8 in the Custom is quite a bit different than in the JB/DD/Detonator I had previously experimented with. The midrange rawwr thing is not near as pronounced on the C8, and it's still pretty bright, the others seemed to get dark-ish. I like it a lot so far.
surface54
New member
Re: giving Sh-5 another go
will a regular made pickup like the custom take a oversized mag?
id try it someday.
i like your assessment of the A8 in the custom. yes it doesn't get that pronounced almost grating mid range, it stays tucked away a little and sounds great right were its at, you couldn't design it any better for a A8 to go in.
will a regular made pickup like the custom take a oversized mag?
id try it someday.
i like your assessment of the A8 in the custom. yes it doesn't get that pronounced almost grating mid range, it stays tucked away a little and sounds great right were its at, you couldn't design it any better for a A8 to go in.
King IzzO)))
Ultimate Kitten Puncher
Re: giving Sh-5 another go
Yep, it works, you just need spacers for each side the same height as the mag, flipping the stock ones on their side works, but you do need 2. The stock duncan baseplate screws are long enough. I've got spares if you wanna try it.
Yep, it works, you just need spacers for each side the same height as the mag, flipping the stock ones on their side works, but you do need 2. The stock duncan baseplate screws are long enough. I've got spares if you wanna try it.
surface54
New member
Gearjoneser
Gear Ho
Re: giving Sh-5 another go
It's funny how everyone tries to second guess the Custom and figure out ways to avoid it, most likely due to the "ceramic" fear.
Seymour isn't dumb, and it was his immediate answer to the PAF on steroids. There are pickups intentionally made for metal, but the good old Custom usually has them beat in the tone dept.
It's funny how everyone tries to second guess the Custom and figure out ways to avoid it, most likely due to the "ceramic" fear.
Seymour isn't dumb, and it was his immediate answer to the PAF on steroids. There are pickups intentionally made for metal, but the good old Custom usually has them beat in the tone dept.
surface54
New member
Re: giving Sh-5 another go
right on!
way i look at it. most amps can dish out way more gain that 30 years ago.
and high output pickups were made for pushing those amps. if you already have a decently high gain amp a higher output pu is just going to sound thinner. something like a custom 14k is right at the output before is starts to thin out into over pressed static crunch. retains alot of tone and balance. giving a lot of push instead of output.
i bet the custom ceramic was the first custom wind created cause the ceramic magnet was the most picky, the alnico's adapt better? anyone know for sure?
right on!
way i look at it. most amps can dish out way more gain that 30 years ago.
and high output pickups were made for pushing those amps. if you already have a decently high gain amp a higher output pu is just going to sound thinner. something like a custom 14k is right at the output before is starts to thin out into over pressed static crunch. retains alot of tone and balance. giving a lot of push instead of output.
i bet the custom ceramic was the first custom wind created cause the ceramic magnet was the most picky, the alnico's adapt better? anyone know for sure?
Re: giving Sh-5 another go
I can usually hear the ceramic presence/grit on many clips I've heard of the Custom. It's less obnoxious than most, but still bugs me. Most people don't seem to hear it at all. Outside of that, I certainly agree it breaks most ceramic expectations.
I've recommended the Custom plenty of times, in spite of what I don't like about it. My tastes aren't what matter for someone else's pickup choice.
The Custom 8's slightly more open, but still punchy tone is a nice alternative, especially in brighter guitars/rigs.
I think the PATB-2 is awesome, the particular frequency that bugs me just isn't there on it. I wouldn't say the Custom beats it for metal tone, though it's more flexible.
No one best pickup, just whatever works best for the player/guitar/rig.
I can usually hear the ceramic presence/grit on many clips I've heard of the Custom. It's less obnoxious than most, but still bugs me. Most people don't seem to hear it at all. Outside of that, I certainly agree it breaks most ceramic expectations.
I've recommended the Custom plenty of times, in spite of what I don't like about it. My tastes aren't what matter for someone else's pickup choice.
The Custom 8's slightly more open, but still punchy tone is a nice alternative, especially in brighter guitars/rigs.
I think the PATB-2 is awesome, the particular frequency that bugs me just isn't there on it. I wouldn't say the Custom beats it for metal tone, though it's more flexible.
No one best pickup, just whatever works best for the player/guitar/rig.
C
CountFunkula
Guest
Re: giving Sh-5 another go
From the posts, I'm getting the impression that the C8 doesn't cut through very well (relatively), correct? Do you think such a problem be fixed by putting it in a maple guitar?
From the posts, I'm getting the impression that the C8 doesn't cut through very well (relatively), correct? Do you think such a problem be fixed by putting it in a maple guitar?
Re: giving Sh-5 another go
Eh, C8 still has plenty of cut, it's just different from the TB-5. Biting upper mids, instead of treble/presence.
Reports of it in maple neck-throughs have been mixed, some people love it, some complain that it's too harsh.
Haven't heard a report of it in a soft maple body a la George Lynch, though...
Eh, C8 still has plenty of cut, it's just different from the TB-5. Biting upper mids, instead of treble/presence.
Reports of it in maple neck-throughs have been mixed, some people love it, some complain that it's too harsh.
Haven't heard a report of it in a soft maple body a la George Lynch, though...
surface54
New member
Re: giving Sh-5 another go
C8 cuts through very well, im just looking for a more conventional cut and presence.
C8 is new and feels bigger than stuff i hear on regular modern music.
i always found myself backing down the C8 in my mixes, and with same settings im not doing anything to fix the Sh5's image. its like a minor tweak to my tone overall but it doesnt amount to much, some may not even hear the difference but i do straight in front of my speakers.
my guitar is a factor too! since it is rosewood im guessing the ceramic is adding more treble into the overall sound and mix which im liking, and its not like adding 1 to the amps treble eq. the C8 is already big and the rosewood is taking away even more highs that the C8 needs to shine its best.
im certain most of you have better guitars than me, so dont let me suggest anything to you. its your ears that count.
C8 cuts through very well, im just looking for a more conventional cut and presence.
C8 is new and feels bigger than stuff i hear on regular modern music.
i always found myself backing down the C8 in my mixes, and with same settings im not doing anything to fix the Sh5's image. its like a minor tweak to my tone overall but it doesnt amount to much, some may not even hear the difference but i do straight in front of my speakers.
my guitar is a factor too! since it is rosewood im guessing the ceramic is adding more treble into the overall sound and mix which im liking, and its not like adding 1 to the amps treble eq. the C8 is already big and the rosewood is taking away even more highs that the C8 needs to shine its best.
im certain most of you have better guitars than me, so dont let me suggest anything to you. its your ears that count.
Re: giving Sh-5 another go
You sound great with either pickup. If the guitar isn't a dud, the quality impact on tone tends to be more apparent to the player than the audience in most cases. Playability is usually more the issue, or difficulty finding a pickup that works around quirks of the guitar.
You sound great with either pickup. If the guitar isn't a dud, the quality impact on tone tends to be more apparent to the player than the audience in most cases. Playability is usually more the issue, or difficulty finding a pickup that works around quirks of the guitar.
Franknfilms
New member
Re: giving Sh-5 another go
I was really blown away by how well my sh-5 sounds directly to my amp, without pedals. I've always thrown in an eq and od to try and get the perfect crunchy distortion, but turns out all I needed was a guitar w/sh-5, amp, and a cable. I don't get quite the same results from the c8. Given the freedom of bypassing the pedal board, I might just turn my schecter c8 into an sh-5 but will probably try A4, UOA5, etc just for fun since I have those mags laying around.
I was really blown away by how well my sh-5 sounds directly to my amp, without pedals. I've always thrown in an eq and od to try and get the perfect crunchy distortion, but turns out all I needed was a guitar w/sh-5, amp, and a cable. I don't get quite the same results from the c8. Given the freedom of bypassing the pedal board, I might just turn my schecter c8 into an sh-5 but will probably try A4, UOA5, etc just for fun since I have those mags laying around.
surface54
New member
Re: giving Sh-5 another go
so i made an updated version of this track!
updated the drums and added bass guitar!
http://www.netmusicians.org/files/15-SurfaceX - The refinery.mp3
cheers!
hope this helps anyone
so i made an updated version of this track!
updated the drums and added bass guitar!
http://www.netmusicians.org/files/15-SurfaceX - The refinery.mp3
cheers!
hope this helps anyone
Last edited:
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