Re: Help with bridge pup
Depends on how clean/clear you want your cleans. In my experience the C'x' pickups (I've played C5 & Custom) muddy up your cleans, they sound muffled. Not a problem if you always play dirty, or have a lot of EQ at your disposal (like my Tristan pedal for instance - it can clean anything up). But it's there....just listen to the mp3s here on Duncan's site - compare the Custom or CC clean mp3 to the Seth, Demon, or '59.
I like a pickup that's clean on its own, and found the higher output jobs to be pretty much the same that way. The JB does have a decent clean but it *is* hard, I think, despite the claim by Duncan that it's never hard or dark...
The Demon has a crisp clean but that sucker can be an icepick...tried it twice in a mahogany axe, too much both times.
I'm liking the Dimarzio FRED, it has som PAF-ish vibe but a lot cleaner than, say, a '59. Stiffer, less muddy & deeper bass, beautiful cleans, not harsh. What I wanted the Demon to be. Great clean, great with any amt of gain, not as naughty sounding as the 59 but more authority. Great with tone rolled back too - does not muddy up like some pickups do. Also good split.
