I don't like the custom custom. Recommendations?

[ksmith63]

I need a new bridge pickup for my Steinberger guitars. Body is strat shaped mahogany, neck is graphite, 25.5" scale, tremolo.

Currently it has (n/m/b) of Hotrails/hotrails/custom custom.

The hotrails are fine, maybe a little higher in output than I'd like but not a big deal.

Custom Custom seems to be lacking the highs? The graphite neck doesn't seem to do anything to the tone and the mahogany body is just hammering out the low mids. To my ears the CC is heavy on the low mids as well giving me a not so desirable tone.

I usually use all pickups at once for a big, thick tone. I need a brighter pickup to balance it all out! Output strength isn't a concern. Any recommendations?

 

[Despair]

Re: I don't like the custom custom. Recommendations?

Well, you could try magnet swaps to start. Or changing out the 0.75" fillisters under the low strings for 0.5" hex heads. Addiction FX even has them in chrome for minimal cosmetic impact.

Most thinner sounding humbuckers also add more low mids, such as the Custom 5. (You can convert your CC to a C5 by swapping the A2 magnet for an A5.)

However, changing magnets moves the frequency peaks around, so it may shift the low mids enough to remove the congestion issue.

Sometimes a bassier pickup can work better, as long as it's bass emphasis isn't in the same place as your guitars low mids.

For pickup swaps you might look at a Full Shred bridge or a Screamin' Demon. Both are very tight and articulate.

 

[Christopher Caruana]

Re: I don't like the custom custom. Recommendations?

try a few different magnets in your CC.

A5 = Custom5
-bigger, tighter bass, mids are a little scooped and more highs (like a hotter '59)

A8 = Custom 8
-I dont have much experiance with this one, but most people on the forum LOVE this pickup

Ceramic = custom
-big bottom end, thick mids and lots of highs (PAF on steroids)

 

[Benjy_26]

Re: I don't like the custom custom. Recommendations?

Turn it into a ceramic, SH-5 Custom.

 

[trevorus]

Re: I don't like the custom custom. Recommendations?

I didn't find the Custom 5 to have THAT huge of a low end. Definitely a little scoop in the mids.

 

[IanBallard]

Re: I don't like the custom custom. Recommendations?

I used to love my Custom Custom, until I tried an A8 in it.

A8... for the win! Even EQ--nothing overly spiky, thick in the butt, wide in the gut and smooth on top. If you like a regular Custom ceramic, I can imagine an C8 would rock your socks off.

Try it. Mags are cheap and it takes 10 minutes.

 

[uOpt]

Re: I don't like the custom custom. Recommendations?

The CC has no highs unless you have a tremolo block guitar.

Proper cures include PG and DD. But really, everything else has more highs.

 

[LatsMcGee]

Re: I don't like the custom custom. Recommendations?

Something tells me that a Dimebucker would give you all the bright highs you want and than some....

 

[Kam]

Re: I don't like the custom custom. Recommendations?

Mag swaps, baby, mag swaps.

Get yourself a roughcast A5 and an A8. Maybe a ceramic. One of them should do it for you. If they don't then you go buy yourself a new pup.

 

[Gearjoneser]

Re: I don't like the custom custom. Recommendations?

I'm pretty sure the Custom 5 is what you're wanting to hear.

 

[blueman335]

Re: I don't like the custom custom. Recommendations?

Mag swaps, baby, mag swaps.

Get yourself a roughcast A5 and an A8. Maybe a ceramic. One of them should do it for you. If they don't then you go buy yourself a new pup.

+1. Start simple and cheap. Mag swaps are the first step.

 

[Kam]

Re: I don't like the custom custom. Recommendations?

I'm pretty sure the Custom 5 is what you're wanting to hear.

+1

Much as I love the A8, I have a feeling that a C5 might work out a little better for you.

 

[YHWH]

Re: I don't like the custom custom. Recommendations?

The CC has no highs unless you have a tremolo block guitar.

Proper cures include PG and DD. But really, everything else has more highs.

... my Brazen has a Gotoh "Floyd" (blocked) w/ an Original Floyd Rose nut, maple-capped maple neck - CC tone has decent lows & very meaty mids but lacks significant high end. Been thinking about doing the old "Neal Schon mod" to the pole pieces on it - *snip*snip*...

 

[ksmith63]

Re: I don't like the custom custom. Recommendations?

Thanks for the replies so far. Looks like the route to go is with a magnet swap.

I've got a full shred set in my Ibanez...those have the A5 (?). By putting those magnets in my custom custom then I have a custom 5?

Are the stock magnets in the CC A2? What would a full shred A2 sound like?

Do the hex pole pieces really give more high end than the flat heads?

Thanks everyone so far!

 

[Despair]

Re: I don't like the custom custom. Recommendations?

Hex head vs fillister is arguably mostly magnetic field shape, hex head is more focused for articulation, fillister broader and more even. There are some types of fillisters with deeper heads, which have more impact on tone, giving more mids and higher induction (stronger magnetic field/pickup output).

Hex head is typically on an 0.5" screw, while fillister standardly comes in an 0.75". This makes a larger and less arguable difference, the long screw adds more midrange and rounds off the high frequencies. The shorter screw adds bite and rolls off the bass and lower mids.

If you find the Full Shred has too much bite on the high strings, you could substitute some 0.75" screws under the high strings, for example. Or even go to fillisters if you want maximum smoothness.

An A2 Full Shred would be extremely midrangy, have less bite, be much rounder. A more articulate Custom Custom. I'd be more likely to go A8, at least in the bridge Full Shred. That'd round off the highs, boost the mids and really boost the bass without being likely to become flubby, unless your dirt pedal/amp/speaker just can't handle low frequencies.

I'd probably just order a variety of magnets and screws from someplace like Addiction FX. A5, Unoriented A5, and A8. Maybe a ceramic if you want to see how the original Custom would work in your Steinberger.

 

[jmcorey]

Re: I don't like the custom custom. Recommendations?

A8 or Ceramic. The CC in a strat sounds very full and crunchy with distortion but not very nice to listen to clean.

The Custom (Ceramic Magnet) in the bridge of the Godin Velocity sounds very good, and that is a strat shaped. 25.5" scale length guitar with a thin neck. Definitely not too bright for that guitar. A8 would be some smoother, but I have never tried that.

 

[CountFunkula]

Re: I don't like the custom custom. Recommendations?

A8 or Ceramic. The CC in a strat sounds very full and crunchy with distortion but not very nice to listen to clean.

The Custom (Ceramic Magnet) in the bridge of the Godin Velocity sounds very good, and that is a strat shaped. 25.5" scale length guitar with a thin neck. Definitely not too bright for that guitar. A8 would be some smoother, but I have never tried that.

Why don't you like it clean???

Dark, warm, sweet, and syrupy... I think I just described heated maple syrup!

Yes, it's that good.



OT: I would go with a Custom. Big bass, but very tight. And the highs are bright, but kind of thick. Hard to explain, but trust me, it's a great pickup.

 

[LtKojak]

Re: I don't like the custom custom. Recommendations?

I need a new bridge pickup for my Steinberger guitars. Body is strat shaped mahogany, neck is graphite, 25.5" scale, tremolo.

Currently it has (n/m/b) of Hotrails/hotrails/custom custom.

The hotrails are fine, maybe a little higher in output than I'd like but not a big deal.

The CC is a fine p'up, it's got the wrong magnet to match the inherent tone of the Rails present.

Even if I hate ceramic magnets with a passion, in this particular case that's the best choice to balance the instrument up, sound-wise.

This is THE place to buy magnets:

http://stores.ebay.com/Addiction-FX-Guitar-and-Sound

There are a lot of instruction vids on how to change the magnet in a p'up on You Tube. The process takes 'bout ten minutes. HAVE FUN!

 

[jmcorey]

Re: I don't like the custom custom. Recommendations?

Why don't you like it clean???

Dark, warm, sweet, and syrupy... I think I just described heated maple syrup!

Yes, it's that good.



OT: I would go with a Custom. Big bass, but very tight. And the highs are bright, but kind of thick. Hard to explain, but trust me, it's a great pickup.

For cleans, I am drawn to more of a hi-fi sound, or even full spectrum sound. Not lots of mids.

I think for his applications, the SH-5 duncan custom with ceramic magnet would be more what he wants. More full-spectrum. Sounds great distorted.

 

[Richard]

Re: I don't like the custom custom. Recommendations?

I'm pretty sure the Custom 5 is what you're wanting to hear.

+1... it's nice and bright but not harsh. It's my favorite pup of all times. I would try a 5 mag swap before buying a new pup. I would put money on it you will be happy.