I like the Custom Custom, BUT

[RiffGuy]

Re: I like the Custom Custom, BUT

Before dumping the CC, consider converting it to a C3 or C4. Alnico 4* is a good deal beefier than Alnico 2 while at the same having a flatter EQ response than Alnico 5 -- no mid-scoop to make it sound hollow, and the bass doesn't get boomy.

Also stay tuned to the Alnico 8 threads. Several of us have placed orders for Alnico 8 magnets after reading of Wicked Lester's glowing review of his "C8", a Custom with an Alnico 8 mag in it. According to him it's the ideal combination of A2, A5 and ceramics. We will soon see...

*(Especially if you can find a stronger one -- get a bunch of 4's and choose which ever one is hardest to pull off your refrigerator. A crude but effective test method.)

Great post, man. Thanks.

Yeah, I've been interested in Lester's "Custom 8". And after reading your description I'm very interested. All the different magnets have things I like and things I don't, so I'd love to hear one.

I'll have to try the fridge test. Is stronger always better?

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: I like the Custom Custom, BUT

I wonder if since you did the magnet swap yourself, the alnico 2 magnet you used was the right one. Or if there was something done incorrectly. I agree that the Custom Custom has less bass than the Custom or Custom 5 but it should still have plenty of bass. Lew

 

[Zhangliqun]

Re: I like the Custom Custom, BUT

Great post, man. Thanks.

Yeah, I've been interested in Lester's "Custom 8". And after reading your description I'm very interested. All the different magnets have things I like and things I don't, so I'd love to hear one.

I'll have to try the fridge test. Is stronger always better?

Keep in mind I have never tried an Alnico 8 myself, but I'm fascinated by the differences various magnets make so I put in an order myself just so I can have a wider variety of tone possibilities laying around the house.

I have tried Alnico 3 and 4 extensively and these are very viable options. Alnico 3 has slightly less output than A2 but on a relative scale has a bit more bass. Alnico 4 definitely has more output than 2 and fuller bass.

As for the fridge test, stronger isn't necessarily better. I'm just assuming you probably want a little more overall output. If the output is fine and you're concerned strictly with the lack of bass, then a mellower Alnico 4 might be better. It's all a matter of taste as far as magnet strength goes.

 

[WICKED LESTER]

Re: I like the Custom Custom, BUT

NO BASS. Using this pickup made me realize that I need a fair amount of bass from a pickup. Is there a pickup with similar characteristics to the Custom Custom that has more bass? I don't need tons , just the standard amount that most pickups have. I love the mids on this pickup, though.

dude my CC has the same amount of bass as my JB?
the real tone chaRT OF THE cc IS,

5 BASS
7 MIDS
7 TREBLE


not duncans listing of,
3 bass
7 mids
7 treble

IF the CC had any more bass i would not like it as much due to the fact that it would probably mud out with its mids being boosted like they are
mine sounds punchy, and has enough bass to get things chuggin through my zakk stack :beerchug:

 

[madguitar26]

Re: I like the Custom Custom, BUT

About anderson H3+ fftopic:

well with a hammer monaco the other guy will have more bass than yur epi.
perhaps yur using the bass onthe boogie at 12:00 o clock?
i had an anderson H3+ in a sg type washburn mohagany idol guitar and it was the bomb,very bassy !! too much id say. kinda like an invader with better highs,
turned it into a flame thrower but not nearly as fat as a les paul.
try it in yur epi LP .

 

[MattPete]

Re: I like the Custom Custom, BUT

What would an A3 magnet do for a CC? I have one.

The A3 will lower output a tad, but add bass and treble and shift the mids a hair. Overall, it will sound like the CC, but with the mids reduced, and this might be exactly what you need.

 

[WICKED LESTER]

Re: I like the Custom Custom, BUT

The A3 will lower output a tad, but add bass and treble and shift the mids a hair. Overall, it will sound like the CC, but with the mids reduced, and this might be exactly what you need.

never tried a 3 it is more or less the "in between" II and 5 magnet tonally?
i hate the C5 so if it sounds anything like that i wont like it

 

[MattPete]

Re: I like the Custom Custom, BUT

The 3 is much closer to the 5. I think it was Doc Barlo that said on a scale from 0 to 100%, where 0 is an A2 and 100% is an A5, the A3 would be 25%, and I think that's a pretty apt description.

In my experience, if you have an A2 pickup that needs a tought more bass and highs and a touch less mids, the A3 will nudge it in that direction. It's not a radical change, but a noticeable nudge. And, no, it will sound nothing like the C5.

 

[WICKED LESTER]

Re: I like the Custom Custom, BUT

The 3 is much closer to the 5. I think it was Doc Barlo that said on a scale from 0 to 100%, where 0 is an A2 and 100% is an A5, the A3 would be 25%, and I think that's a pretty apt description.

In my experience, if you have an A2 pickup that needs a tought more bass and highs and a touch less mids, the A3 will nudge it in that direction. It's not a radical change, but a noticeable nudge. And, no, it will sound nothing like the C5.

I have to try a III next it sounds like the CC will be perfect then
The screwm cutting really helps a lot and the III magnet will really push it over the edge

 

[Zerberus]

Re: I like the Custom Custom, BUT

...
As for flipping the magnet, I was thinking of the possibility of the pickup being out of phase, which I’ve heard cuts some bass out. The remedy would be to flip the magnet.

A pickup can´t be out of phase with itself, this only applies when you have the switch in a setting where at least 2 pickups are on. Simply flipping the magnet in a humbucking pickup will not change the tone enough for anyone save maybe Dogs to hear

 

[Robert S.]

Re: I like the Custom Custom, BUT

My primary rig is a Triaxis/2:90 rack through 2 Mesa 3/4 back cabs and a LP std with a CC and a PGn.

I get plenty of bottom end from the CC. It's not as huge as a DD or C-5 but you shouldn't find it lacking unless you are looking for massive bottom end. I have no trouble getting bottom end through my rig with room to spare.

The first suspect is the magnet you have. Try another alnico II magnet and see what happens.

Pickup height is another factor. If you aren't close enough to the strings you'll loose bottom end.

Something else to consider is the tubes you are using. I receintly switched from Mesa labeled tubes to JJs and my bottom end girth, tightness and clarity were noticeably increased.

If all else fails try going back to the Custom. The bottom end is stronger in the Custom and tighter as well but the mids seem placed higher and the top end is more agressive and not as buttery as the CC.

 

[Zhangliqun]

Re: I like the Custom Custom, BUT

Tonally the Alnico 3 sounds to my ear like an Alnico 2 with a bit more bass. Alnico 4 has more output and is sort of like an A5 but with a much shallower mid scoop. No hollowness -- very smooooooth. Adds more bass than the Alnico 3.

I have an A3 in mine and tried an A4 but wanted more of that Alnico 2 "shimmer" with just a touch more bass.

If you don't like the C5 and the CC isn't providing enough bottom, I think Alnico 4 will do the trick for you.

 

[LesStrat]

Re: I like the Custom Custom, BUT

The CC in my Parker Fly is rather bright. Or course, the body of the Fly is poplar.

 

[RiffGuy]

Re: I like the Custom Custom, BUT

Tonally the Alnico 3 sounds to my ear like an Alnico 2 with a bit more bass. Alnico 4 has more output and is sort of like an A5 but with a much shallower mid scoop. No hollowness -- very smooooooth. Adds more bass than the Alnico 3.

I have an A3 in mine and tried an A4 but wanted more of that Alnico 2 "shimmer" with just a touch more bass.

If you don't like the C5 and the CC isn't providing enough bottom, I think Alnico 4 will do the trick for you.

Sounds like the A3 might be what I'm looking for. I put the ceramic back in and it has great crunch and clarity but doesn't have those thick mids I love. I liked the C-5 for a while, but found, as most people do, it was too scooped, especially for leads.

Maybe the A2 mag I have is weak. I ordered it from SK Guitar Specialties, and this guy obviously knows what he's doing, so I don't know.

I think I'll put the A2 back in and mess with my amp settings some more. I really want to like the CC, haha. Maybe I'm just used to bassy pickups?

 

[RiffGuy]

Re: I like the Custom Custom, BUT

Robert, how close do you have the CC to your strings? I raised it a bit, but didn't want to go too close.

And, yeah. The Mesa stuff should definitely provide enough bass. Maybe I just wasn't tweaking things enough. Or maybe I was just tweaking.

BTW, thanks for all the replies!

 

[dr.barlo]

Re: I like the Custom Custom, BUT

https://forum.seymourduncan.com/showthread.php?t=35

B

 

[RiffGuy]

Re: I like the Custom Custom, BUT

https://forum.seymourduncan.com/showthread.php?t=35

B

Wow, the A3 really made a difference in those clips. Sounds more "raw" than the A2 CC. I'll have to try that out. Thanks!

 

[roadstar II]

Re: I like the Custom Custom, BUT

I think the main problem with the customs all of them is that the wind is at 14K
i feel that a 10K and under pup will have a more focused low end like the 59 or demon or some of the dimarzio stuff?
i am selling off my custom to go to a lower than 10K paf type for this reason
if anyone is into it here is the post
https://forum.seymourduncan.com/showthread.php?t=52093

 

[Zhangliqun]

Re: I like the Custom Custom, BUT

Sounds like the A3 might be what I'm looking for. I put the ceramic back in and it has great crunch and clarity but doesn't have those thick mids I love. I liked the C-5 for a while, but found, as most people do, it was too scooped, especially for leads.

Maybe the A2 mag I have is weak. I ordered it from SK Guitar Specialties, and this guy obviously knows what he's doing, so I don't know.

I think I'll put the A2 back in and mess with my amp settings some more. I really want to like the CC, haha. Maybe I'm just used to bassy pickups?

Try Alnico 3 and 4 -- seriously. You will like...

 

[dr.barlo]

Re: I like the Custom Custom, BUT

I think the main problem with the customs all of them is that the wind is at 14K
i feel that a 10K and under pup will have a more focused low end like the 59 or demon or some of the dimarzio stuff?
i am selling off my custom to go to a lower than 10K paf type for this reason
if anyone is into it here is the post
https://forum.seymourduncan.com/showthread.php?t=52093

It is not ok to compare the DC resistance figures of Customs (apples=wound with #43 AWG wires) and PAFs (bananas=wound with #42 AWG wires). If it's a 10K PAF you want, check out those S-Deco's from the CS in case you haven't done so.

Good luck.

B