Is the Custom higher or lower output than the JB?

[Aceman]

IMO - JB and Custom are about the same. JB might be "perceived as louder because of the mids.


There are VERY different pickups. Not seeing your confusion. More about Tone/EQ than output.

 

[Chistopher]

Is this the same guitar that has the issue with not enough output on the 59n?

 

[Rex_Rocker]

The 500T has the three-magnet setup like the DD, no?

That completely re-shapes the magnetic field and hence changes everything about everything.

Yeah, triple ceramic in the 500T. The Distortion has a single oversized ceramic.

 

[Rex_Rocker]

Is this the same guitar that has the issue with not enough output on the 59n?

Yep!

 

[Rex_Rocker]

IMO - JB and Custom are about the same. JB might be "perceived as louder because of the mids.


There are VERY different pickups. Not seeing your confusion. More about Tone/EQ than output.

Yeah, I've got the Custom on the way anyways. But you're right. It was more a matter of me not being 100% in love with the JB. I just didn't want to get another pickup that has the same issue of not enough power compared to my other guitars.

 

[misterwhizzy]

Yeah, I've got the Custom on the way anyways. But you're right. It was more a matter of me not being 100% in love with the JB. I just didn't want to get another pickup that has the same issue of not enough power compared to my other guitars.

I really like the dynamic range the Custom has across the range of the volume knob. It'll go from GnR to Maiden to Megadeth with just a twist.

 

[Ascension]

Yeah, I've got the Custom on the way anyways. But you're right. It was more a matter of me not being 100% in love with the JB. I just didn't want to get another pickup that has the same issue of not enough power compared to my other guitars.

A lot of that has to do with the pickups voicing and also what amp you are playing through. A pickup may punch in a specific range and cot in a mix better than another pickup with more sheer output. It's all relative. Some amps when you hit them harder with the pickup can compress and loose articulation to the point that the pickup seems weak.
On your basic question, the ceramic mag Custom and the A5 JB, but because of how different the 2 pickups are voiced that may not be the same in perceived output.
I find that a Hybrid will cut in a mix and sound as hot as a JB in my experience. The real output in mega volts will be much higher with the JB, but the difference in a real world situation in my experience is not very much.

 

[Rex_Rocker]

Custom is in!

Definitely peaks higher than the JB when tracking DI's.

But you guys are right. It doesn't feel as high output because of the EQ.

Still really like it, though!

 

[eclecticsynergy]

You might think about a Custom5 for the neck position...

 

[Rex_Rocker]

You might think about a Custom5 for the neck position...

Or the Hybrid!

 

[Rex_Rocker]

FWIW, I tried comparing how hot the DI's on all three my guitars are. Granted, all three are different guitars, so don't think I was too scientific.

The Custom in the LTD and the Nazgul in the Fender peak at roughly same level. There may be a slight edge to the Custom. Very slight. The Nazgul does feel gainier, and listening to the dry DI's, it does feel a bit louder because of the mid focus. Like, not night and day, though. But playing, the Custom does feel drier.

The 500T in the Gibson peaks higher than both, but not in a completely different universe. Probably 10-15% higher.

EQ-wise, the Nazgul is the most mid-focused, followed the 500T, and the Custom is the scoopiest. FWIW, the DCR's I measure on them all are 14-ish for the Nazgul, 14.5-ish for the Custom, 15-ish for the 500T. The Nazgul runs on a oversized ceramic, the Custom on a standard-sized ceramic, and the 500T on a trio of ceramics.

Very interesting!