Is the Custom5/Jazz set the most versatile SD set?
- Thread starter Reee
- Start date
that's what i'm talking about, a good balance of thickness and dynamics, which doesn't seem to exist in the SD catalog, it's either one or the other which is a damn shame, many companies are proving that it's not impossible to have a reasonably hot pickup and still have a lot of dynamics...
Lewguitar
New member
No, I wouldn't agree.
I dislike the JB almost as much as I dislike the the C5. Both hurt my ears. The JB is like a wooden pick in my ears and the C5 like a sharpened metal pick in my ears.
I think if you're after stellar clean and overdrive from one pickup set you also need a great overdrive pedal.
I use a Dover Drive. I'm not after chugga chugga tones tho. I like those British Blues tones and sweet Eric Johnson and Brian May melodic violin tones.
And I've learned to create the sounds I want from my pickups by swapping magnets.
Using either a 59 set or an Antiquity set, I put a roughcast A3 magnet in the neck pickup for stellar clean tones and a roughcast A2 in the bridge pickup for bluesy overdriven tones.
For a stronger output a roughcast A2 in the neck and a roughcast A5 in the bridge.
But to really push the amp you need a great overdrive pedal too.
None of my amps are designed for overdrive.
These days I'm playing through AC30's.
I have to take back what I said about no virtuosos using duncan humbuckers, Greg Howe is actually using the WLH in the bridge, if it's good enough for him i might give it a shot, i did some searching on the forums and found this interesting comment about the WLH compared to the 59
"i much prefer the WLH set to the 59s.
They are not more present/brighter tho.
They have a lightly attenuated high end compared to the 59 but it feels better.
They feel like there is some real weight in the note without the compressed feeling of overwound/hot pickups."
that "weight in the note" is exactly what i have been missing from the 59 and is probably one of the reasons Greg is using the pickup, he likes pickups that feel hot but don't sound hot.
"i much prefer the WLH set to the 59s.
They are not more present/brighter tho.
They have a lightly attenuated high end compared to the 59 but it feels better.
They feel like there is some real weight in the note without the compressed feeling of overwound/hot pickups."
that "weight in the note" is exactly what i have been missing from the 59 and is probably one of the reasons Greg is using the pickup, he likes pickups that feel hot but don't sound hot.
superpete
Active member
i swapped a 59 set for a WLH set and was much happier. however the wlh, to me, were def more present/brighter. maybe not with treble, but def with mids pushed. Which is what i liked about them. man they sound awesome.
oh yes, more mids would be very welcome indeed!
Spirit of 76
New member
What about if playing mostly Rock (70s/80s/90s Rock)?
I have a Epi LP with a WLH set (and love it); but I am thinking of getting a Epi SG with different pickups for a little different sound. Keeping in mind I use a EHX Big Muff Pi with Tone Wicker + Maxon Analog Delay as my only effects.
Would a Jazz (Neck) & Pearly Gates (Bridge) be a recommended combo for this gear/music style?
I have a Epi LP with a WLH set (and love it); but I am thinking of getting a Epi SG with different pickups for a little different sound. Keeping in mind I use a EHX Big Muff Pi with Tone Wicker + Maxon Analog Delay as my only effects.
Would a Jazz (Neck) & Pearly Gates (Bridge) be a recommended combo for this gear/music style?
Getting to 90s music, I might put a Custom in there.
Spirit of 76
New member
You're thinking the Custom would be better on Neck or Bridge? Or you think the whole set?
Jazz neck, Custom bridge.
Spirit of 76
New member
Ok good deal, Thanks man.
Spirit of 76
New member
I've never used it but someone on here earlier was saying it wasn't as good as the neck. Scroll back a page or so on this thread and you can see the poster's feedback on it.
It isn't a high output pickup. Think of a 59 with less bass and more treble.
