is there a harmonic friendly verson of the c5?
- Thread starter walt
- Start date
hanumanlangur
New member
Re: is there a harmonic friendly verson of the c5?
Getting pinch harmonics effortlessly is mostly something with your amp/pedal, not your pickup. After the signal is distorted by tubes/diodes/whatever in your amp/pedal, it goes through a filter to take out some of the treble. The more gain, and the less treble filtered out immediately after, the easier it is to get harmonics.
Getting pinch harmonics effortlessly is mostly something with your amp/pedal, not your pickup. After the signal is distorted by tubes/diodes/whatever in your amp/pedal, it goes through a filter to take out some of the treble. The more gain, and the less treble filtered out immediately after, the easier it is to get harmonics.
TimmyPage
New member
Re: is there a harmonic friendly verson of the c5?
Fixed. If you cant get screaming, clear pinch harmonics, especially on a pickup as hot as a Custom 5 (and I do own one, in my Epiphone) which naturally has accented highs, then it's your technique you should be investigating.
Fixed. If you cant get screaming, clear pinch harmonics, especially on a pickup as hot as a Custom 5 (and I do own one, in my Epiphone) which naturally has accented highs, then it's your technique you should be investigating.
GaryCancer
New member
Re: is there a harmonic friendly verson of the c5?
Yep. Purchasing pickups is not a substitute for practice.
Yep. Purchasing pickups is not a substitute for practice.
daemon barbeque
Zuhahahaologist
Re: is there a harmonic friendly verson of the c5?
As a pinch harmonic nut ,i want to clear some points here and help you out!
a)Pinch harmonics are effected by the PU ,the pot ,the strings ,the neck wood ,the fretwire material,the body shape ,the cable ,the amp ,the cabinet and even the distance between the amp and the guitar!
b)I can get pinch harmonic on every stringed instrument.But that doesn't mean that this harmonic content will transfered by the PU to the amp as i played it.
c)There are well known PUs for their nice harmonics.Demon ,Patb1 and 2 ,All actives ,DD are really good in harmonics.
The custom ,custom 5 ,FullShred are lesser in this cathegory.
d)The amount of gain plays a major role.So does the pot you use.A 1 megaohm pot will let those harmonics like nobodies business!!!
e)Ebony is the harmonicly richest fretboard material.Combined with SS fretwires ,there is no competition.
f)Carbon ,kevlar ,epoxy based composite bodies ,acryl...All of them have more harmonics.
As conclusion.Your style has something to do if you get the harmonics or not.But the "presence" , the "power" ,the "loudness" and the different "colors" of the harmonics are gear based! Chorus and q filters mostly increase the harmonic presence.
As a pinch harmonic nut ,i want to clear some points here and help you out!
a)Pinch harmonics are effected by the PU ,the pot ,the strings ,the neck wood ,the fretwire material,the body shape ,the cable ,the amp ,the cabinet and even the distance between the amp and the guitar!
b)I can get pinch harmonic on every stringed instrument.But that doesn't mean that this harmonic content will transfered by the PU to the amp as i played it.
c)There are well known PUs for their nice harmonics.Demon ,Patb1 and 2 ,All actives ,DD are really good in harmonics.
The custom ,custom 5 ,FullShred are lesser in this cathegory.
d)The amount of gain plays a major role.So does the pot you use.A 1 megaohm pot will let those harmonics like nobodies business!!!
e)Ebony is the harmonicly richest fretboard material.Combined with SS fretwires ,there is no competition.
f)Carbon ,kevlar ,epoxy based composite bodies ,acryl...All of them have more harmonics.
As conclusion.Your style has something to do if you get the harmonics or not.But the "presence" , the "power" ,the "loudness" and the different "colors" of the harmonics are gear based! Chorus and q filters mostly increase the harmonic presence.
JohnnyGuitar
New member
Re: is there a harmonic friendly verson of the c5?
+1
And a wah at some points can be set to kill almost any pinch harmonic - I remember finding it out when I had the pedal on without noticing...
The distortion type is also important - a Big Muff for example would not be my first choice for pinch harmonics.
I like the way they sound from lower output pickups then from higher output pickups... but I guess that I favor lower output pickups for everything...
+1
And a wah at some points can be set to kill almost any pinch harmonic - I remember finding it out when I had the pedal on without noticing...
The distortion type is also important - a Big Muff for example would not be my first choice for pinch harmonics.
I like the way they sound from lower output pickups then from higher output pickups... but I guess that I favor lower output pickups for everything...
daemon barbeque
Zuhahahaologist
Re: is there a harmonic friendly verson of the c5?
The lower the output ,the more present is the Harmonic...You must maybe have more gain on the amp/pedal side ,but the harmonic will be richer anyways!
The lower the output ,the more present is the Harmonic...You must maybe have more gain on the amp/pedal side ,but the harmonic will be richer anyways!
T
theodie
Guest
Re: is there a harmonic friendly verson of the c5?
I thought it does them great also.
I thought it does them great also.
bigheadood
New member
Re: is there a harmonic friendly verson of the c5?
The C5 does great pinch harmonics. Not quite as good as the DD, but close.
The C5 does great pinch harmonics. Not quite as good as the DD, but close.
Kosh Naranek
New member
Re: is there a harmonic friendly verson of the c5?
I had a Custom 5 in a guitar for a while. It was great for pinch harmonics. Very crunchy too.
And +1 for the Screamin Demon making pinch harmonics easier. All other things being equal, a Screamin Demon is great for harmonics due to its accentuated upper midrange.
I had a Custom 5 in a guitar for a while. It was great for pinch harmonics. Very crunchy too.
And +1 for the Screamin Demon making pinch harmonics easier. All other things being equal, a Screamin Demon is great for harmonics due to its accentuated upper midrange.
Micah
New member
Re: is there a harmonic friendly verson of the c5?
I think I know what you're hearing here-- Maybe try putting some inverted allen screws in the screw side bobbin (like the full shred and demon have in them). I ordered 100 of them from fastener express for about 5 bucks plus 5 bucks shipping. They are the 5-40 x 1/2 size in the alloy metal (they come black just like the duncans have). I have a bunch of them if you'd like me to mail you some, just PM me! The custom 5 is essentially a Full Shred pickup (14K wind with an alnico 5 magnet). The difference in the 2 pickups is the pole pieces. The standard slotted screws and slugs are the bench mark for the humbucker sound. Buy lowereing the mass of magnetic material in the center of the windings you end up placing more of the magnetic field up towards the string instead of down by the base plate. What happens to the EQ of the pickup is the highs get sweeter and the bottom end is reduced a bit. The C5 B-M-T is 6-3-8 and the Full Shred is 4-4-8. The FS is described to be chunky and clear with screaming articulate highs. By putting these screws in just the screw side bobbin you'll get kind of a half-breed of the C5/FS. I tried it--Wow! Great highs that seem to be more harmonically rich and still very tight and chunky. Try these screws!
I think I know what you're hearing here-- Maybe try putting some inverted allen screws in the screw side bobbin (like the full shred and demon have in them). I ordered 100 of them from fastener express for about 5 bucks plus 5 bucks shipping. They are the 5-40 x 1/2 size in the alloy metal (they come black just like the duncans have). I have a bunch of them if you'd like me to mail you some, just PM me! The custom 5 is essentially a Full Shred pickup (14K wind with an alnico 5 magnet). The difference in the 2 pickups is the pole pieces. The standard slotted screws and slugs are the bench mark for the humbucker sound. Buy lowereing the mass of magnetic material in the center of the windings you end up placing more of the magnetic field up towards the string instead of down by the base plate. What happens to the EQ of the pickup is the highs get sweeter and the bottom end is reduced a bit. The C5 B-M-T is 6-3-8 and the Full Shred is 4-4-8. The FS is described to be chunky and clear with screaming articulate highs. By putting these screws in just the screw side bobbin you'll get kind of a half-breed of the C5/FS. I tried it--Wow! Great highs that seem to be more harmonically rich and still very tight and chunky. Try these screws!
hanumanlangur
New member
Re: is there a harmonic friendly verson of the c5?
If you read my post, I didn't write it about getting pinch harmonics. I wrote it about getting pinch harmonics effortlessly, and having a setup that lends itself to getting them.
Assuming you can actually DO pinch harmonics, the rest of it is in the amp/pedal, and somewhat in the pickups. The more harmonics and high end that a pickup has, the more easily it's going to lend itself to pinch harmonics. The more gain (harmonic distortion) and less those harmonics are filtered out after the gain stages, the easier it is to get them.
I know that it's the hard-ass thing to say that it's all technique, but everyone knows that some setups will work better for it than others. Zakk Wylde's setup is going to make getting clear pinch harmonics easier than B.B. King's.
If you read my post, I didn't write it about getting pinch harmonics. I wrote it about getting pinch harmonics effortlessly, and having a setup that lends itself to getting them.
Assuming you can actually DO pinch harmonics, the rest of it is in the amp/pedal, and somewhat in the pickups. The more harmonics and high end that a pickup has, the more easily it's going to lend itself to pinch harmonics. The more gain (harmonic distortion) and less those harmonics are filtered out after the gain stages, the easier it is to get them.
I know that it's the hard-ass thing to say that it's all technique, but everyone knows that some setups will work better for it than others. Zakk Wylde's setup is going to make getting clear pinch harmonics easier than B.B. King's.
NevermindUs
New member
Re: is there a harmonic friendly verson of the c5?
it depends on the wah too i guess. my wah is the ibanez screaming demon, and i have it set for a very bright sound, and it can help sometimes.
and i use a big muff for my main distortion, but it is harder to get them with that pedal. usually if i need them ill kick on the ZW OD on top of the big muff to tighten and clear up the muff a bit:nervous::werd:
it depends on the wah too i guess. my wah is the ibanez screaming demon, and i have it set for a very bright sound, and it can help sometimes.
and i use a big muff for my main distortion, but it is harder to get them with that pedal. usually if i need them ill kick on the ZW OD on top of the big muff to tighten and clear up the muff a bit:nervous::werd:
walt
New member
Re: is there a harmonic friendly verson of the c5?
Finally someone who understands. I know how to get pinched harmonics, I get them with Dimarzio HS-3s very easily. They don't not come as easy with the C5. I want the articulation and bass of the C5 and the screaming harmonics that come with most any pup that isn't scooped in the mids. I have an old Airzone laying around and may have to try that route.
Finally someone who understands. I know how to get pinched harmonics, I get them with Dimarzio HS-3s very easily. They don't not come as easy with the C5. I want the articulation and bass of the C5 and the screaming harmonics that come with most any pup that isn't scooped in the mids. I have an old Airzone laying around and may have to try that route.
XSSIVE
OCDologist
Re: is there a harmonic friendly verson of the c5?
it's not the pickup. the C5 is my favorite duncan and in 5 of my guitars and i have a very 80s abuse of pinch harmonics playing style and i can get them to scream on any of my guitars with no effort at all. it's actually harmonic happy which is one reason i like it so much.
-Mike
it's not the pickup. the C5 is my favorite duncan and in 5 of my guitars and i have a very 80s abuse of pinch harmonics playing style and i can get them to scream on any of my guitars with no effort at all. it's actually harmonic happy which is one reason i like it so much.
-Mike
