New Member with pup question

[jig]

Hi all, and thanks in advance for any response/assistance you may provide -

I'm currently using Duncan 59's in both the neck and bridge of my guitar (a Jackson Dominion). I love them but would like a couple of things different for the bridge. Namely, if I could get just a touch more output (not too much mind you), tame or roll off some of the treble, and still keep the overall character and flavor of the 59 I'd be in heaven. Does this pickup exist? If so, which model is it? Or am I describing something custom shop?

 

[RockStarNick]

Re: New Member with pup question

People's opinion will differ, but I think you either need:

1. Brobucker

or

2. Custom 5

The Brobucker is custom shop only. Overwound 59 basically. Less high end, more mids and balls. But it has the vintage spec wire of the 59.

The Custom 5 is a regular production pickup, and for what you're talking about, would probably get you to where you need to be, and you could probably score one used for about $45 bucks.

Custom 5 works great in a warm guitar. It loves mahogany. I hated it in Ash, though. Has the same basic EQ curve of a 59. But more output. The treble really depends on the guitar you have it in. Some say it's perfect (like me), some say it's too trebly. REALLY depends on your guitar, and your volume pot (250K or 500K). Either way, the C5 really matches up well with a 59 in the neck.

I've got the C5 in 3 of my guitars. 1 in a LP Standard, and 2 in Warmoth Mahogany bodied Teles.

Didn't like it with 500K pots. Love it with 250Ks.

 

[Reckless Abandon]

Re: New Member with pup question

try 250k pots

 

[jig]

Re: New Member with pup question

So, you're saying 250K Vol pots, not tone, right? For the C5 that is. Everything I've read suggests the C5 would be perfect except that it's universally (based on what I've read at least) considered very bright, too trebly, etc... That's something I definitely wish to avoid. I prefer lots of solid, tight bass and low-mids emphasis, with smooth/non-harsh highs

People's opinion will differ, but I think you either need:

1. Brobucker

or

2. Custom 5

The Brobucker is custom shop only. Overwound 59 basically. Less high end, more mids and balls. But it has the vintage spec wire of the 59.

The Custom 5 is a regular production pickup, and for what you're talking about, would probably get you to where you need to be, and you could probably score one used for about $45 bucks.

Custom 5 works great in a warm guitar. It loves mahogany. I hated it in Ash, though. Has the same basic EQ curve of a 59. But more output. The treble really depends on the guitar you have it in. Some say it's perfect (like me), some say it's too trebly. REALLY depends on your guitar, and your volume pot (250K or 500K). Either way, the C5 really matches up well with a 59 in the neck.

I've got the C5 in 3 of my guitars. 1 in a LP Standard, and 2 in Warmoth Mahogany bodied Teles.

Didn't like it with 500K pots. Love it with 250Ks.

 

[super rad stuff]

Re: New Member with pup question

brobucker sounds to me like what you've just described

 

[C8rockin]

Re: New Member with pup question

If you like to tinker you could try the C5 and if you don't like it, try some different magnets to find the Custom you like. The difference between the Customs are the magnets, Custom (ceramic), CC (A2), C5 (A5), or my personal favorite, the C8 (A8).
And then there's the A3, A4, and A6, too.

Tight bass and low-mids emphasis, with smooth/non-harsh highs,... sounds like you might like a C8.

 

[jig]

Re: New Member with pup question

If you like to tinker you could try the C5 and if you don't like it, try some different magnets to find the Custom you like. The difference between the Customs are the magnets, Custom (ceramic), CC (A2), C5 (A5), or my personal favorite, the C8 (A8).
And then there's the A3, A4, and A6, too.

Tight bass and low-mids emphasis, with smooth/non-harsh highs,... sounds like you might like a C8.

Thanks for all the insights everyone! Now if I could just fine some proper comparison clips to hear (no offense, but the Duncan site clips just don't properly convey the pups that are demonstrated) to decide...

 

[Mononoaware]

Re: New Member with pup question

If you like to tinker you could try the C5 and if you don't like it, try some different magnets to find the Custom you like. The difference between the Customs are the magnets, Custom (ceramic), CC (A2), C5 (A5), or my personal favorite, the C8 (A8).
And then there's the A3, A4, and A6, too.

Tight bass and low-mids emphasis, with smooth/non-harsh highs,... sounds like you might like a C8.

One other possibility, if you are good with a soldering iron, is a 59/Custom hybrid. That's one coil from a 59 and one coil from a Custom, rigged together. There's a long thread on it that has surfaced again recently. Check it out and see if it's something you'd be willing to try.

I had one for a while, traded it away, and now regret ever doing that. It really does combine the best charactaristics of the two pickups, and a lot of guys swear by it.

(Brobucker would be my second choice in case -- I love mine, but the hybrid had more of that lower-mid thing you mention going on.)

 

[super rad stuff]

Re: New Member with pup question

One other possibility, if you are good with a soldering iron, is a 59/Custom hybrid. That's one coil from a 59 and one coil from a Custom, rigged together. There's a long thread on it that has surfaced again recently. Check it out and see if it's something you'd be willing to try.

I had one for a while, traded it away, and now regret ever doing that. It really does combine the best charactaristics of the two pickups, and a lot of guys swear by it.

i was going to suggest the same thing, but didn't feel like explaining that stuff. thanks for not being lazy for others' sakes :cool2:

 

[jig]

Re: New Member with pup question

Thx, I'll look into the Bro. I've read the hybrid thread and while it's very intriguing, I'd probably screw things up trying to do it myself. I'm good enough with an iron to swap pups, pots, etc... but not quite up to the caliber of expertise it'd take to do that.

 

[Mononoaware]

Re: New Member with pup question

Thx, I'll look into the Bro. I've read the hybrid thread and while it's very intriguing, I'd probably screw things up trying to do it myself. I'm good enough with an iron to swap pups, pots, etc... but not quite up to the caliber of expertise it'd take to do that.

Yeah, that's kind of where I'm at, too. I'm keeping an eye on the Trading forum, though -- they come up maybe once in a blue moon.

Honestly, if you're willing to go Custom shop, listen to a bunch of user clips in the Tips & Clips section, tell them what charactaristics you'd like, and they'll be happy to work with you. If you said "(59) or (Brobucker) with a bit more (this) or (that)," they could probably make you a very happy person.

 

[hanumanlangur]

Re: New Member with pup question

Turning down the tone knob and turning up your amp? Have you adjusted the pickup height? That changes the actual output....

 

[jig]

Re: New Member with pup question

Turning down the tone knob and turning up your amp? Have you adjusted the pickup height? That changes the actual output....

Yep, that goes without saying. I've made those adjustments but would just like a bit more output overall and a tonal structure like I'd described so that I didn't have to tweak things eq-wise to compensate for the pup. At least, not quite as much.

I may indeed contact custom shop and see what can be done there. I think I'll first try a custom 5 and swap the mags to see what changes can be had