Opinions on Duncan Custom 5

Dave Simpson

Dave Simpson

New member
My first post here, so hello to all.:headbang:

Just ordered a Custom 5 for my Les Paul after reading about the pickup. Sounds like what I need, a '59 with a little more output to kick the pre-amp a little harder.

Anyone who has had any experience with the SH-14 I'd appreciate any thoughts on it.

I'm trying to find a pickup that doesn't add a lot of mid's put has a little more output than the '59 and Pearly Gates. I love the tone of those pickups but want a little more output.
 
Re: Opinions on Duncan Custom 5

Dave Simpson said:
My first post here, so hello to all.:headbang:

Just ordered a Custom 5 for my Les Paul after reading about the pickup. Sounds like what I need, a '59 with a little more output to kick the pre-amp a little harder.

Anyone who has had any experience with the SH-14 I'd appreciate any thoughts on it.

I'm trying to find a pickup that doesn't add a lot of mid's put has a little more output than the '59 and Pearly Gates. I love the tone of those pickups but want a little more output.
Click to expand...


where's GEARJONSER? he is real familar with the C5:smokin:
 
Re: Opinions on Duncan Custom 5

I have the C5 in my dean hardtail. In this guitar, it sounds great. Leads are smooth and singing. Nice harmonics. Split sound is very nice. This guitar can do anything from country to Death Metal, but sounds best for hot blues and classic rock. This guitar is naturally very warm sounding, so the C5 suits if perfectly.

I used to have the C5 in my Les Paul with an ebony fingerboard, and it sounded really weak and thin. Ice-pick highs, booming lows, and no mids.
 
Re: Opinions on Duncan Custom 5

I put a Custom 5 in my LP and it sounds great. That guitar had plenty of mids so I wanted a pickup that was a little scooped to even it out a little. It's really punchy but also sweet when I pick soft or roll back the volume. Matched it up with a Phat Cat in the neck--this Les Paul simply rules now.
 
Re: Opinions on Duncan Custom 5

My Les Paul has a rosewood fingerboard and not much finish left on the body after 31 years of use. It sounds great. By far the best Les Paul I've every had. Hopefully it won't be all bottom and high end tone wise in my guitar.
 
Re: Opinions on Duncan Custom 5

I love the sound of my C5 in my schecter which is mahogany body with maple cap. My guitar is warm sounding so the C5 sounds great. It fits well with the 59 in the neck and it is most suited like bigheadood said for hot blues and classic rock but I've got even some nice metal sounds from it.
 
Re: Opinions on Duncan Custom 5

My very first Duncan pups were the C5/59 combo that I got as a b-day present for my Peavey Predator. I liked the C5, but it wasn't exactly the right personality for the Predator. I percieved it as having a bit too much "twang". I shelved it for awhile until it found a home in my Peavey Genny. (Tele clone.) In that position, its perfect.

The C5 in my Genny and the Antiquity II in my Squier Tele are tied for 1st place as my favorite guitar to play. One is a Tele, and the other is a Tele. ;)

Artie
 
Re: Opinions on Duncan Custom 5

The C-5 is my favorite higher output humbucker, mostly because I like the vintage A5 sound, but like it to have more power. I find that the Custom 5 is one of those pickups that can sound good in any guitar, but particularly any guitar that has mahogany in it. If youre guitar has full mids like a Les Paul, PRS, Hamer, SG etc, the Custom 5 will sound great because it lets the wood dictate the mids. The C-5 also has a tight percussive bottom end and highs that are similar to most vintage pickups like 59's and Seths......open and natural sounding.

I've used it the most with a 59N, but I gotta tell you guys....the Jazz Bridge Model is a F@#$% amazing neck pickup. Try a C-5/Jazz B in neck for your next pickup change, and see how you like it........even better if you can split both pickups, and get different combinations with 2 volumes, 2 tones.
 
Re: Opinions on Duncan Custom 5

It's an AMAZING pup. Records beautiful, has a classic tone with more cajones. It's harmonically rich, and very responsive on EVERY level.

Downside? Not rude enough in the mids. If you want rude mids, it's not the right choice. If you wanted a full sound with some dialed down mids, it's perfect.
 
Re: Opinions on Duncan Custom 5

Gearjoneser said:
....the Jazz Bridge Model is a F@#$% amazing neck pickup.
Click to expand...

Hey GJ; Have you ever tried a Stag Mag in the neck? I've never heard either Jazz model. I'd love to hear your critique of the SM. (In the neck.)

Artie
 
Re: Opinions on Duncan Custom 5

The C-5 also sounds the best with EL-34 amps, since a lot of the rude mids are supplied by the amp. The C-5 is usually praised the most by those that think the JB has too much of a mid hump.

I've never tried a Stag Mag. I wonder why they're not more popular?
As much as I love Duncans, it angers me that even the biggest retailers don't stock enough different models. It's rare when I see much more than a JB, Invader, Hot Rails, Custom, and Distortion. GC and Sam Ash should be carrying half the line!
 
Re: Opinions on Duncan Custom 5

I had a C5 in the bridge of my Gordon Smith Graduate60 (Les Paul clone) and absolutley hated it!

I think it was in there for about a week and then I changed it for something else.

It didn't seem to have any power to it, it had alot of lows, no mids (imo why it sounded thin and lacked power) and enough high as I'd need.
 
Re: Opinions on Duncan Custom 5

Thanks for the replys guys. Sounds like the Custom 5 should work for my needs.

I've tried a JB, Distortion, '59 and Pearly Gates. The '59 and Pearly gates were in the tone range that sounded the best. They didn't add any excessive mid range but still didn't have the output I wanted. Hopefully the Custom 5 will take care of that.:scratchch
 
Re: Opinions on Duncan Custom 5

In my Strat, the C5 just didn't have enough mids for my liking, but this seems like that's what you want... and you have a LP, so you have more mids anyway.
 
Re: Opinions on Duncan Custom 5

Dave Simpson said:
Thanks for the replys guys. Sounds like the Custom 5 should work for my needs.

I've tried a JB, Distortion, '59 and Pearly Gates. The '59 and Pearly gates were in the tone range that sounded the best. They didn't add any excessive mid range but still didn't have the output I wanted. Hopefully the Custom 5 will take care of that.:scratchch
Click to expand...

The C5 will probally fit your needs in a guitar that is dark sounding. It really seems like you are looking for a regular custom though. If you dont like the C5, just switch out the magnet of a ceramic one and you got a custom.
 
Re: Opinions on Duncan Custom 5

Gearjoneser is right on the money: the C5 sounds best with amps with alot of mids and in guitars made from mahogany.

It also sounds best, IMO, cranked up loud.

I think there are fuller sounding pickups if you DON'T play loud though...the C5 sounds a little lacking in mids and a little to bright at low to modest volumes.

I loved it through my '59 tweed Bassman when I'd really crank it up.

Lew
 
Re: Opinions on Duncan Custom 5

i have the C5 in my Gibson SG: despite sounding very immaculate for crunch settings, it does well for high gain.
 
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