PATB-3 vs Custom Custom

Eddie J.

New member
Which one is richer in low mid section?

I wonder is PATB-3 really so mid scooped as one could think after reading the pickup chart? When I compare some threads about PATB-3 to tone chart, sometimes it looks like it`s not the same pickup.
 
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Re: PATB-3 vs Custom Custom

Take the tone chart with a grain of salt. It is somewhat misleading at times IMO. The are somewhat similar pickups but, totally different at the same rate. I dont personally know which has more low mids. I say this, if you have a 24.75 scale axe, go with the CC. If you have a 25.5 scale axe, go for the PATB-3. That is, if you are wanting warm and fat.

Oh, the PATB-3 cant be scooped sounding if it makes a 25.5 scale super start sound like a LP.
 
Re: PATB-3 vs Custom Custom

I say this, if you have a 24.75 scale axe, go with the CC. If you have a 25.5 scale axe, go for the PATB-3.
I'll second that.
And I'll second that you shoudl take the tone chart with a grain of salt.

I've got both pickups installed in different guitars. The PATB3 and CC are both very crunchy. I love what they do to an overdriven amp.

Both have a smooth high end, though I woudln't say they're exactly alike sounding. Neither one has the ice pick effect that you get with some humbuckers when playing clean. Clean arpeggios sound real nice with both pickups.

I haven't had good results with the PA-TB3 in 24 3/4" scale guitars because it has a real strong bass. It's definitely meant for 25 1/2" scale Floyd equipped shredder axes, which are often bass deficient.

The bass on the CC sounds fine in almost any guitar.

The PA-TB3 has strong mids, which give it that amazing crunch when you play it through a distorted amp. The mids may be focussed in one narrow range, and that may be why the tone chart reads the way it does. I don't know.
 
Re: PATB-3 vs Custom Custom

Oh, the PATB-3 cant be scooped sounding if it makes a 25.5 scale super start sound like a LP.
That`s exactly what i`ve thought in a first place.

They are somewhat similar pickups but, totally different at the same rate. I dont personally know which has more low mids. I say this, if you have a 24.75 scale axe, go with the CC. If you have a 25.5 scale axe, go for the PATB-3. That is, if you are wanting warm and fat.

Yes, that`s what i want. This Dean is a 24.75 scale, but it sounds bit brighter than i thought classic mahogany/maple set neck should sound. It`s not too bright, it has a great bite with the custom in bridge, but I would like it to sound slightly mellower and deeper/middier for a notch or two, not big bass, just some more space in the low register.
Of course, I`ll take the easiest path and do A2 swap to CC (as soon as i get an A2 bar).

I`m sure mids will be great with CC, but, if i find it lacking lows, I guess the PATB-3 should be the next in line for the job, right?


Edit:
@Kosh: Thanks for your feedback, I wrote this before I saw your post.
Allright guys, CC goes first. Be free to tell me more If there`s any need ;)
 
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Re: PATB-3 vs Custom Custom

If you like the mids and highs, but not the lows, A8 will keep the 'fat' and add a good deal of bass, but the bass is more akin to ceramic, so it will be a great deal tighter in the low frequencies.
 
Re: PATB-3 vs Custom Custom

I've got mine today. Am looking forward to comparing my TB CC and PATB-3 in the bridge of my lone star strat.

B :cool2:
 
Re: PATB-3 vs Custom Custom

I have the Saraceno pickup in a Charvel Superstrat, the sound reminds me of a Gibson V. When I looked at the tone chart I was worried as the mids looked scooped, I though it might sound like the C5 which I hate in this type of guitar but I figured I would give it a shot. It is definitely an A5 sound but fuller sounding than the C5.
 
Re: PATB-3 vs Custom Custom

The PA-TB3 seems to have plenty of mids in the frequencies that make for a crunchy edgy sound with plenty of edge and harmonics. They've scooped out some of the lower mids, which can make the guitar sound woofy or muddy.

It's not surprising the PA-TB3 started as a custom shop pickup. Someone put a lot of thought and effort into carefully sculpting its tonal response.
 
Re: PATB-3 vs Custom Custom

Ok guys. I now have 4 pickups that I wanna compare against one another. A 10K PAF shootout if you will. It is gonna take some time and especially because that I wanna record these tests. But I gotta get a new soundcard first, and set it up. So it'll not be done right away.

The pickups are:

1. The Brobucker (TB)

2. DiMarzio Mo' Joe

3. Duncan PATB-3

4. Duncan Custom Custom (also with Mo' Joe's hex screws on the low E, A and D)

The guitar that I am gonna be doing the comparison in will be my sienna burst lone star strat with a maple neck.

Any feedback about what to expect?

Best,

B
 
Re: PATB-3 vs Custom Custom

Ok, well, the CC is 14k so toss that one out. That leaves the other 4. IMO, go with the Brobucker. It's one of the best pickups in a Strat I've ever used.
 
Re: PATB-3 vs Custom Custom

Sure, have been using brobuckers for quite a long time now. What I wanna do is a controlled test for the 4 of them. Indeed, I know how the brobucker and CC sound, but am gonna compare them with PATB-3 and Mo' Joe, two pickups that I do not know anything about.

B ;)
 
Re: PATB-3 vs Custom Custom

I've got mine today. Am looking forward to comparing my TB CC and PATB-3 in the bridge of my lone star strat.

B :cool2:

Go go go. When you do, please let us know what do you think ;)
I hope I`ll have my Alnico2 bar in two weeks from now.
 
Re: PATB-3 vs Custom Custom

Well, after almost a year, I think it`s time for me to speak about this :lmao:


I tried CC and although I liked it, in my guitar it was really a one trick pony. Here`s why...those days I found out that my guitar actually wasn`t overly bright, it was the amp I played then. It was quite a surprise. I did some A to B-ing with few amps and guitars and it came clear that this Dean has decent mids and actually needed some sparkle. I was quite confused with the test results, but what a hell, that was it, so I tried A2 in my custom just for kicks. As you can guess, mids were just too much. I mean, no cut at all with 500k pots. It had some great vibe around it somewhat QOTSA like but it wasn`t so useful and i decided to change it, but I`m sure it would be killer in a brighter/more scooped guitar than mine.

So i tried A5 and WOW! I have always read how C5 is really scooped pickup, but not here. It was just perfect, finaly i nailed an edge and opened sound without losing power. Still compressed though, but audibly less than ceramic custom. So I was happy for few months but then 14.4k compression slowly started to bother me more and more.

I wanted something more open, and I decided to go more into tight and clear and see what happens, and here I am now with screamin demon bridge, jazz neck and EMG PA-2. (no switch version, installed inside cavity, turned to half power and connected to push pull pot, which turns it on or off. Other push pull splits both pickups in the same time. I don`t like too many switches, so it works great for me like this.)

I Just wired it, first day so later about that. First impression about demon are great though.
I just wanted to write what happened with all this, don`t like to create those "ask and dissapear" threads.

Thanks guys ;)
 
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