Question about 59/C5 hybrid

[sveto]

Hi folks,

This is my first post here, and the 59 model is my first Duncan pickup (used DiMarzios in the past :nana

I'm really glad that i discovered the 59 model. Since i went to 10-46 (from 009s) i never was happy about my tone with the DiMarzio Breeds (too buzzy and hard, but dull, without sparkle)... I think the 59 is a superb solution for cleaning up my tone. My stylistic interests a very broad, but lying mainly in fusion/prog-rock territory.

Now, the 59 sounds clean, fat, juicy, powerful, glassy, woody, percussive, and that's absolutely wonderful for Holdsworth-like tones. My only little problem with the 59 is that pinch harmonics don't jump out as easy and are a little weak when i'm playing Vai stuff. And the second nitpick: on muted riffs the bass is a little weak (not enough thump?).

I figured that maybe a 59/c5 hybrid is the solution to the problem. A bit more mids and lows without getting buzzy/sizzly and loosing the power and the percussive attack.

1) Can anyone describe the tone of this hybrid in comparison to the 59 model? What would i gain after the modification? Will the tone suite my tone preferences?

2) What about the Blues Saraceno model?

3) Is a 59n a good match for the hybrid or the Blues? I need similar tones in neck/bridge, just like a PafPro neck / PafPro bridge combination

OK. Sorry for the long post. Any help is very welcome!
Sveto

PS: My guitar is an alder bodied Ibanez JEM (Vai-Signature - was the only Ibanez model with ebony fretboard at the time) with an Ibanez Backstop tremsetter in the tremolo for better tone. I'm a strat guy.

 

[sveto]

Re: Question about 59/C5 hybrid

Nobody can help?
sv

 

[jjimi1647]

Re: Question about 59/C5 hybrid

Click here:
https://forum.seymourduncan.com/showthread.php?t=22538
It's an extensive thread that will answer all of your questions on how to make a hybrid, how it sounds etc.

 

[sveto]

Re: Question about 59/C5 hybrid

Thanks Jimi, i already read that. But the thread doesn't give me a clear answer how the hybrid sounds in comparison to the regular 59. I found only some vague hints and a lot of praises...
sv

 

[Benjy_26]

Re: Question about 59/C5 hybrid

I don't havea 59/C5, but I do havea PG+/C5 hybrid. Compared to the PG+, the hybrid will have more bass, a bump in the mids, and rounder highs than the PG+. Interestingly enough, it also has more mids than the C5. The highs are present, but in my LP, they never get brittle or harsh.

In a JEM, i'd personally go with a PATB-3, which is warmer, tighter, and more compressed than the Duncan PAF copies without stepping into the Distortion Pickup class. If you want your JEM to pretend it's a Gibson, get yourself a Pearly Gates bridge model for the neck slot and a PATB-3 in the bridge.

 

[sveto]

Re: Question about 59/C5 hybrid

Ah, that's some good start. Thanks Benjy.

I remember i have read that the Blues S. has a mellower attack, wich i probably will not like much. The attack of the 59b is perfect.

I'm not sure the C5 coil will tune the sound exactly like in your hybrid, but at least it's a coarse idea where i'm going to end at. :13:

Ah, about the LP bit: i don't like LesPaul sounds. I like Holdsworth, Vai (but beefier) and Scott Henderson sounds, and (no one will know this one) Jens Johansson sounds (a keyboarder :nana

Keep the suggestions coming people, i don't want to buy a pile of duncans and end up with a couple of paperweights (although it's a cool idea :14

Best,
Sveto

 

[theodie]

Re: Question about 59/C5 hybrid

I have a Custom/59 hybrid for sale if you are interested.

 

[sveto]

Re: Question about 59/C5 hybrid

Thanks Theodie, i appreciate the offer. But i would like to do it myself. It's not that i don't trust you - i know you are a respected community member here. I'm a total DIY freak and always like to learn new things.

Maybe you can tell me something about the sound of the pickup nevertheless?

Thanks again,
Sveto

 

[theodie]

Re: Question about 59/C5 hybrid

Thanks Theodie, i appreciate the offer. But i would like to do it myself. It's not that i don't trust you - i know you are a respected community member here. I'm a total DIY freak and always like to learn new things.

Maybe you can tell me something about the sound of the pickup nevertheless?

Thanks again,
Sveto

Cool, I understand the DIY thang.

This pickup is really hard for me to explain. Its just unique but, very tasty at the same time. It is hard for me to explain it.

 

[sveto]

Re: Question about 59/C5 hybrid

Theodie, if you have the patience with me, then what about this:
1) how's the bass response (palm muting etc) in comparison to some other pickup you know well?
2) how are the harmonics in comparison to some other pickup you know well?
3) how pronounced are the mids in comparison to some other pickup you know well?

Maybe you can even speculate on a tone chart, like that from the 59 model - 6/3/6. It don't have to be 100% accurate, i don't collect scientific data here... :laugh2:

Thanks,
Sveto

 

[sveto]

Re: Question about 59/C5 hybrid

Does the forum tolerate a careful bump?
sv

 

[tc]

Re: Question about 59/C5 hybrid

welcome to the forum, and yeah nothing wrong with a bump . Didn't that JEM come with EVOs?? What did you like/dislike about them? Other pickup models you've tried?? soryy it's just i havent played '59s

 

[theodie]

Re: Question about 59/C5 hybrid

Theodie, if you have the patience with me, then what about this:
1) how's the bass response (palm muting etc) in comparison to some other pickup you know well?
2) how are the harmonics in comparison to some other pickup you know well?
3) how pronounced are the mids in comparison to some other pickup you know well?

Maybe you can even speculate on a tone chart, like that from the 59 model - 6/3/6. It don't have to be 100% accurate, i don't collect scientific data here... :laugh2:

Thanks,
Sveto

Its totally unique IMO and I cant tell you anything mopre than that. You just need to try one.

 

[sveto]

Re: Question about 59/C5 hybrid

welcome to the forum, and yeah nothing wrong with a bump . Didn't that JEM come with EVOs?? What did you like/dislike about them? Other pickup models you've tried?? soryy it's just i havent played '59s

Well, Evos sound very "ceramicky", hard, tight, scratchy, thin, cold etc. I played them for over 1 year and they have all the qualities most people don't want to have in a pickup :14:

I loved the Breeds for 009 strings, but i'm on 010s now and there's no going back for me anymore. 009 sound too weak, 010s sound better, period. But the Breeds are not optimized for 010s. Read my first post, or better, hear the newest Andy Timmons album and you'll see what i mean.

Sveto

 

[Gearjoneser]

Re: Question about 59/C5 hybrid

Some of my favorite pickups are 59's, 59/C hybrids, and C-5's.

The 59 has ultimate sustain, smoothness across clean and gain, and a fairly low output feel.

The hybrid has a tiny bit more lows, more growl because of the mismatched coils, and highs that seem the same as a 59.

The C5 has a big tight lowend, neutral mids like the 59, and a tiny bit more compression on the highs than the 59.

I love the hybrid, and it keeps me thinking about the above mentioned PG+/59 and another I really want to try...the JB/C5.

Mismatched coils does something to the sound that makes it more loose and complex. To me, it seems to growl or do the BWAAAANG a bit better than matched coils.

 

[sveto]

Re: Question about 59/C5 hybrid

Gearjoneser, thank you very much! Finally someone with straight infos :bowdown: So you do not find that it has more sizzle? That's good, i don't like sizzle...
Anyway, it sounds promising from your descriptions! I ordered a '59 and a C5 a couple of days ago, so i'm looking to try it out very soon.

Cheers,
Sveto