JOLLY
Super Simonologist
Me neither, but there's videos showing how to do it that make it look pretty damn easy.
Replacement pups for Custom 5/Jazz in LTD EC-1000
- Thread starter weepingminotaur
- Start date
Me neither, but there's videos showing how to do it that make it look pretty damn easy.
ehdwuld
A Ficus
it is easier than swapping pickups
no soldering required
remove pickup
flip pickup over
remove four screws
lift base plate to expose magnet
replace magnet
reverse process
check to be sure of magnet polarity
preferably before change
compass to either edge to determine north and south of each replacement magnet
if you are doing both pickups then polarity is only important to the two going in
as long as both pickups in the same guitar have the same polarity then it will work fine
if one is reversed it will sound strange in the middle position
if both are reversed it wont be noticeable
no soldering required
remove pickup
flip pickup over
remove four screws
lift base plate to expose magnet
replace magnet
reverse process
check to be sure of magnet polarity
preferably before change
compass to either edge to determine north and south of each replacement magnet
if you are doing both pickups then polarity is only important to the two going in
as long as both pickups in the same guitar have the same polarity then it will work fine
if one is reversed it will sound strange in the middle position
if both are reversed it wont be noticeable
beaubrummels
Well-known member
Ah, that thread popped up again. Looks like it was the ToneZone/AirZone I was thinking of. I got mixed up with the Norton/AirNorton
Magnet swap is really easy, the only challenging part for a beginner IME is dislodging the existing magnet, both C5 and Jazz are potted and the wax holds it tight in place. I'm not removing the 4 screws, only loosen them by exactly 4 turns, enough to then squeeze a thin flathead screwdriver between the bobbin and the base plate to pull both apart slightly at both ends. Then I start pushing the magnet carefully from the wired end, firm but careful.
Aceman
I am your doctor of love!
If you can play guitar you can do a mag swap.
That's ok. Just say I want to spend the money and have someone else do it. That's ok.
weepingminotaur
Well-known member
Tthe two are related: I have no skill, which is why I would rather spend the money and have someone else do it.
weepingminotaur
Well-known member
Sorry to necro this thread, but I'm coming back to the question of which pickups to swap and I'm giving serious thought to the following pairings:
Custom bridge / '59 neck
Distortion bridge / Whole Lotta Humbucker neck
Thing is, I have zero experience with any of these pickups. Can you good folks provide me with some intel on how they sound? I'm particularly interested in how the Custom and Distortion stack up against the Nazgul and Black Winter bridge, on the one hand, and how the '59 and WLH stack up against the Sentient and Black Winter neck, on the other (these are the pickups I have in my other guitars).
Custom bridge / '59 neck
Distortion bridge / Whole Lotta Humbucker neck
Thing is, I have zero experience with any of these pickups. Can you good folks provide me with some intel on how they sound? I'm particularly interested in how the Custom and Distortion stack up against the Nazgul and Black Winter bridge, on the one hand, and how the '59 and WLH stack up against the Sentient and Black Winter neck, on the other (these are the pickups I have in my other guitars).
weepingminotaur
Well-known member
OK, so to drill down a bit, how do the Custom and Distortion stack up against each other?
The Distortion has more treble, more mids, and less bass than the Custom. It is also a little bit louder.
Aceman
I am your doctor of love!
Distortion: Ultra tight chunking bass, big present mids, screaming highs. Great for down tune, and my go to for Dokken, Priest, Metallica. I have played all kinds of things with it though. It is very metal.
Custom: Tight thumping bass, present but more scooped mids, same screaming highs. Great for all kinds of rock, and my go to for Def Leppard, Whitesnake, Megadeth. I would play more things with a Custom that a Distortion. It is more all around.
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I agree with all of this.
weepingminotaur
Well-known member
Really helpful, thanks. Actually a bit of a dilemma. I probably gravitate to the Distortion's EQ more by default (I like mids), but I do play a ton of Leppard and Megadeth. Though not so much Leppard on this particular guitar, since it's in E flat. I've got a decision to make...
Aceman
I am your doctor of love!
E/Eb they both sound fantastic. You can set that 3/7/7 eq at the amp if you want with the custom, whereas that IS the EQ of the Distortion.
If I were gonna play hard rock/metal most of the time, and was willing to adjust the amp on occasions for blues/pop/whatever - Distortion. (Which could do a nice Chicago blues style, I'd add...and the cleans are crisp - if somewhat Sterile and less than full...depending on the axe.)
If I might play a bit of this that or the other thing and wanted to dial in an all around sound except for Gain - Custom. While it isn't going to have the raw aggression of the Distortion, it can definitely be Aggressive. The volume can PAF it up a bit, if it is somewhat less than really warm when you do that.
Do a Mag swap with a Ceramic on that C5 and see how you like it.
If I were gonna play hard rock/metal most of the time, and was willing to adjust the amp on occasions for blues/pop/whatever - Distortion. (Which could do a nice Chicago blues style, I'd add...and the cleans are crisp - if somewhat Sterile and less than full...depending on the axe.)
If I might play a bit of this that or the other thing and wanted to dial in an all around sound except for Gain - Custom. While it isn't going to have the raw aggression of the Distortion, it can definitely be Aggressive. The volume can PAF it up a bit, if it is somewhat less than really warm when you do that.
Do a Mag swap with a Ceramic on that C5 and see how you like it.
weepingminotaur
Well-known member
While we're on the subject, can I ask you for your recommendations on neck pickups to pair with either the Distortion bridge or the Custom? For the former, I'd venture a Distortion neck, and for the latter, a '59, but maybe there are better choices. (this guitar is mostly metal and hard rock with the odd foray into blues and pop, if that helps at all)
donaldr
New member
Personally I would not touch the pickups, they are good IMO. I have a Katana 50 and I would say that it's not the greatest amp for metal, for blues no question.
6 things you can do:
1- Play with the height of the pickups (half a turn at a time) and play with the filler screws (again half a turn at a time). If the Jazz is too bright, turn the filler screws clockwise. You way have to raise the pickup to compensate the output level.
2- Get Katana Librarian app for Androids. This changed the way I was dialling my Katana 50. It's way easier with this app than it is with BTS. Start by adding an HPF and a LPF. There's a good chance your Jazz will sound good with just that. Removing some low and some high will also makes the Custom 5 less scooped. Had just enough mids. With the Librarian, it's also very easy to have 4-presets for blues, 4-presets for Def Leppard and another 4-presets for metal. Takes 5 seconds to load them.
3- Get an external close back cab. This will change the response of the Katana 50 and it will sound closer to an amp for metal. I plugged my 4x12" cab on the Katana 50 and it transformed the amp. I also have a custom 1x12" close cab with an Eminence GB128 that I really like for blues, classic rock and hard rock. Don't get me wrong, the Katana 50 is great for the price but a bigger cab and a better speaker transformed the amp.
4- Get a Katana Head and whatever cab to get the sound you are after.
5- Try your guitar on a different amp. Go to a friend or the a music store with that guitar to compare your amp vs another amp. Maybe it's the way you dialled your tone on the Katana.
6- Change your pickups, we are on Seymour Duncan forum after all
Again, an amp and a cab will give you better result IMO because the Custom 5 and the Jazz are already good/great pickups.
6 things you can do:
1- Play with the height of the pickups (half a turn at a time) and play with the filler screws (again half a turn at a time). If the Jazz is too bright, turn the filler screws clockwise. You way have to raise the pickup to compensate the output level.
2- Get Katana Librarian app for Androids. This changed the way I was dialling my Katana 50. It's way easier with this app than it is with BTS. Start by adding an HPF and a LPF. There's a good chance your Jazz will sound good with just that. Removing some low and some high will also makes the Custom 5 less scooped. Had just enough mids. With the Librarian, it's also very easy to have 4-presets for blues, 4-presets for Def Leppard and another 4-presets for metal. Takes 5 seconds to load them.
3- Get an external close back cab. This will change the response of the Katana 50 and it will sound closer to an amp for metal. I plugged my 4x12" cab on the Katana 50 and it transformed the amp. I also have a custom 1x12" close cab with an Eminence GB128 that I really like for blues, classic rock and hard rock. Don't get me wrong, the Katana 50 is great for the price but a bigger cab and a better speaker transformed the amp.
4- Get a Katana Head and whatever cab to get the sound you are after.
5- Try your guitar on a different amp. Go to a friend or the a music store with that guitar to compare your amp vs another amp. Maybe it's the way you dialled your tone on the Katana.
6- Change your pickups, we are on Seymour Duncan forum after all
Again, an amp and a cab will give you better result IMO because the Custom 5 and the Jazz are already good/great pickups.
Aceman
I am your doctor of love!
A 59 works with either if a PAF is desired - Which I think is you.
A Jazz is not out of place either, but not my thing - Might dig it for pop.
I prefer a 59 with the Distortion and a Pearly Gates with the Custom. That's just me
A Screaming Demon is not a bad option with the Distortion
Of course, A Distortion neck is always in style, if loud. I have that set in a Silverburst Cadillac
I have a 59n/Custom combo in my LP copy. The 59 is more bass & highs but less mids. Its good for a variety of stuff but if I was given an option then I'd definitely pick Pearly Gates neck over it.
The Custom can be bright with strong bass, mids are there but not honking kind. I didn't get along with the C5 but the Custom is a keeper.
The 59n + Custom combo blends well eq wise. I've not looked into a PGn & Slash Bridge combo, I wonder what that would be like :33:
The Custom can be bright with strong bass, mids are there but not honking kind. I didn't get along with the C5 but the Custom is a keeper.
The 59n + Custom combo blends well eq wise. I've not looked into a PGn & Slash Bridge combo, I wonder what that would be like :33:
what the hell kinda chicago blues are you listening to?
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