gregory
New member
Re: Retiring my Distortion in LP for a more organic lead pup
I think I'd rather have an A5 Titan over a Sentient, personally.
I think I'd rather have an A5 Titan over a Sentient, personally.
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Retiring my Distortion in LP for a more organic lead pup
- Thread starter Nagisa
- Start date
Masta' C
Well-known member
Re: Retiring my Distortion in LP for a more organic lead pup
I'm going to go out on a limb and suggest that something like the Suhr Aldrich may be exactly what you're after here.
The Pegasus is a cool pickup, but the tone is nowhere in the ballpark of the 498T.
The Aldrich is like a hotter, clearer, punchier version of that same rock tone with a good dose of expressiveness and great harmonic character.
I'm going to go out on a limb and suggest that something like the Suhr Aldrich may be exactly what you're after here.
The Pegasus is a cool pickup, but the tone is nowhere in the ballpark of the 498T.
The Aldrich is like a hotter, clearer, punchier version of that same rock tone with a good dose of expressiveness and great harmonic character.
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Nagisa
New member
Re: Retiring my Distortion in LP for a more organic lead pup
Thanks everyone - lots of suggestions to check into.
Tell us the Res Peak if you can
Sorry I'm not sure what this one really means.
Maybe like 5 bass 5 mids 7 treble?
Tell us how hot
I guess around 498's level - not where it gets too compressed.
Describe the QUALITIES of the bass
Not muddy, can hold up during fast runs (standard tuning)
Tell us if/where the mids are focussed
Not too sure - usually I don't mess too much with the mid section on my amp profiles, but if I do I usually add a little bit.
Describe the qualities of the highs
Hoping for general clarity. Good highs for bends on the high e string that don't sound too piercing. Then again I rarely have this problem.
Thanks everyone - lots of suggestions to check into.
Tell us the Res Peak if you can
Sorry I'm not sure what this one really means.
Maybe like 5 bass 5 mids 7 treble?
Tell us how hot
I guess around 498's level - not where it gets too compressed.
Describe the QUALITIES of the bass
Not muddy, can hold up during fast runs (standard tuning)
Tell us if/where the mids are focussed
Not too sure - usually I don't mess too much with the mid section on my amp profiles, but if I do I usually add a little bit.
Describe the qualities of the highs
Hoping for general clarity. Good highs for bends on the high e string that don't sound too piercing. Then again I rarely have this problem.
gregory
New member
Re: Retiring my Distortion in LP for a more organic lead pup
The BMT sounds like Screamin' Demon territory to me.
How much heat did you lose off the Titan from the mag swap?
The PAF Pro might be a better choice if the Screamin' Demon is too weak for the A5 Titan.
To go hotter, you might need to look at high output neck pickups since they are voiced to be brighter.
http://www.dimarzio.com/node/2186
The BMT sounds like Screamin' Demon territory to me.
How much heat did you lose off the Titan from the mag swap?
The PAF Pro might be a better choice if the Screamin' Demon is too weak for the A5 Titan.
To go hotter, you might need to look at high output neck pickups since they are voiced to be brighter.
http://www.dimarzio.com/node/2186
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Re: Retiring my Distortion in LP for a more organic lead pup
This is the first thing that came to mind. Don't worry about the ceramic magnet.
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This is the first thing that came to mind. Don't worry about the ceramic magnet.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Jeff_H
Dean Hardtail Fanologist
Re: Retiring my Distortion in LP for a more organic lead pup
Even though I am NOT a ceramic magnet guy, the first pickup I thought of based on your original post was the Custom.
However, if you are reluctant to try another Ceramic, I would say the Saturday Night Special bridge followed by the WLH. I have played the C5 and CC in a Les Paul (my personal guitar), but not the Custom. I felt the C'5's highs were too piercing through either a JCM 600 or a JCM 800 2205. Maybe it was the lack of mids that contributed to that, but it didn't work for me. The CC was just too tubby in the midst for me and the lows too loose.
I am generally however an A2 guy in spite of everything. I don't think you'd like the standard APH II bridge, but maybe the Slash bridge? A Brobucker might be just right, but that's a custom shop order.
If it were my LP, I'd buy the Saturday Night Special above anything else first.
Even though I am NOT a ceramic magnet guy, the first pickup I thought of based on your original post was the Custom.
However, if you are reluctant to try another Ceramic, I would say the Saturday Night Special bridge followed by the WLH. I have played the C5 and CC in a Les Paul (my personal guitar), but not the Custom. I felt the C'5's highs were too piercing through either a JCM 600 or a JCM 800 2205. Maybe it was the lack of mids that contributed to that, but it didn't work for me. The CC was just too tubby in the midst for me and the lows too loose.
I am generally however an A2 guy in spite of everything. I don't think you'd like the standard APH II bridge, but maybe the Slash bridge? A Brobucker might be just right, but that's a custom shop order.
If it were my LP, I'd buy the Saturday Night Special above anything else first.
Nagisa
New member
Re: Retiring my Distortion in LP for a more organic lead pup
Honestly the Titan magnet swap improved the pickup in almost every way. No noticeable output loss.
I guess with all the suggestions of a Custom it may be a good one to get, considering it's so magnet swappable. Still going to look into the other suggestions here too
Honestly the Titan magnet swap improved the pickup in almost every way. No noticeable output loss.
I guess with all the suggestions of a Custom it may be a good one to get, considering it's so magnet swappable. Still going to look into the other suggestions here too
gregory
New member
Re: Retiring my Distortion in LP for a more organic lead pup
I wonder if they are using a weaker ceramic like what is claimed about the Steve Morse Neck model.
So was the A5 double-thick or just standard?
Very cool!
I wonder if they are using a weaker ceramic like what is claimed about the Steve Morse Neck model.
So was the A5 double-thick or just standard?
VHTJay
New member
Re: Retiring my Distortion in LP for a more organic lead pup
My first aftermarket pickup change was a Custom 5 from a 498t. The aspects I didn't like about the 498 were pretty much what you didn't like. The Custom 5 got rid of the brittleness, cleaned up the grit by bumping down the mids and had a big, tight low end. Still one of my favourite pickups. Want even more low end chunk, output and attack? Then the regular Custom is your huckleberry.
My first aftermarket pickup change was a Custom 5 from a 498t. The aspects I didn't like about the 498 were pretty much what you didn't like. The Custom 5 got rid of the brittleness, cleaned up the grit by bumping down the mids and had a big, tight low end. Still one of my favourite pickups. Want even more low end chunk, output and attack? Then the regular Custom is your huckleberry.
Nagisa
New member
Re: Retiring my Distortion in LP for a more organic lead pup
Oops sorry I forgot to answer you. It was regular thickness. In my standard spaced pickup, the magnet was the same length as the 498 magnet was. I only bought 2.5" magnets from fx addiction and put one of them (a5) in there. Not sure if the increased length does anything.
PS there was glue over the magnet in the Titan like hot glue gun stuff. I just pulled it out with some needle nose pliers and it only took a minute to fix. The clean sound really good now, like the Comfortably Numb solo is really nice. The soloing overdriven sounds are pretty much the same but you can hear that natural top end that alnico has but ceramic doesn't
Oops sorry I forgot to answer you. It was regular thickness. In my standard spaced pickup, the magnet was the same length as the 498 magnet was. I only bought 2.5" magnets from fx addiction and put one of them (a5) in there. Not sure if the increased length does anything.
PS there was glue over the magnet in the Titan like hot glue gun stuff. I just pulled it out with some needle nose pliers and it only took a minute to fix. The clean sound really good now, like the Comfortably Numb solo is really nice. The soloing overdriven sounds are pretty much the same but you can hear that natural top end that alnico has but ceramic doesn't
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Nagisa
New member
Re: Retiring my Distortion in LP for a more organic lead pup
Hey guys I ordered the SH-14. I have other magnets so with the Custom family I feel pretty safe with the decision. Thanks so much!
Edit: changed order to the SH-5. Ain't I a stinker. Anyways same holds regarding the magnets.
Hey guys I ordered the SH-14. I have other magnets so with the Custom family I feel pretty safe with the decision. Thanks so much!
Edit: changed order to the SH-5. Ain't I a stinker. Anyways same holds regarding the magnets.
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B
Ben1962
Guest
Re: Retiring my Distortion in LP for a more organic lead pup
Then the Titan must be incredible. I LOVE that sentient myself
Then the Titan must be incredible. I LOVE that sentient myself
Gone_Shootin
New member
Re: Retiring my Distortion in LP for a more organic lead pup
Congrats! And it's all good. Like you said, the Custom and Custom Custom are just a mag swap away. Some have said that the Custom 5 is like a '59 on steroids with more attitude, so it may just be right up your alley. But either way, I think you'll like it, no matter what magnet you wind up with.
Congrats! And it's all good. Like you said, the Custom and Custom Custom are just a mag swap away. Some have said that the Custom 5 is like a '59 on steroids with more attitude, so it may just be right up your alley. But either way, I think you'll like it, no matter what magnet you wind up with.
Nagisa
New member
Re: Retiring my Distortion in LP for a more organic lead pup
Hey just an update: finally received and installed the SH-5: very satisfied. I'll probably magnet swap as I am severely ocd but this is a great pickup.
While I have only had it for 2 days now, I can say it sounds smooth in a way the 498 didn't and sounded a bit grating. I am enjoying the ceramic thump and hear a ton of growl now that even the distortion didn't have. I'm curious about the uoa5 and a8 but am pretty happy about this pickup even as is
Hey just an update: finally received and installed the SH-5: very satisfied. I'll probably magnet swap as I am severely ocd but this is a great pickup.
While I have only had it for 2 days now, I can say it sounds smooth in a way the 498 didn't and sounded a bit grating. I am enjoying the ceramic thump and hear a ton of growl now that even the distortion didn't have. I'm curious about the uoa5 and a8 but am pretty happy about this pickup even as is
Metalman_666
New member
Re: Retiring my Distortion in LP for a more organic lead pup
Enjoy the new flavour!
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There are a number of guys here who will preach the A8 in the Custom, myself included. It keeps the organic quality but gives it more smooth beef and more sing.
Enjoy the new flavour!
Sent from my Pixel XL using Tapatalk
Re: Retiring my Distortion in LP for a more organic lead pup
Definitely agree with you about the Custom-8, and especially if Nagisa already has some version of Custom i'm sure he'll be tweaking things before long. But even though i'm on the bandwagon with you, and the Custom-8 was great in an LTD H-1001, i also tried it in a Jackson Soloist but ended up preferring the Distortion over Custom-8, IN THAT GUITAR. (Mahogany body and neck w/ebony fretboard). So although the Custom-8 is a great pickup, it's not always the answer for every guitar. (But it never hurts to try!)
And as an update that Nagisa may appreciate (a little too late to save you the purchase price of your new Custom though, sorry!): the Distortion with double-thick A5 installed sounds great and probably fixes a lot of your issues described with the stock pickup. (And along those lines, your 498/A8 experiment paralleled mine with Distortion/A8, no bueno!) That's why i love Duncans, you can experiment to your heart's (and ears'!) content. Good luck in your search for the perfect tone!
Definitely agree with you about the Custom-8, and especially if Nagisa already has some version of Custom i'm sure he'll be tweaking things before long. But even though i'm on the bandwagon with you, and the Custom-8 was great in an LTD H-1001, i also tried it in a Jackson Soloist but ended up preferring the Distortion over Custom-8, IN THAT GUITAR. (Mahogany body and neck w/ebony fretboard). So although the Custom-8 is a great pickup, it's not always the answer for every guitar. (But it never hurts to try!)
And as an update that Nagisa may appreciate (a little too late to save you the purchase price of your new Custom though, sorry!): the Distortion with double-thick A5 installed sounds great and probably fixes a lot of your issues described with the stock pickup. (And along those lines, your 498/A8 experiment paralleled mine with Distortion/A8, no bueno!) That's why i love Duncans, you can experiment to your heart's (and ears'!) content. Good luck in your search for the perfect tone!
Nagisa
New member
Re: Retiring my Distortion in LP for a more organic lead pup
Well I got curious and put the polished a8 in the custom.
Much more "organic"
Much less punch on the low end
Some metallic/harsh sound on the high end
Hard to say which I like more, but I feel like the search is not yet over. I guess next stop is an a5 (polished) that I have. I know blueman is an uoa5 advocate but I like to play some hard rock and metal that I don't think will work well with uoa5. Is that probably the case?
Well I got curious and put the polished a8 in the custom.
Much more "organic"
Much less punch on the low end
Some metallic/harsh sound on the high end
Hard to say which I like more, but I feel like the search is not yet over. I guess next stop is an a5 (polished) that I have. I know blueman is an uoa5 advocate but I like to play some hard rock and metal that I don't think will work well with uoa5. Is that probably the case?
