Seymour Duncan Custom Custom Magnet swap
- Thread starter pittbull
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idsnowdog
Imperator of Indignation
Re: Seymour Duncan Custom Custom Magnet swap
That would be a Custom. With a ceramic magnet the treble gets sharper, the midrange is slightly attenuated and the bass becomes more prominent. I don't care for the Custom Custom because it is all mids and a bit too thick and flubby. You could also try a Alnico 8 magnet which makes the pickup less hairy and more muscular.
Re: Seymour Duncan Custom Custom Magnet swap
The Custom Custom is great for taming a too-bright rig. Hard-sounding ash guitar with floyd into a bright marshall with bright speakers...
I've heard plenty of people get great sounds with them. I still wouldn't put one in my basswood superstrat, though.
If you want tighter but still sweet, an Unoriented A5 magnet might be a good choice.
If you want punchy and brighter, ceramic or A8 is the way to go, as Jeff_H mentioned.
If you feel the mids are congested, you might try a regular A5.
The Custom Custom is great for taming a too-bright rig. Hard-sounding ash guitar with floyd into a bright marshall with bright speakers...
I've heard plenty of people get great sounds with them. I still wouldn't put one in my basswood superstrat, though.
If you want tighter but still sweet, an Unoriented A5 magnet might be a good choice.
If you want punchy and brighter, ceramic or A8 is the way to go, as Jeff_H mentioned.
If you feel the mids are congested, you might try a regular A5.
Jeff_H
Dean Hardtail Fanologist
Re: Seymour Duncan Custom Custom Magnet swap
The Custom Custom, The Custom and the Custom 5 are the exact same pickups, but with different magnets. The CC is obviously A2, the Custom 5 is A5 and the Custom is ceramic. Going from A2 to A5 to Ceramic will give you increasingly tighter bass, and sharper more defined highs. The ceramic will boost the mids a bit compared to the A5, but IMO is the sharpest, hardest sounding of the bunch. It may be what you are looking for, maybe not.
At any rate, experiment and see what you like. Also consider A3, A4, A8 as well as roughcast versions of A2 and A5 for different flavors. Somewhere in there is likely to be what you are looking for, if you are looking for a semi-hot pickup.
The Custom Custom, The Custom and the Custom 5 are the exact same pickups, but with different magnets. The CC is obviously A2, the Custom 5 is A5 and the Custom is ceramic. Going from A2 to A5 to Ceramic will give you increasingly tighter bass, and sharper more defined highs. The ceramic will boost the mids a bit compared to the A5, but IMO is the sharpest, hardest sounding of the bunch. It may be what you are looking for, maybe not.
At any rate, experiment and see what you like. Also consider A3, A4, A8 as well as roughcast versions of A2 and A5 for different flavors. Somewhere in there is likely to be what you are looking for, if you are looking for a semi-hot pickup.
idsnowdog
Imperator of Indignation
Re: Seymour Duncan Custom Custom Magnet swap
I would try a few magnet swaps first, because the Custom takes on the character of whatever magnet you put in it. It is really surprising just how much different the Custom can sound with different magnets!
The Dimarzio Super Distortion is thick, fuzzy and smooth. If you're looking for a tight, hard hitting and resonant pickup you should look somewhere else. Tight and punchy isn't really its thing. However the Duncan Distortion is tight, muscular and hard hitting.
The problem with A2 magnets is they sound better with lower resistance winds. When you put an A2 in a hot wind the sound is no longer open and sensitive. Instead it becomes dark and monolithic.
I would try a few magnet swaps first, because the Custom takes on the character of whatever magnet you put in it. It is really surprising just how much different the Custom can sound with different magnets!
The Dimarzio Super Distortion is thick, fuzzy and smooth. If you're looking for a tight, hard hitting and resonant pickup you should look somewhere else. Tight and punchy isn't really its thing. However the Duncan Distortion is tight, muscular and hard hitting.
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Jeff_H
Dean Hardtail Fanologist
Re: Seymour Duncan Custom Custom Magnet swap
^^^Not really. To me it is thick, growly and just aggressive. More compressed than open sounding. It's sort of hard to explain without actually hearing it....at least for me. To my ears it was just so agressive that it would be unusable for my style of playing. IIRC, the Distortion is simply a JB with a double thick ceramic magnet instead of the standard A5 the JB sports.
^^^Not really. To me it is thick, growly and just aggressive. More compressed than open sounding. It's sort of hard to explain without actually hearing it....at least for me. To my ears it was just so agressive that it would be unusable for my style of playing. IIRC, the Distortion is simply a JB with a double thick ceramic magnet instead of the standard A5 the JB sports.
Re: Seymour Duncan Custom Custom Magnet swap
Since you already own the CC i would suggest getting both ceramic and alnico 5 magnets to try in it.
i prefer the ceramic since it is the closest to the VH I tone of all the customs.
but you may like the C5? the CC is best like others said in a already bright ash super strat. for ibanez the C5 or regular custom is the best bet.
the regular custom does a great VH I tone if thats what you are into. i set mine a good bit away from the strings and it is great!
the super D is good but a bit hotter than the duncan custom. i tried a Super D
but liked the custom more for a open,growling,rich tone. just like the description on the duncan site it is a P.A.F on steriods just dont set it real close to the strings.
Since you already own the CC i would suggest getting both ceramic and alnico 5 magnets to try in it.
i prefer the ceramic since it is the closest to the VH I tone of all the customs.
but you may like the C5? the CC is best like others said in a already bright ash super strat. for ibanez the C5 or regular custom is the best bet.
the regular custom does a great VH I tone if thats what you are into. i set mine a good bit away from the strings and it is great!
the super D is good but a bit hotter than the duncan custom. i tried a Super D
but liked the custom more for a open,growling,rich tone. just like the description on the duncan site it is a P.A.F on steriods just dont set it real close to the strings.
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Re: Seymour Duncan Custom Custom Magnet swap
So if I swapped out the alnico II magnet out of the custom custom and replaced it with a ceramic I would have the Duncan custom.Is there a specific size ceramic magnet to use and is swapping out the magnet and replacing it a hard thing to do.
So if I swapped out the alnico II magnet out of the custom custom and replaced it with a ceramic I would have the Duncan custom.Is there a specific size ceramic magnet to use and is swapping out the magnet and replacing it a hard thing to do.
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Re: Seymour Duncan Custom Custom Magnet swap
use the standard size ceramic not the oversized one like found in a duncan distortion or dimarzio super D. the ceramic is the same size as the alnico II you will be replacing. i think you will really like the custom with the ceramic. experiment with its height like i did to find its sweet spot for the tone you want. where i have mine set it sounds like a duncan 59 on steriods. does VH all day!
use the standard size ceramic not the oversized one like found in a duncan distortion or dimarzio super D. the ceramic is the same size as the alnico II you will be replacing. i think you will really like the custom with the ceramic. experiment with its height like i did to find its sweet spot for the tone you want. where i have mine set it sounds like a duncan 59 on steriods. does VH all day!
misterwhizzy
Well-known member
Re: Seymour Duncan Custom Custom Magnet swap
It's very easy, and if you like tweaking and don't like spending money, you've just found the most cost-effective way to bring out the best in your guitar.
I just posted my version of the instructions either yesterday or the day before. It should only take you a few minutes. Check it out here. I should note that a trick I learned from one of the guys here is that you don't have to take the strings off. I've got a piece of 2x4 about six inches long that I put underneath each string as I loosen it. Then once it's done, I just tighten the strings back down.
Good luck, and let us know if you've got any questions.
It's very easy, and if you like tweaking and don't like spending money, you've just found the most cost-effective way to bring out the best in your guitar.
I just posted my version of the instructions either yesterday or the day before. It should only take you a few minutes. Check it out here. I should note that a trick I learned from one of the guys here is that you don't have to take the strings off. I've got a piece of 2x4 about six inches long that I put underneath each string as I loosen it. Then once it's done, I just tighten the strings back down.
Good luck, and let us know if you've got any questions.
Re: Seymour Duncan Custom Custom Magnet swap
I'd suggest picking up the ceramic and A8, especially. A5 and Unoriented A5 are great options if you want a tighter but still alnico hot PAFish sound.
All 4 will still cost you far less than another pickup, and any that don't work in that pickup/guitar can be used to tweak another.
You might even snag an A4 & A3 for neck pickup tweaking.
Addiction-FX also sells short (0.5") screws, which can be great for taming excess bass, particularly under the wound strings. I love them under just the low strings in neck pickups.
I'd suggest picking up the ceramic and A8, especially. A5 and Unoriented A5 are great options if you want a tighter but still alnico hot PAFish sound.
All 4 will still cost you far less than another pickup, and any that don't work in that pickup/guitar can be used to tweak another.
You might even snag an A4 & A3 for neck pickup tweaking.
Addiction-FX also sells short (0.5") screws, which can be great for taming excess bass, particularly under the wound strings. I love them under just the low strings in neck pickups.
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