SH-5 comparisons

[Mez Cal]

Hello good folk, this is my 1st post.
I would like some feedback from those of you who have firsthand knowledge of the subject.
I want to know your thought on the tonal variations between the sh-5 Custom and the following: Blackouts ahb-1, Pegasus, Dimebucker, Black Winter and EMTY Blackouts.

Please offer your input where it applies....your thoughts are priceless.
Thank you, Kev

 

[Benjy_26]

Re: SH-5 comparisons

I haven't tried any of the pickups you mentioned save for the Custom and the Dime.

With that said, to me, a Custom sounds like a really loud, really angry PAF. It's got good lows, present highs, and a bit of bloom to the mids. The Dime sounds like a VERY angry tele. It's got a lot of percussiveness to the tone, scooped mids, and surprisingly loose lows. It's not muddy, but it's not as muscular in the low end as expected. I dig it, but it does have a sort of buzz-saw aggressiveness to it.

 

[Nagisa]

Re: SH-5 comparisons

The custom is ballsy but very versatile. I had a distortion which is closer to the BW, and it was too much for the instrumental music I tend to play, like Satch or Vai. BW is supposed to be good but it's still pretty high output.

Have essentially a Pegasus (hyperion) now in another guitar, quite a step down in aggressiveness from the custom, though the a5 gives it better cleans and more depth.

 

[Mez Cal]

Re: SH-5 comparisons

Thank you for your input...so is there a noticeable difference in output between the dimebucker and the custom? Like you would have to change amp settings? How similiar is the distortion/grain created by the pickups...or are they comprable at all....once again thanks for your time. I'm gonna fall down the rabbit hole (this forum) and y'all are putting a smile on my face

 

[Mez Cal]

Re: SH-5 comparisons

Thanks for chiming in...so in your opinion the custom does NOT have an equal amount of distortion/grain/gain as the DD or BW?
(which is the best word to use describing clipping)
Also is there a noticeable difference in output?
I play VERY loud thru a 100w head and 2 4x12 cabs

 

[Hank-]

Re: SH-5 comparisons

What kinda of guitar will it be going into? Also which 100W head?

I liked the Custom in a LP style guitar, not so much in a strat. Cant compare it to the BWs or Blackouts, havent had those

 

[Nagisa]

Re: SH-5 comparisons

Yes the custom is still fairly high output but has noticeably less than the dd.

 

[Mincer]

Re: SH-5 comparisons

The Custom also has more bass and sounds tighter in the lows.

 

[Benjy_26]

Re: SH-5 comparisons

Thank you for your input...so is there a noticeable difference in output between the dimebucker and the custom? Like you would have to change amp settings? How similiar is the distortion/grain created by the pickups...or are they comprable at all....once again thanks for your time. I'm gonna fall down the rabbit hole (this forum) and y'all are putting a smile on my face

The Custom has bigger, tighter lows than the Dime and it doesn't push my amp's front end as hard. I'd use a Custom in a guitar that's aimed at rock and ventures into metal, while the Dime, to me, is pretty much a metal pickup, though it foes have very nice cleans when split and combined with a lower output neck pickup.

 

[Mez Cal]

Re: SH-5 comparisons

The Custom also has more bass and sounds tighter in the lows.

The Custom has bigger, tighter lows than the Dime and it doesn't push my amp's front end as hard. I'd use a Custom in a guitar that's aimed at rock and ventures into metal, while the Dime, to me, is pretty much a metal pickup, though it foes have very nice cleans when split and combined with a lower output neck pickup.

What kinda of guitar will it be going into? Also which 100W head?

I liked the Custom in a LP style guitar, not so much in a strat. Cant compare it to the BWs or Blackouts, havent had those

The custom will be going into a Gibson SG first, but it will have a home in a Les Paul i am building...mahogany body, with 1/3" spalted maple cap, maple neck with rosewood fretboard. Tune-o-matic bridge.....amp is the mighty 5150

 

[Mez Cal]

Re: SH-5 comparisons

The Custom also has more bass and sounds tighter in the lows.

Dave, the custom is temporarily replacing a JB in my all mahogony/rosewood SG....i roll the tone back to 5 on the SG, great sounding and thick...will the custom require a lil' boost to achieve the same volume? Will it sound like there is more gain than the JB? Thx for your time

 

[Mincer]

Re: SH-5 comparisons

The Custom is a loud pickup, but it is EQ'd differently than the JB- more open, really. But I doubt you'd need a boost.

 

[AJK1]

Re: SH-5 comparisons

Hello good folk, this is my 1st post.
I would like some feedback from those of you who have firsthand knowledge of the subject.
I want to know your thought on the tonal variations between the sh-5 Custom and the following: Blackouts ahb-1, Pegasus, Dimebucker, Black Winter and EMTY Blackouts.

Please offer your input where it applies....your thoughts are priceless.
Thank you, Kev

If the Internet didn't exist what pickups would you choose, and there is probably your answer.
The manufacturer descriptions are very accurate

 

[Mincer]

Re: SH-5 comparisons

If the Internet didn't exist what pickups would you choose, and there is probably your answer.
The manufacturer descriptions are very accurate

Yes, but being this is the manufacturer's forum, I understand asking for opinions or relevant experiences. This is literally why this place is here.

 

[Mez Cal]

Re: SH-5 comparisons

Mincer...my man! Thank you very much for your good advices and such....you are extremely helpfull, here and another thread i started....as a newcomer to this forum i have to give you credit as an ambassador of tone....cheers!

 

[Mez Cal]

Re: SH-5 comparisons

Yes, but being this is the manufacturer's forum, I understand asking for opinions or relevant experiences. This is literally why this place is here.

If the Internet didn't exist what pickups would you choose, and there is probably your answer.
The manufacturer descriptions are very accurate

You see, i have studied the manufacturer description and watched videos as per you tube...i am asking this forum for firsthand, intimate, opinions....which i find more and more valuable after ive done my homework beforehand....thank god for the internet...and thanks for your input because it eventually produced a definition of the uses/purposes of this forum and others ...we all have our moments...i truly wish you the best. Cheers

 

[AJK1]

Re: SH-5 comparisons

Mincer...my man! Thank you very much for your good advices and such....you are extremely helpfull, here and another thread i started....as a newcomer to this forum i have to give you credit as an ambassador of tone....cheers!

Yes, like the Black Sabbath pickup recommendations lol

 

[Mez Cal]

Re: SH-5 comparisons

The Custom is a loud pickup, but it is EQ'd differently than the JB- more open, really. But I doubt you'd need a boost.

Right on, i installed the custom in my SG and i am blown away...the Custom is amazing at metal....it is as good or better than the JB it replaced (temporarily )...because of its thick and tight low end and the mids are still there as well...i love the JB but it is my first and if the Black Winter, DD, and Invader which are actually voiced for metal can match the awesome qualities of the sh-4 & sh-5 (mids & tight low end)
I am in for one hell of a ride....the custom was as bright or brighter even than the JB. How does the low end of the BW compare to the Custom and JB?
Cheers, Kev

 

[Mincer]

Re: SH-5 comparisons

The Black Winter seems to have more mids to me (or lower mids) than true lows, like the Custom. The Custom is certainly more scooped than the Black Winters, although the BWs are better at more things...the Custom wants to rock all the time.

 

[Mez Cal]

Re: SH-5 comparisons

Update : the Custom rules!!! It really makes the SG growl and thru the 5150 and VK100H it just screams heavy metal. It is going in my Les Paul build (profile pic) next.