I'm thinking of putting a custom/59 combo in my esp eclipse (mahogany neck n body ebony fb) I currently have emg 81/60 and I'm looking to get more tone from my guitar's woods but after playing some zakk wylde stuff I was really satisfied with the screaming harmonics and power I was hearing that I didn't find in my jb in another guitar. So if I switch to these passives will I lose alot of that power/pinch harmonics for metal?
Sh-5 custom?
- Thread starter KiD CuDi
- Start date
F
Funkfingers
Guest
Re: Sh-5 custom?
Ok that said, will the custom hold up well for drop/down tunings(drop c at the lowest)
Ok that said, will the custom hold up well for drop/down tunings(drop c at the lowest)
Re: Sh-5 custom?
JB is well known for screaming harmonics. Definitely a different tone than the EMG. If you want crazy harmonics with less peaky a tone...
There are some pickups known for a broader tone. Wilde L-500XL for example. Or Seymour Duncan's Parallel Axis series.
Custom might do what you want, but it wont really sound much like the 81.
JB is well known for screaming harmonics. Definitely a different tone than the EMG. If you want crazy harmonics with less peaky a tone...
There are some pickups known for a broader tone. Wilde L-500XL for example. Or Seymour Duncan's Parallel Axis series.
Custom might do what you want, but it wont really sound much like the 81.
Re: Sh-5 custom?
I'm surprised to hear that about the jb because the only way I can get them on any strin but the low e is with an od pedal and the gain on the amp dimed. Maybe it's because I'm using 9s?
I'm surprised to hear that about the jb because the only way I can get them on any strin but the low e is with an od pedal and the gain on the amp dimed. Maybe it's because I'm using 9s?
F
Funkfingers
Guest
Re: Sh-5 custom?
The SH-5 Custom rocks. Get one now.
The SH-5 Custom rocks. Get one now.
Dirtyking
New member
Re: Sh-5 custom?
The custom is awesome for drop tunings. Its bottom is tight keeping it out of the mud and the fat mids really punch hard . I used it in my SG and V tuned to C standard. There is no comparision to your 81. Theyre two different animals. But I did jam alot of BLS "Stronger than death and 1919 eternal" with the '59/Custom combo to much satisfaction.
The custom is awesome for drop tunings. Its bottom is tight keeping it out of the mud and the fat mids really punch hard . I used it in my SG and V tuned to C standard. There is no comparision to your 81. Theyre two different animals. But I did jam alot of BLS "Stronger than death and 1919 eternal" with the '59/Custom combo to much satisfaction.
metalmachine
New member
Re: Sh-5 custom?
i think you may be happier with a distortion
i think you may be happier with a distortion
Re: Sh-5 custom?
I was thinking of throwing that in the running but I want my guitar to sound big and the custom seems to fit that bill
I was thinking of throwing that in the running but I want my guitar to sound big and the custom seems to fit that bill
Dirtyking
New member
Re: Sh-5 custom?
"Big" is gonna come from the amp more than the pickup. Believe me I went through alot of duncans trying to get "the tone" and it didn't happen till I got a good amp. After that i found that alnico pup's work great if the guitar wood is good and ceramics work better if you want to hit the front end of your amp harder. And the Distortion is a monster pickup for metal. Its what I used after the Custom. Now I'm just happy with the 496/500t in my V.
"Big" is gonna come from the amp more than the pickup. Believe me I went through alot of duncans trying to get "the tone" and it didn't happen till I got a good amp. After that i found that alnico pup's work great if the guitar wood is good and ceramics work better if you want to hit the front end of your amp harder. And the Distortion is a monster pickup for metal. Its what I used after the Custom. Now I'm just happy with the 496/500t in my V.
Re: Sh-5 custom?
Blackouts are hotter than the EMGS, they are great for pinch harmonics. The Blackout neck is actually an A5 and it rules in bridge also.
If I were you I would move the 81 to the neck and put a blackout neck in the bridge...
Blackouts are hotter than the EMGS, they are great for pinch harmonics. The Blackout neck is actually an A5 and it rules in bridge also.
If I were you I would move the 81 to the neck and put a blackout neck in the bridge...
Re: Sh-5 custom?
The normal blackout set wouldn't give me the tone I described? Keep in mind their going into an lp style guitar with an ebony fb
The normal blackout set wouldn't give me the tone I described? Keep in mind their going into an lp style guitar with an ebony fb
Re: Sh-5 custom?
I have the Blackouts set in a Gibson LP (ebony FB, maple cap) and the sound is so big it's almost ridiculous. I found the regular EMG81/85 set to bee quite thin and suspected the guitar is just too bright for pickups with ceramic magnets. The EMG81-X was a lot better and a little less powerful than the 81 but the Blackouts bridge is just awesome. The X series is a good choice if you seek a more natural sounding EMG (they still retain the distinctive EMG grind - good thing IMO) but you must switch to the new active tone pot design and at least my 81X/85X set didn't include the long shaft versions. The Blackouts are drop-in replacements.
EDIT: The pots cost $42 each, according to the EMG website - what the hell?
I have the Blackouts set in a Gibson LP (ebony FB, maple cap) and the sound is so big it's almost ridiculous. I found the regular EMG81/85 set to bee quite thin and suspected the guitar is just too bright for pickups with ceramic magnets. The EMG81-X was a lot better and a little less powerful than the 81 but the Blackouts bridge is just awesome. The X series is a good choice if you seek a more natural sounding EMG (they still retain the distinctive EMG grind - good thing IMO) but you must switch to the new active tone pot design and at least my 81X/85X set didn't include the long shaft versions. The Blackouts are drop-in replacements.
EDIT: The pots cost $42 each, according to the EMG website - what the hell?
Last edited:
Re: Sh-5 custom?
I'm about sold but I have one last question. Are they clear/tight/articulate and do they hold up well for drop tunings?
I'm about sold but I have one last question. Are they clear/tight/articulate and do they hold up well for drop tunings?
Re: Sh-5 custom?
This seems to be a very subjective matter, one's tight is other's loose etc
Through my humble gear the Blackouts sound very tight and articulate, though I haven't tuned down any further than C2. The bass response is quite huge especially when palm muting.
This seems to be a very subjective matter, one's tight is other's loose etc
Through my humble gear the Blackouts sound very tight and articulate, though I haven't tuned down any further than C2. The bass response is quite huge especially when palm muting.
Dr.K
Formerly Active Member
Re: Sh-5 custom?
So true in many ways! lol
This seems to be a very subjective matter, one's tight is other's loose etc
So true in many ways! lol
