Sh-5 vs. Custom 8

[hamerfan]

Re: Sh-5 vs. Custom 8

Everything is true about the C8 you all said, everyone should have one in one guitar.
But the jury is still out on a Screaming Demon i have.
A bit brighter than the C8 with clearer bass strings than the C8. That led me to the point that i swapped hex screw for the bass screws.

 

[Franknfilms]

Re: Sh-5 vs. Custom 8

I have an SD Custom in my Ibanez SZ520, I wonder how it would sound if I changed it to a C8

SZ520 is very very similar to my schecter c1+, my friend has the sz, so I'm really familiar with it. I think the C8 in my schecter is near perfection, but I also have never tried the ceramic custom in it. If you think your current custom is too bright and tight and you want to loosen it up a little bit and have a darker crunch sound go for the c8.

 

[Jason_Clement]

Re: Sh-5 vs. Custom 8

Sorry to revive a dead thread, but how different is a alnico 8 swap in a custom to the "alternative 8"?

 

[metalmachine]

Re: Sh-5 vs. Custom 8

C8 and alternative 8 are 2 completely different pups that don't really compare to each other. In short though c8= kinda vintage alternative 8 = super modern

 

[blueman335]

Re: Sh-5 vs. Custom 8

I have an SD Custom in my Ibanez SZ520, I wonder how it would sound if I changed it to a C8

In a word, 'Better'.

 

[cthroatgtr]

Re: Sh-5 vs. Custom 8

Sorry to revive a dead thread, but how different is a alnico 8 swap in a custom to the "alternative 8"?

C8 is a very cool pickup. IMO the Alternative 8 is probably the worst SD pickup I ever tried.

 

[Jason_Clement]

Re: Sh-5 vs. Custom 8

C8 is a very cool pickup. IMO the Alternative 8 is probably the worst SD pickup I ever tried.

That big of a difference, eh? lmao. I've heard alt 8 clips and it sounds very...uhm, compressed. Overly dark, quiet. Compared to the SH-5 clips I've heard it sounded very lifeless, so I was confused as to how an Alcino 8 magnet would make the SH-5 better if it were to end up sounding like an Alt8. If that isn't the case, then I got my eyes set on an SH5 soon.

 

[jhale667]

Re: Sh-5 vs. Custom 8 - C8 FTW

Re: Sh-5 vs. Custom 8 - C8 FTW

In a word, 'Better'.

That's been my opinion in both guitars I've tried the C8 in vs. the TB-5. Except for highs that I thought were slightly shrill in both guitars, I was 95% OK with the regular Custom before getting up the courage to do a magnet swap. The A8 tamed the highs w/o losing anything else I liked about the pickup previously. It just rules, and though I've changed it out in one to something else (a 59/C for my 1st blogging for pickups review) the C8 that lived in it may eventually find it's way back into it again. The one that's in the other one ain't goin' anywhere, unless it's for a review! :fing2:

 

[misterwhizzy]

Re: Sh-5 vs. Custom 8

The Custom wind to my ears maintains its openness regardless of gain. You can get it to compress if you try hard, but it does retain dynamics through a wide range of amp parameters. I love the Custom 8, by the way.

 

[dvanburen]

Re: Sh-5 vs. Custom 8

its hard to beat the regular custom. I find that my go to pickup and the hybrids and mag swaps that I love, stem off that one. C8 is warmer and "nicer". Custom is just huge and f'ing mean! Its pure rock and roll through and through. C8 can do that but not as well. I like the C8 better for some stuff but still go back to the ceramic custom in some form or another.. Right now it's custom screw coil and JB slug coil with ceramic mag. To me, it's a revved up custom with a bit more definition and cut.

the best of both worlds is to have 2 guitars. One with C8 and one with the custom..

 

[Dark Order Lord]

Re: Sh-5 vs. Custom 8

I found it quite similar to the Custom in terms of EQ balance, actually. I'm sure a couple of people will disagree with me on that, but to my mind it has a touch less treble and a healthy bit more mids. I like the stock Custom in a Les Paul or a thicker bodied instrument; but in a thinner mahogany guitar like an SG the C8 kicks it's ass.

The C8 keeps the beef and thickness from the Custom but adds a lot more of an organic nature. It has more natural sounding overtones and is a lot more musical to my ears. The treble is a lot fatter and warmer than the regular Custom. The mids are fatter and the bass is a lot warmer and more complex, while barely losing any of the tightness. It keeps about the same level of output as well, so if you're worrying about it not hitting your pre-amp as hard...don't.

It's a great pickup in an SG. My second favourite was the Custom 5. The point is that it's a really easy mod to make and reverse if you don't like it, and the experimentation and learning experience alone is well worth the price of the magnet itself. You should get the Custom and a couple of magnets. I'd be extremely surprised if at least one of them didn't work out for you.

I'd also be surprised if you didn't settle on the C8.

Welcome to the forum, by the way. Stick around. :friday:

Sounds like your describing the BKP Nailbomb alnico and ceramic

 

[Jason_Clement]

Re: Sh-5 vs. Custom 8

BKP nailbomb alnico is actually one of the pickups I wanna get in the future.

 

[Niloy63]

Re: Sh-5 vs. Custom 8

its hard to beat the regular custom. I find that my go to pickup and the hybrids and mag swaps that I love, stem off that one. C8 is warmer and "nicer". Custom is just huge and f'ing mean! Its pure rock and roll through and through. C8 can do that but not as well. I like the C8 better for some stuff but still go back to the ceramic custom in some form or another.. Right now it's custom screw coil and JB slug coil with ceramic mag. To me, it's a revved up custom with a bit more definition and cut.

the best of both worlds is to have 2 guitars. One with C8 and one with the custom..

I apologize for the thread digging, but I just wanted to give kudos to this post right here. It helped me decide to keep my stock Sh-5 in my LP and get a new C8 for my Schecter C1 Classic. I love the wealth of knowledge in this forum!

 

[PeterJCruz]

Re: Sh-5 vs. Custom 8

Where do you guys get the A8 magnet from? I'm guessing once you have it a magnet swap is not too complex a DIY project?

 

[jkdavis76]

Re: Sh-5 vs. Custom 8

They're similar, but the 498T seems slightly brighter and has that grainy quality. I take the infamous 498T/490 pair (that so many complain about - bright bridge/dark neck), and put an A8 or UOA5 in the bridge for warmth, and an A5 in the neck for clarity, and I have Gibson's version of the C8/'59N. I like it a lot.

i have 490/498 in my hamer and my 498 sounds really bassy im gonna try an A8 in it.

 

[BloodRose]

Re: Sh-5 vs. Custom 8

I found it quite similar to the Custom in terms of EQ balance, actually. I'm sure a couple of people will disagree with me on that, but to my mind it has a touch less treble and a healthy bit more mids. I like the stock Custom in a Les Paul or a thicker bodied instrument; but in a thinner mahogany guitar like an SG the C8 kicks it's ass.

The C8 keeps the beef and thickness from the Custom but adds a lot more of an organic nature. It has more natural sounding overtones and is a lot more musical to my ears. The treble is a lot fatter and warmer than the regular Custom. The mids are fatter and the bass is a lot warmer and more complex, while barely losing any of the tightness. It keeps about the same level of output as well, so if you're worrying about it not hitting your pre-amp as hard...don't.

It's a great pickup in an SG. My second favourite was the Custom 5. The point is that it's a really easy mod to make and reverse if you don't like it, and the experimentation and learning experience alone is well worth the price of the magnet itself. You should get the Custom and a couple of magnets. I'd be extremely surprised if at least one of them didn't work out for you.

I'd also be surprised if you didn't settle on the C8.

Welcome to the forum, by the way. Stick around. :friday:

This description is pretty much spot on.. Eq curve isnt alot different than the Custom. Im a huge C8 fan!
Kam's use of the word organic was good. Ive always just said it has soul..