Something boring about the Custom....

Barron1

Barron1

New member
I have loved the Custom for years. I had it one guitar for 3 years before changing it out. It is great for Metal riffing but lacks that singing quality for soloing. Something about it makes you have a love/hate relationship with it. It gets boring after awhile but it sounds good enough that you can't say it sucks. It's pretty much a one trick pony when you think about it. It's kind of like the good looking chick who sucks in bed but you can't totally dump her because she's too cute.


P.S.- I know some of you will say try the Custom 8. I have, but then you have the problem with having great singing leads but muddy rythyms, you can't get that chunky metal riffing from the Custom 8.



:yell:
 
Re: Something boring about the Custom....

I understand what you mean. I used the SH5 for several years in several guitars.

It's a very utilitarian pickup. It's all low mid crunch. And at times, that's what ya want. It doesn't have a whole lot of soul/mojo/dynamics.
 
Re: Something boring about the Custom....

Barron1 said:
I have loved the Custom for years. I had it one guitar for 3 years before changing it out. It is great for Metal riffing but lacks that singing quality for soloing. Something about it makes you have a love/hate relationship with it. It gets boring after awhile but it sounds good enough that you can't say it sucks. It's pretty much a one trick pony when you think about it. It's kind of like the good looking chick who sucks in bed but you can't totally dump her because she's too cute.


P.S.- I know some of you will say try the Custom 8. I have, but then you have the problem with having great singing leads but muddy rythyms, you can't get that chunky metal riffing from the Custom 8.



:yell:
Click to expand...

IMO the C8 gives me most everything the Custom does, but adds alil mojo. I guess you didnt have the same result..

and take if from an old married guy, bad in bed .... at least she's letting you go there.. better than having a cute one that that wont.. :fing2:
 
Re: Something boring about the Custom....

BloodRose said:
IMO the C8 gives me most everything the Custom does, but adds alil mojo. I guess you didnt have the same result..

and take if from an old married guy, bad in bed .... at least she's letting you go there.. better than having a cute one that that wont.. :fing2:
Click to expand...



Don't get me wrong the singing leads of the C8 sound incredible. But it loses the awesome rythym metal chunk of the regular custom. But the regular custom has crappy sounding leads. A pickup with both of best worlds would be great. (hint, hint: Duncan Distortion....well almost)
 
Last edited:
Re: Something boring about the Custom....

Barron1 said:
Don't get me wrong the singing leads of the C8 sound incredible. But it loses the awesome rythym metal chunk of the regular custom. But the regular custom has crappy sounding leads. A pickup with both of best worlds would be great. (hint, hint: Duncan Distortion....well almost)
Click to expand...

Ok.. didnt wanna have a smack down.. no one disses (gollum voice) "the precious..." hahahaha
 
Re: Something boring about the Custom....

I'm kind of in the same boat as you Barron, although I don't seem to dislike the Custom's lead tone as much as you do. I'd say it has a good to very good lead tone, not great or out of this world. The outstanding rhythm tone makes up for it, for me at least, espeically when playing thrash and other really aggressive metal. If I could have the Custom's rhythm chunk and aggressiveness (sometimes I wish it was just a hair looser though) with the JB's lead tone, I'd be golden. :biglaugh: The Custom also has that PAFish vibe that I really like.

I haven't tried a Custom 8 yet. I have a couple A8s and I really should do it. If it gives me just a little more give in the bass with a more signing lead tone while retaining the punch and aggressiveness of the pick up it may just be what I'm looking for.
 
Re: Something boring about the Custom....

It's close to that, Jeff. I definitely think it's worth a shot. 20 minutes worth of work is worth your time, especially since you already have the magnets.
 
Re: Something boring about the Custom....

Jeff5 said:
I'm kind of in the same boat as you Barron, although I don't seem to dislike the Custom's lead tone as much as you do. I'd say it has a good to very good lead tone, not great or out of this world. The outstanding rhythm tone makes up for it, for me at least, espeically when playing thrash and other really aggressive metal. If I could have the Custom's rhythm chunk and aggressiveness (sometimes I wish it was just a hair looser though) with the JB's lead tone, I'd be golden. :biglaugh: The Custom also has that PAFish vibe that I really like.

I haven't tried a Custom 8 yet. I have a couple A8s and I really should do it. If it gives me just a little more give in the bass with a more signing lead tone while retaining the punch and aggressiveness of the pick up it may just be what I'm looking for.
Click to expand...

Need that starsky and hutch pic... DO IT!!
 
Re: Something boring about the Custom....

misterwhizzy said:
It's close to that, Jeff. I definitely think it's worth a shot. 20 minutes worth of work is worth your time, especially since you already have the magnets.
Click to expand...



I don't know. In my opinion it lost some of that cool metal riffing tight sound of the regular custom when playing power chords. But it definitely did improve the lead sound.
 
Re: Something boring about the Custom....

I understand what the OP is saying. Had an SH-5, first in my modified Roland G505, then in an MIJ Tokai LP. Restored the Tokai to orginal specs prior to selling it, stashed the SH-5 away. Never felt the lack of it. (At about the same time, I was getting seriously into P90s. Coincidence?)
 
Last edited:
Re: Something boring about the Custom....

What amp are you using so I know not to get one?

Custom sounds great to me through my rack stuff for both rhythm and lead. I dunno what you guys are talking about, so it's gotta be your amps.
 
Re: Something boring about the Custom....

Best of both worlds? Jb/fullshred hybrid. No, a distortion/fullshred hybrid cause of the thick Magnet. A dist-neck/fullshred hybrid makes an awesome neckpickup,by the way.
 
Re: Something boring about the Custom....

Barron1 said:
P.S.- I know some of you will say try the Custom 8. I have, but then you have the problem with having great singing leads but muddy rythyms, you can't get that chunky metal riffing from the Custom 8.
Click to expand...

Some of us have discovered the perfect solution to this: hex pole screws for the 3 low strings. Signing leads, tight rhythm. It is the best of both worlds.:fing2:
 
Re: Something boring about the Custom....

Franknfilms said:
Some of us have discovered the perfect solution to this: hex pole screws for the 3 low strings. Signing leads, tight rhythm. It is the best of both worlds.:fing2:
Click to expand...

Thats what i did too. Its really close. But i think i go a step further and look for Full Shred: its a custom wind with two row of hexes. Like SD writes: Double rows of Allen screw pole pieces help fine tune the high end, leaving a tone that's fat and chunky, yet perfectly defined for speed riffs. Gives tonal control in high-gain situation. Less aggressive than an SH-6 Distortion. More articulate than an SH-5 Custom.
I will try six hexes on the bass strings and 6 fillisters on the trebles, and of course a A8 magnet. The problem now it to find a used FS here on the trading section or on fleabay.....
 
Last edited:
Re: Something boring about the Custom....

Franknfilms said:
Some of us have discovered the perfect solution to this: hex pole screws for the 3 low strings. Signing leads, tight rhythm. It is the best of both worlds.:fing2:
Click to expand...

This. This, and very much this again. Works so good that I'm still struggling to find a neck pickup to compliment it.
 
Re: Something boring about the Custom....

Try an polished unoriented A5, you will have the mojo of an A2 with all the benefits of an A5, you might be surprised what a $5 mag swap will do for that pup.
 
Re: Something boring about the Custom....

DrNewcenstein said:
What amp are you using so I know not to get one?

Custom sounds great to me through my rack stuff for both rhythm and lead. I dunno what you guys are talking about, so it's gotta be your amps.
Click to expand...




The Custom does not have the singing quality on leads like the JB or the C8 has
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

Rex_Rocker
Something about the JB...
2 3 4
Replies
60
Views
3K
Rex_Rocker
Rex_Rocker
alex1fly
Custom 8/59!
Replies
2
Views
413
EmiAba
EmiAba
Rex_Rocker
What have you all ordered off the Duncan Custom Shop?
Replies
11
Views
432
esandes
E
Butch Snyder
Custom vs. Distortion vs. JB
2
Replies
26
Views
2K
Aceman
Aceman
K
Can you share any info about the SD Black Backs?
Replies
11
Views
188
Sam SG
S
Back
Top