something brighter than the custom custom

[aestus]

I've had the JB in my all mahogany strat in the bridge position for about a month now and I've gotta say that I'm disliking the tone. Before it, I had a custom custom in it and loved the midrange crunch it got and the violin like lead tones. I changed it because I found it a little dark in my mahogany strat and mushy when I played down on the E string. It was useless in Drop D tuning. It had a tad bit of a "lo-fi" sound that sometimes would seem like my tone is too compressed. Many people recommended the JB so I tried it out.

The JB just didn't have enough of the midrange girth that I was used to in my custom custom. It seemed dull and lifeless in my strat and verry tinny.

Is there a pickup that's like the custom custom, but with a slightly more bass response with a bit more highs. Maybe a pickup that has the mids focused just a little bit higher. Not as high as the JB, but not as low as the custom custom. I like a very pronounce throaty crunch to my tone without sounding to compressed. The JB just seemed flat to me. I thought the custom 5 was dull, but the JB now takes the cake for dullness . Don't get me wrong, I've heard good tones with them, but the JB just doesn't seem to be the pickup for me.

I'm pretty much judging the tone through my Marshall 1977 JMP Mk II 2204 head played through a Marshall 4x12 cab loaded with 2 Vintage 30's and 2 G12T75's.

The preamp is set to at 5 (12 o'clock) and power amp also about 5.

The JB does seem to cut through, but not in a way thats pleasing to me. The custom custom would barely cut through the mix and was always "felt more than heard" in a mix.

I was thinking of trying the Alnico 2 Pros, but the soundclips of it sounds very similar to the custom custom.

Any suggestions?

 

[jimlp]

Re: something brighter than the custom custom

Try the Custom, great rock tone.

 

[MattPete]

Re: something brighter than the custom custom

Custom

 

[Low_fidelity2100]

Re: something brighter than the custom custom

A Duncan distortion would give you a tone similar to what you described (Unless I missunderstood). Its got massive mid's, and good tight bass (I.e. Not fart E string), and a little less treble than the Jb, but substantially more than the custom custom. The mids are also foucused much higher than the custom custom, but not as high as the Jb. But it will sound semi compressed in certain set ups.
And seeing as how the Jb has the same Coils as the Distortion. The only real difference (besides sound) is the magnet. AlnicoV in the JB and Ceramic in the Distortion. So you could probably get yerself a ceramic magnet and stuff that into the Jb and have yerself a distortion.
I've never used A distortion in a Mahogony bodyed guitar though. So The results in yer guitar might come out far different.

And as far as the AlnicoII pro. It does sound sorta similar to a CustomCustom. But Ya gotta take into account that its a substataintially lower output pickup. Whice will result in alot more Highs and a tighter bass response, than a higher output P'up.
So The alnicoII pro might actully be what your after. But theres no real way to tell, Till its in your guitar. Cause those sound clips are pretty much useless. Every peice of wood sounds different, so any pickup is gonna sound different in a different guitar.
Only real way to know is to try it.

Ed

p.s.
Might wanna try changeing the pots in yer guitar to 250K pots (if they aren't already). The JB was designed with 250k in mind. So useing 500K (or anything) will make them sound much brighter than they should. And most people that dislike the Jb, are people that are useing 250k pots. So I'de suggest trying that before you do anything else.

 

[Fritz6]

Re: something brighter than the custom custom

Might want to try swapping the A2 for an A3.

 

[Gearjoneser]

Re: something brighter than the custom custom

You just described the Custom 5 or Custom. The JB has accentuated upper mids, the CC has accentuated lower mids, and the C-5 has big tight bass, neutral mids, and airy vintage highs. I've yanked out many a JB and CC and went straight to the C-5 and have it in 5 different guitars. Sounds great in strats, PRS, and Pauls. I'm surprised you thought it was dull......oh well, try the Custom.

 

[Simon_F]

Re: something brighter than the custom custom

Is there a pickup that's like the custom custom, but with a slightly more bass response with a bit more highs. Maybe a pickup that has the mids focused just a little bit higher. Not as high as the JB, but not as low as the custom custom. I like a very pronounce throaty crunch to my tone without sounding to compressed.

That does indeed sound like a Custom you're describing there. Great pickup for hard rock and metal.

 

[mikp]

Re: something brighter than the custom custom

I'm confused when you say custom do you mean C5
(SH-14 Custom 5)?

Thanks

 

[MattPete]

Re: something brighter than the custom custom

I'm confused when you say custom do you mean C5
(SH-14 Custom 5)?

Thanks

No, the SH-5 Custom:

Sh-5 Custom
Sh-11 Custom Custom
Sh-14 Custom 5 (aka Custom Custom Custom)

 

[Rainmaker]

Re: something brighter than the custom custom

It's confusing at first but you'll soon learn very quickly like the rest of us!

 

[dr.barlo]

Re: something brighter than the custom custom

If you are looking for a slight change in the direction you mentioned, I think you gotta look into the idea of swapping that a2 in your CC with an a3 magnet. It worked for me!

B

 

[the guy who invented fire]

Re: something brighter than the custom custom

If you are looking for a slight change in the direction you mentioned, I think you gotta look into the idea of swapping that a2 in your CC with an a3 magnet. It worked for me!

B

I was gonna tell folks about you CC magnet swap Doc but her you are!!

BTW, how have ya been? Long time no see!

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: something brighter than the custom custom

I'd put the CC back in again and adjust the polepieces in an arch that matches your fingerboard arch. Then move the pickup as close as possible to the strings...just short of the strings buzzing against the pickup. With the strings held down at the highest fret, the distance between the tops of the poles and the underside of the string could be about 1/16". That'll brighten the CC right up and add a little sting to that violin like tone of the CC. That's what I do...

Lew

 

[brownsound]

Re: something brighter than the custom custom

I have a CC in an alder body strat with a floyd. It sounds good but I was looking for a little brighter top and tighter bottom. The answer for me was a PATB-1 in the bridge. Amazing tone. It's not as hot as the CC, but, the bottom is nice and tight with plenty of girth. What I'm loving about this pickup is the high mids. It's got a lot of bite without being harsh. I have been using all of same settings on my gear and the PATB-1 just cuts through where the CC was getting lost.

I can't say enough about the PATB-1, it got great punch, crunch and bite without being harsh. I'm keeping the CC, but, the PATB-1 seems to be the answer. The soundclips are really dark and lifeless compared to my experience with it.

 

[dr.barlo]

Re: something brighter than the custom custom

I was gonna tell folks about you CC magnet swap Doc but her you are!!

BTW, how have ya been? Long time no see!

Hey bro, what's up?

Work work work! :smack:

Missed this place a lot!

B

 

[Jeffrec]

Re: something brighter than the custom custom

Try putting the A-2 from the CC into the JB. A JB with an A-2 sounds awesome and seems to be the best of both worlds IMO. It has a nice balance of high, mids, & bass. I have one in an all mahogany Hamer and it sounds phenomenal.

Jeff