Suggestions for a More Refined Articulate Custom SH-5

G

Gooch

New member
I love Duncan Customs. I have the C8 and regular Custom. I've recently switched to the Whole Lotta humbuckers and I like that is seems a bit more defined and articulate, but I don't like the "Pagey" vibe it has. It has some sort of single coil quack to it. But I think I like that it's less powerful and more articulate than what I hear my my Customs.

Is there a less powerful 'bucker that's not the CC or C5? I've had both of those and did not care for them. Would a Demon be the choice?

I play modded Marshalls, Les Pauls and Strats. This one would be going in a Les Paul Traditional. Cheers!
 
Re: Suggestions for a More Refined Articulate Custom SH-5

Gooch said:
I love Duncan Customs. I have the C8 and regular Custom. I've recently switched to the Whole Lotta humbuckers and I like that is seems a bit more defined and articulate, but I don't like the "Pagey" vibe it has. It has some sort of single coil quack to it. But I think I like that it's less powerful and more articulate than what I hear my my Customs.

Is there a less powerful 'bucker that's not the CC or C5? I've had both of those and did not care for them. Would a Demon be the choice?

I play modded Marshalls, Les Pauls and Strats. This one would be going in a Les Paul Traditional. Cheers!
Click to expand...

Check out the Pearly Gates.
 
Re: Suggestions for a More Refined Articulate Custom SH-5

Yes. The only two modern pafs like the Custom but medium output are the Demon and Jason Becker.

Edit: DUH. Forgot the 59/C. There are 3.
 
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Re: Suggestions for a More Refined Articulate Custom SH-5

I would consider the 59/Custom Hybrid. Less powerful and more articulate than a Custom describes it exactly. Sits right on the line between vintage and modern feel yet has its own personality, more than just the sum of its component coils. Nice definition in chords, sweet searing lead tone, and it cleans up well with the volume knob. A responsive and great sounding pickup- really, really good into a hot Marshall circuit.

Could be a bit bright for a thin sounding LP. Sheer magic in a beefy sounding one.
 
Re: Suggestions for a More Refined Articulate Custom SH-5

eclecticsynergy said:
I would consider the 59/Custom Hybrid. Less powerful and more articulate than a Custom describes it exactly. Sits right on the line between vintage and modern feel yet has its own personality, more than just the sum of its component coils. Nice definition in chords, sweet searing lead tone, and it cleans up well with the volume knob. A responsive and great sounding pickup- really, really good into a hot Marshall circuit.

Could be a bit bright for a thin sounding LP. Sheer magic in a beefy sounding one.
Click to expand...

I could be completely wrong on this, so please chime in if I am, but I've heard that mismatching coils like that tends to make the pickup sound more like a single coil as one coil is more emphasized than the other. Once again, I could be extremely wrong on that point. I read it years ago and have kept it in the back of my mind since. However, if that's true, then the 59/C hybrid is going to sound more single coily which was a complaint he had with the Whole Lotta set. The PG uses asymmetrical coils as well but the two are much closer together than the 59/C.
 
Re: Suggestions for a More Refined Articulate Custom SH-5

Mismatched coils makes it more complex and middy. That's a good point tho, it can make it more single coiley. I think the 59/C still sounds like a bridge humbucker tho. The Demon would probably be good. Or the Jason Becker.
 
Re: Suggestions for a More Refined Articulate Custom SH-5

I've gone deep down this path, and what you want is an Unoriented roughcast A5 magnet in a C5. In my opinion, it's the best version of the Custom wind if you want it balanced and sounding like the ultimate hot A5 PAF.

The other good option is the C/59 Hybrid. The mismatched coils give it a nice growl, although it may hum just a slight bit more than matched coils like the rest of the Duncans. It's a very cool pickup though.
I have one of the first homemade ones Bach2Rock made when all of us were trying to make the best version from the Custom wind. I even tried a C5 wound to 15.3K, and realized Duncan and Gibson are right in staying at 14.4K. The Customs and Gibson 498T are 14.4K, and the reason is that it's the hottest you can go before it starts to sound pushed, compressed, and muddy.

My gear preference is the same as yours.
Marshall, Bogner, Gibson, Fender, with the best sounding medium or vintage pickups.
Unoriented roughcast C5, C/59 Hybrid, Brobucker, Surfers....those kind of pickups.
 
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Re: Suggestions for a More Refined Articulate Custom SH-5

MastaC has some pickups in the Trading Room that are described as a Custom with the added ceramic spacers of the Invader. I'd be curious to hear what that would do to them.

Sent from my MotoE2(4G-LTE) using Tapatalk
 
Re: Suggestions for a More Refined Articulate Custom SH-5

Thanks, guys. I TOTALLY forgot I currently have a C8/59. I've had the C/59 and liked it, but didn't love it. Not sure what it was. I also have a Demon!! Totally forgot as they are both in a guitar I never play and was going to sell.

The C8/59 I don't recall getting along with, so I'll have to bust out that guitar and see. I have the Demon in the neck of that guitar as well.

All good suggestions, guys. Thank you!
 
Re: Suggestions for a More Refined Articulate Custom SH-5

Try some hex poles in your SH5.

Also a Full Shred.
 
Re: Suggestions for a More Refined Articulate Custom SH-5

If you have that custom in a LP, I can relate to you wanting more articulation. As far as the Demon goes. If your Les Paul is bright, it may be an overly bright pickup for it. BUT, if your Traditional LP (which should be solid body-No weight relief) is on the deep side (like the notes are getting swallowed up by the wood, when played acoustically) then the Demon maybe just what you want. Only problem with the Demon is finding a neck pup that can stand up against it. I opted for another Demon in the neck. I may one day order a lower resistance Demon from the Custom Shop, say like 8.5, for the neck.

Other great choices the PGb and the good old 59b. Vivian Campbell seems to have no problem belting out some killer articulate lick on the first Last In Line album that came out last year.

All I play is LPs and those are the bridge pups I reach for. High output pups just don't have enough dynamics and articulation for me. If your modded Marshalls use a lot of pre-amp gain, you will appreciate the lower output pups much more.
 
Re: Suggestions for a More Refined Articulate Custom SH-5

The Saturday Night Specials don't really have that Page thing going on, The A4 magnets are certainly their own thing. It might be your thing, too.
 
Re: Suggestions for a More Refined Articulate Custom SH-5

Back the custom away from the strings some.
 
Re: Suggestions for a More Refined Articulate Custom SH-5

I think Jolly has probably got the correct answer. I have a Custom in a bright guitar and it's anything but super bright. It should be chunky sounding with a nice treble. A Demon and a Fullshred would be brighter. The PG set would be a nice compromise.
 
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