TB-5 Duncan Custom

[apache]

Has anyone had any experience with the TB-5 Duncan Custom in the bridge? It was also suggested that I put an SSL-5 in the neck and SSL-5 rw/rp in the middle. I am looking for the late 60s early 70s sound from a Yamaha Eterna, and really don't know if the cost is worth the effort. The little Yamaha works pretty good for me, but the stock pups leave a lot to be desired.
Thanks.

 

[Kosh Naranek]

Re: TB-5 Duncan Custom

I have a Hamer Studio with a Duncan Custom at the bridge. I think it sounds great. It's very tight, chunky, and has higher output than a vintage pickup, or a lot of pickups on foreign made lower end guitars.

If you like your guitar but the pickups sound thin, muddy, or weak, the Custom should solve that problem. The Custom is definitely a rock n' roll pickup. It really sounds great on heavy riffs, whether classic 70's style or metal.

I remember seeing ads for Yamaha Eterna guitars, but I can't remember what those guitars looked like.

 

[Rich_S]

Re: TB-5 Duncan Custom

I have a Duncan Custom in a Schecter Tele-style guitar with an alder body and maple neck. I love it. It's just the right level of "hot", and the tone is all-around very good. Split to single-coil, it gives a pretty good sound as well, but not a "real" Tele sound. I have another Tele with an STL-1 for that.

Long ago, I had a Custom in a Dean V, and really liked that, too.

 

[stratmetal]

Re: TB-5 Duncan Custom

how does the Duncan Custom sound in mahogany? does it retain tightness?

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: TB-5 Duncan Custom

how does the Duncan Custom sound in mahogany? does it retain tightness?

Sure!

The Duncan Custom is my favorite bridge pickup.

I like the Custom 5 but, for me, it needs more mids.

I like the Custom Custom but, for me, it needs more treble and tighter, deeper bass.

I love the Custom because, for me, it has it all.

Lew

 

[Surgeon]

Re: TB-5 Duncan Custom

The custom is an amazing pick-up in mahogany guitars... can't be beat IMO for what I expect from a bridge pick-up: warm with definition, higher-than-vintage output without sacrificing clean tones, tight under gain... perfect for me.

 

[stratmetal]

Re: TB-5 Duncan Custom

but can the Custom make my guitar sound like this....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IkIIScXJt3I&NR=1

:headbang:

 

[51501984]

Re: TB-5 Duncan Custom

but can the Custom make my guitar sound like this....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IkIIScXJt3I&NR=1

:headbang:

Sure , as long as you can play like Akira. You can get those Loudness tones with the Custom.

 

[Iron Horse]

Re: TB-5 Duncan Custom

Custom is great, but to me it's sometimes a tad harsh, because of the ceramic magnet, but most of the time it's great. And yes, I know tone pot can be used to roll off high end from the pup's tone, but it won't cut certain frequencies in the right way always to get clear, but not harsh sound. But that's really a minor problem, mainly on low-gain stuff (though not on cleans, but almost-clean bluesy distortion sounds)

 

[Iron Horse]

Re: TB-5 Duncan Custom

but can the Custom make my guitar sound like this....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IkIIScXJt3I&NR=1

:headbang:

That sound is just like a Custom should sound ina that sort od axe, bright, tight, mean, and has some bottom too, and mids are solid.

 

[Surgeon]

Re: TB-5 Duncan Custom

Custom is great, but to me it's sometimes a tad harsh, because of the ceramic magnet, but most of the time it's great. And yes, I know tone pot can be used to roll off high end from the pup's tone, but it won't cut certain frequencies in the right way always to get clear, but not harsh sound. But that's really a minor problem, mainly on low-gain stuff (though not on cleans, but almost-clean bluesy distortion sounds)

I've never heard any "harshness" in my custom...

When I first came to this forum (around '00), a lot of folks were afraid of the custom because of the ceramic mag and that supposed harshness.

I believe that a lot of that belief is based on the experience that a lot of people have with ceramic mag p/u is with cheaper pick-ups. Then, they switch to quality aftermarket pick-ups with alnico mags and instantly attribute the better, smoother tone with the alnico mags (if that's what they get of course), while some of that is, IMHO again, due to the quality of the pick-up's design itself. Don't get me wrong, alnicos do sound really sweet, I just don't believe that ceramic automatically equals harshness and that people have preconcieved notions about them that aren't true...

Yes, a lot of ceramic mag pick-ups can sound harsh, but a well designed ceramic-mag pu in the right guitar won't, IMHO...

Still, I know opinions may vary but I've tried customs in a lot of guitars and never felt its highs as being harsh or shrill... but that's just me maybe.