TB14 Custom 5 for poplar body & ebony fretboard. Or?

[El Supremo]

Hi there! My Jackson USA Dinky will be back from maintenance and i'm looking to change the bridge pickup. It's a poplar body, maple neck, ebony fretboard, bolt-on guitar with a blocked tremelo, SH2 Jazz neck pickup and 2x 500K pots. I play all kinds of stuff from indie to fusion to metal and really dig versatility in a pickup.

I've had the following bridge pickups:
TB12 Screaming Demon and SH2(originally): very tight, good harmonics, good cleans, but a little too little output for me.
EMG81/85: tight rhythm sound, didn't like the clean sound though. Did get kinda nasaly sounding with a lot of settings. Liked the 85 better.
TB4 and SH2 (currently) : high output, good lead sound, warm clean sound, bit flabby bass on the low strings (guitar tuned to C# with 12-56 strings).

I'm looking for a pickup that has chordal clarity in gain situations, round lead sound, tight bass for thrashing, good harmonic squeel ability and pleasant clean sound.
The TB12 came very close to my ears except for the output. I'd like a little more saturation without having to use an overdrive pedal. Judging by the tone comparison chart the TB14 Custom V would be first in line.

Suggestions/experiences anyone? Any other suggestions for a poplar guitar are also welcome.

 

[Franknfilms]

Re: TB14 Custom 5 for poplar body & ebony fretboard. Or?

Can't comment specifically on poplar guitars, but I think that the custom series in general is the perfect amount of output for a versatile saturated and clean tones. Country to Metal, you can have it all with the custom. What is not so clear, however is which magnet you want in there. I love the Custom 8, many mahogany lp players like the Custom 5, Custom 2 goes well in really bright guitars. If you're not opposed to doing some magnet swapping you will most definitely find your tone with the custom if you do some experimenting.

 

[El Supremo]

Re: TB14 Custom 5 for poplar body & ebony fretboard. Or?

Thanks man! I like some chunkiness to my rhythms so I guess Custom Custom won't be the ticket. Right now I'm kinda looking at the Custom 5, but the the TB10 Full Shred also seems a good candidate. Both are Alnico5 if I'm correct. The Screaming Demon is Alnico5 also, and I like that pup. Just lacks a bit of output imo.

 

[Gearjoneser]

Re: TB14 Custom 5 for poplar body & ebony fretboard. Or?

The C-5 fits your description. 14.4K is the magic number when it comes to output. From there, the magnet is the 2nd most important factor, then wood, then height adjustment.

But above all, your fingers and amp.

 

[blueman335]

Re: TB14 Custom 5 for poplar body & ebony fretboard. Or?

Can't comment specifically on poplar guitars, but I think that the custom series in general is the perfect amount of output for a versatile saturated and clean tones. What is not so clear, however is which magnet you want in there. I love the Custom 8, many mahogany lp players like the Custom 5, Custom 2 goes well in really bright guitars. If you're not opposed to doing some magnet swapping you will most definitely find your tone with the custom if you do some experimenting.

+1. There is a Custom for you out there. The C8 thickens up the tone if your guitar needs that.

 

[oilpit]

Re: TB14 Custom 5 for poplar body & ebony fretboard. Or?

A higher output Screamin' Deamon?

Full Shred, and it does lead and rhythm equally well, if you ask me, the C5 will not deliver when it comes to lead tone.

 

[blueman335]

Re: TB14 Custom 5 for poplar body & ebony fretboard. Or?

if you ask me, the C5 will not deliver when it comes to lead tone.

That's funny, as many of us use C5's for leads.

 

[Franknfilms]

Re: TB14 Custom 5 for poplar body & ebony fretboard. Or?

C5 for leads

 

[LtKojak]

Re: TB14 Custom 5 for poplar body & ebony fretboard. Or?

Custom 8.

/thread .

'nuff said.

 

[El Supremo]

Re: TB14 Custom 5 for poplar body & ebony fretboard. Or?

Thanks for the info everybody and thanks for that soundclip Franknfilms! The SH14 clips on youtube did kind of remind me of the Van Halen sound. Not missing any mids in this clip imo. I've also seen some tight riffing with the SH14 on youtube.
Maybe the Custom5 is more raw/vintage sounding and the Full Shred more smooth/modern? Haven't found any good riffing clips for the Full Shred though.

I've also read somewhere on the forum that the SH14 is Duncans closest equivalent to the DiMarzios Steve's Special (though the Steve's Special has ceramics I believe). Both are mid scooped. Anybody know if this is accurate?

 

[Franknfilms]

Re: TB14 Custom 5 for poplar body & ebony fretboard. Or?

I've also read somewhere on the forum that the SH14 is Duncans closest equivalent to the DiMarzios Steve's Special (though the Steve's Special has ceramics I believe). Both are mid scooped. Anybody know if this is accurate?

The eq curve would lead you to believe so. If you end up feeling like you're missing some mids just search for forum for unoriented A5. That is supposed to be a good fix for the scooped Custom 5. Also, consider the Custom 8.

 

[King IzzO)))]

Re: TB14 Custom 5 for poplar body & ebony fretboard. Or?

Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but I think the FS IS a C5, just with the hex screws. This would make it tighter and sharpen the attack in my experience. My personal preference of the two would be the C5 for the more rounded lead sounds with a softer attack, but I've never used one. I have used a FS, and I have a hard time believing that the low end would end up too mushy with normal slugs & screws, the normal FS is a too crispy for me, I do wish I had known of the UOA5 when I had one though, I'll bet it's awesome.

 

[El Supremo]

Re: TB14 Custom 5 for poplar body & ebony fretboard. Or?

Custom 8 might be a modification for the future, gotta start somewhere. The C8soundclips on netmusicians sound great. I think I'll start out with the Custom5 since the Custom Custom probably will be too middy for my guitar and I'm not really impressed with the SH5 (not a big ceramics fan). The tone wizard also recommended the SH14 for this particular wood configuration, so I guess I'll order one this week. I'll let you know how it turned out!

 

[El Supremo]

Re: TB14 Custom 5 for poplar body & ebony fretboard. Or?

Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but I think the FS IS a C5, just with the hex screws. This would make it tighter and sharpen the attack in my experience. QUOTE]

That could also be something to consider as a modification for the future. So the Custom is at least 5 pickups in one package? Nice.
So hex screws give tighter bass?

 

[Despair]

Re: TB14 Custom 5 for poplar body & ebony fretboard. Or?

That could also be something to consider as a modification for the future. So the Custom is at least 5 pickups in one package? Nice.
So hex screws give tighter bass?

They also give more presence, a sharper bite.

A great trick (especially for a pickup like the JB that can have mushy bass/low mids in many guitars) is to replace only the screws under the wound strings with hex screws. Also works really well in neck pickups where the position causes blatty/farty behavior due to overemphasis of lower frequencies.

Only replacing under the low strings lets you keep the rounder high string tones, especially important higher up on the neck.

Many pickup designers feel the difference is almost entirely in the length of the screw, but there's also the point that sometimes different alloys are used in different screws, and that affects the sound as well.

[I have a JB with A3 magnet & hex screws under wound strings, which balances surprisingly well with the bridge PATB-1 pickup in my 20 year old RG570. Compared to the stock Ibanez V1 it's less congested for cleans, and thicker for distorted tones. Balances pretty well against the bridge pickup, it's a vast improvement over the stock neck pup.]

 

[dr. ad]

Re: TB14 Custom 5 for poplar body & ebony fretboard. Or?

A higher output Screamin' Demon?
Full Shred, and it does lead and rhythm equally well, if you ask me, the C5 will not deliver when it comes to lead tone.

i agree, i find all the customs muddy and low-mid heavy.
i'm beginning to think the OP could probably stick a ceramic or A8 mag into his demon and be happy

Maybe the Custom5 is more raw/vintage sounding and the Full Shred more smooth/modern?

this sounds right to me

I've also read somewhere on the forum that the SH14 is Duncans closest equivalent to the DiMarzios Steve's Special (though the Steve's Special has ceramics I believe). Both are mid scooped. Anybody know if this is accurate?

not at all.
the custom5 has 1x7K slug coil, 1x7K screw coil and an A5 mag;
the steve's special has 2 hex screw coils (DMZ use thicker hex screws, FYI) that have different gauges (possibly even different types) of wire that add up to 18K; i'm not going to guess at the ratio.

They also give more presence, a sharper bite.
A great trick (especially for a pickup like the JB that can have mushy bass/low mids in many guitars) is to replace only the screws under the wound strings with hex screws. Also works really well in neck pickups where the position causes blatty/farty behavior due to overemphasis of lower frequencies.
Only replacing under the low strings lets you keep the rounder high string tones, especially important higher up on the neck.
Many pickup designers feel the difference is almost entirely in the length of the screw, but there's also the point that sometimes different alloys are used in different screws, and that affects the sound as well.

i hear the hex screws as making for faster attack and less bass too
good advice

 

[El Supremo]

Re: TB14 Custom 5 for poplar body & ebony fretboard. Or?

So to sum up things regarding customizing regular pickups to other regular SD models:

Custom + alnico2 = Custom Custom
Custom + alnico5 = Custom 5
Custom + alnico5 + hex screws = Full Shred (bridge)
JB + ceramic = Duncan Distortion
Jazz (neck) + hex screws = Full Shred (neck)

Hex screws = slightly reduced output, tighter bass, less bass, more mids, more clarity

I'm basing this on comparisons from the SD tone chart and what I can gather from other post in this forum. Please do correct me if I'm wrong.

 

[El Supremo]

From Fyll Shred to Custom5 Or?

From Fyll Shred to Custom5 Or?

I'd like to know for sure, because in that case I could buy a Full Shred bridge and could frankenstein it with my JB's screws to get a Custom5.
Or maybe share the hex screws with my Jazz neck to get 2 Half Shreds :cool2:

 

[El Supremo]

Re: TB14 Custom 5 for poplar body & ebony fretboard. Or?

Well, just ordered a Full Shred. Thought I'd try something a bit different than PAF-like buckers like Custom5 and Screamin Demon. I'll post some reviews about the Demon, JB and Full Shred once I installed them.

 

[El Supremo]

Re: TB14 Custom 5 for poplar body & ebony fretboard. Or?

Well, I installed the Full Shred in my Dinky a couple of weeks ago. I played it through a Marshall JMP and a Boogie Studio and have to say it's übertight.
Other pro's are:
The agressive pinch harmonics that are easy to get.
Smooth lead tone, with lots of sustain
Cons:
Not as nice a clean tone as the Screamin' Demon.
Not enough bass response on this particular guitar to make the tone come through during lower string riffing. This was most noticible when playing the Marshall.
Like the JB, the FS didn't respond as well as the SD when it comes to distortion/overdrive pedals. Still had a bit too prominent mids.

So to sum up things:
I prefer the Full Shred over the JB, but the Screamin' Demon over both after I installed it back.
The JB can get thin and nasal and somehow inspires me to exclusively play Megadeth and Alice In Chains songs.
For downtuning/fast riffing both the FS and SD are tight. The SD though, has a certain depth in the bass frequencies that really lets the tone from those low notes come through. I'd say the SD is more of an allround lead/rhythm pickup and the FS is geared more towards, you've guessed it, shred lead playing.
For cleans, the SD is also the better of the 3 to my ears. It's lower output makes it easy to get clean cleans (especially on the Mesa Boogie) and it's abscence of nasal mids makes for a fuller sound. Full Shred comes second with a warmer sound than the JB.
Both the SD and FS make a good pairing withe Jazz neck. The SD/Jazz in middle position gives a more bright/scooped tone, whilst the FS/Jazz was a bit fuller/warmer in the higher mids.

So the Screamin' Demon is back in my Dinky once again. Guess the people at Jackson knew what they where doing when they chose this pickup for this guitar ghehe.

Next project I'd like to try is to mod the FS by changing the hex poles on the bridge side to normal screws (Screamin' Demon style). This should, in theory, get me closer to C5 territory right? With less prominent mids, more bass and a little less output.
If anyone has tried this mod, I'd love to hear your findings before I break out the soldering iron.