Thinking about giving the Custom another shot... what to pair it with?

[Rex_Rocker]

Kinda want to try the Custom again. Would love to try a pickup with a more laid-back midrange for a change.

Wonder what you guys are pairing it with? The guitar it's going in is a Les Paul. I prefer a warmer/hotter tone in the neck, but warmer doesn't mean bassy to me. I still want clarity, but I don't want a chirpy overly emphatic attack, too much boom in the low-end, nor do I want to struggle for power to keep up with a more or less hot bridge pickup.

I was thinking about an A2P Bridge, a Phat Cat Bridge, or maybe even a 'Demon. Maybe a WLH-N?

Right now, I have a Distortion Neck in there, but I fear that's going to be a bit much, isn't it?

Thoughts?

 

[Mincer]

You might look at a SNS bridge pickup.

 

[Der Oberherr]

My 7 string has a custom in the bridge and distortion in the neck. I love the combination of the two, to get the really thick neck tones and then switch to the bridge for a bit more grind. I like my neck pickup slightly louder than the bridge too, so I guess that's why it works for me. The guitar istelf is also incredibly dark sounding naturally, which stops the custom seeming too bright.

Maybe try the custom/distortion combo, then see what (if anything) you need more or less of in the neck pickup.

 

[jeremy]

i think the wlh neck would be a good pairing with the custom. i used a 59n with the sh5 in a sg and really liked it, the wlh might suit your needs better

 

[GuitarDoc]

Jazz bridge in the neck,
Demon,
Pearly Gates,
A2P (if you want a slightly darker/warmer neck tone).

All go well with the Custom or C5.

 

[misterwhizzy]

WLH-N wired in parallel. This is the way.

 

[jeremy]

i like the wlh in parallel, split too, but i wouldnt want it like that all the time. it sounds great in series and will better match the output of the custom that way

 

[beaubrummels]

FWIW when I had a WLH in the neck of my SG, I found myself keeping it in parallel nearly all the time. Better for clean and chime and has clarity when distorted. In series it was thick and darker to my ear. The Custom is bright in my experience. But it's easy enough to change the parallel/series thing.

 

[AdrianSD]

Gravity Storm neck pairs very, very well with JB8 in my mahogany LTD. It's got this low mid thing going that makes it fat but not boomy, it's clear without being glassy like the Jazz or Full Shred and has enough push to keep up with the JB. It's in my top 5 desert island pickups.

 

[Artie]

I can't help mentioning the Perpetual Burn. The "other" JB.

 

[nienturi]

Recently i tried Mojotone '59 Clone neck and it was so good. PAF Pro might be another good alternative.
https://www.tonejourney.com/post/mojotone-59-clone-neck-review
https://www.tonejourney.com/post/dimarzio-paf-pro-review
or Al DiMeola Neck. But it is not a bright neck hb. Its kindo warm yet clear.
https://www.tonejourney.com/post/dimarzio-aldimeola-dp201

 

[Aceman]

SO much can go with a Custom, IMO

The Distortion Neck, for a loud guitar, is an excellent metal choice IMO
A plain old 59 is great
A 59/Custom is hottest, and a great match

For warm though? Hard to argue with an A2P. Maybe go SLASH for just a little more bite and hot.

I personally use a Pearly Gates in my main Cadillac and love it.

 

[gsammo79]

How about a PG bridge in the neck spot or an A2P Slash neck?

 

[misterwhizzy]

This seems to be turning into an Iceman thread, I fear.

 

[Rex_Rocker]

OK... so how about a PAF Pro in the neck?

PAF Pro is both brighter and hotter than a '59N, right?

 

[Rex_Rocker]

OK... so undecided between the WLH-N or the PAF Pro... or maybe even the Dominion Neck.

Whichi would y'all go for?

 

[EmiAba]

OK... so undecided between the WLH-N or the PAF Pro... or maybe even the Dominion Neck.

Whichi would y'all go for?

If I need to choose one from the list I'd go with WLH, I like that raw power. I see the paf pro better paired with a SD. While I have no experience with dominion neck. On the other hand I think, but it's only my opinion, the best companion for a custom is a PGn in a les paul.

 

[Rex_Rocker]

If I need to choose one from the list I'd go with WLH, I like that raw power. I see the paf pro better paired with a SD. While I have no experience with dominion neck. On the other hand I think, but it's only my opinion, the best companion for a custom is a PGn in a les paul.

How hot is the PG-N? Cause I kinda want something hotter than the '59.

 

[Aceman]

How hot is the PG-N? Cause I kinda want something hotter than the '59.

Not really significantly hotter than a 59. More like more ornery than a 59. Or spicier. But not really hotter per se.

Do an A2 mag swap on a 59/Custom hybrid. Hotter, softer highs, punchy mids I'd suspect.

Or just man up and put a JB in there. Killer for neck leads.

 

[eclecticsynergy]

I'd give the Distortion neck a chance first. Might pair well with the Custom. Also, it's beefy enough to sound very good when split.
Maybe try pull-to-split wiring for when you want lighter neck sounds? You can always roll back the tone knob a bit if desired.