Time for another swap - Custom Custom incoming for LP

[Artie]

That sounded great Erik.

 

[ErikH]

RC A2 going in my Les Paul currently sporting a Custom 8.
This weekends project.
Thanks Eric. Lol. I’ll let you know how it goes.

Edit:
I actually ordered 2 A2 mags. They came in a 2 pack from Addiction FX’s eBay store.

One of them is rougher than the other.
Any reason to think either one would sound different or better because of that?

Cool. Looking forward to seeing what your thoughts are.

 

[Gtrjunior]

So I swapped in the A2 mag and decided to repot the pickup while I was at it.....just because.

I just went downstairs and fired up the Splawn and wow, this pickup is thick and meaty in all the right ways.
I’ve swapped 3 mags into this pickup so far and although they all sounded great the A2 is the clear winner as of right now.
I even find the low end plenty tight enough for me. I’m not really a metal player, more of a hard rock guy so it works for what I need. The high end is round and pleasing and not one bit shrill at all.
None of the mags I’ve put in the pickup have been shrill (Ceramic, RC A8 and now the RC A2).
This really is a great, versatile all around pickup.

Hopefully Monday night will be band rehearsal and I’ll be able to hear it in a band mix.

 

[ErikH]

That sounded great Erik.

Thanks, Artie.


The one for one of my HH Strats came in on Thursday and I got it installed and set up. What a great pickup. I still am trying to figure out why I strayed from it in the first place. Probably out of curiosity more than anything. Back full circle though.

 

[ErikH]

So I swapped in the A2 mag and decided to repot the pickup while I was at it.....just because.

I just went downstairs and fired up the Splawn and wow, this pickup is thick and meaty in all the right ways.
I’ve swapped 3 mags into this pickup so far and although they all sounded great the A2 is the clear winner as of right now.
I even find the low end plenty tight enough for me. I’m not really a metal player, more of a hard rock guy so it works for what I need. The high end is round and pleasing and not one bit shrill at all.
None of the mags I’ve put in the pickup have been shrill (Ceramic, RC A8 and now the RC A2).
This really is a great, versatile all around pickup.

Yup. The Custom Custom is definitely all of that. I find the lows plenty tight for me. It helps that the lows aren't really high on the EQ curve either. It allows better dialing in of the lows on the amp, IME experience anyway. Those big fat mids are awesome!

 

[Gtrjunior]

Yup. The Custom Custom is definitely all of that. I find the lows plenty tight for me. It helps that the lows aren't really high on the EQ curve either. It allows better dialing in of the lows on the amp, IME experience anyway. Those big fat mids are awesome!

They are! It’s a really huge sounding pickup. I’d go so far as to say I think it sounds bigger than the A8 version.

 

[Aceman]

I'm honestly surprised at this.

That clip sounds super-bright to me for a CC. This forum is full of "Mushy low end, not enough highs" comments. I'll agree. CC + Mahogany guitar is a particular thing. I have to say I was not optimistic. I have had a CC in an LP for a long time and know this pickup's ways. I also did not know Schon used it. I'd have guessed Super D or PAF style honestly...That said - the mids are huge and crunch like a bowl of sugary kid cereal. So there is that .

Is that SLO bright as the sun at noon or what?
Did you kick the treble poles up some?
How is the bottom treating you?

A CC in a Super Strat (where mine resides now) is a very different creature than in an LP. I was using my LP to play Woman Tone era Clapton, Allmans, slide and such. CC was KILLER for all of that. Fat, punchy, right amount of grit and extra sweet.

Wouldn't have pulled it for a Journey gig.

 

[ErikH]

I'm honestly surprised at this.

That clip sounds super-bright to me for a CC. This forum is full of "Mushy low end, not enough highs" comments. I'll agree. CC + Mahogany guitar is a particular thing. I have to say I was not optimistic. I have had a CC in an LP for a long time and know this pickup's ways. I also did not know Schon used it. I'd have guessed Super D or PAF style honestly...That said - the mids are huge and crunch like a bowl of sugary kid cereal. So there is that .

Is that SLO bright as the sun at noon or what?
Did you kick the treble poles up some?
How is the bottom treating you?

A CC in a Super Strat (where mine resides now) is a very different creature than in an LP. I was using my LP to play Woman Tone era Clapton, Allmans, slide and such. CC was KILLER for all of that. Fat, punchy, right amount of grit and extra sweet.

Wouldn't have pulled it for a Journey gig.

I think the brightness is coming from the Greenbacks in the 4x12 and the bumped up tone control on the overdrive, and the presence is at noon. The pickup poles are exactly as it came out of the box. It caught me by surprise as well. However, this Les Paul is a little brighter than others I've played. The other clip is a lot better, which is the classic Marshall style amp in AmpliTube. I'm still playing with settings. It's my practice setup at home.

The bottom end is totally fine. Like I mentioned, I used the CC for years before joining the forum and a good while after that so I'm definitely familiar with it and knew what to expect. Not fluby or too mushy.

In the Strat, it's great. I'll be using that guitar at rehearsal tomorrow night. The Fly Rig 5 v2 with an OD-3 out front sounds really really good. Took some tweaking to get it right but man, it's worth the time to play with it and get the PA set right. Sure is nice walking in to rehearsal with a guitar and backpack.

Neal has been using the CC for the last 20 years at least, maybe longer. I know he's used PAF's (big fan of '57 Classics) and the DiMarzio Norton in the past.

BTW, welcome back!

 

[Gtrjunior]

I’m had band practice last night and got the chance to play the CC that I just put in my LP.
I’m glad to say that it sounded amazing. By far my favorite version of the Custom wind.
It sounded FAT and huge. And really warm....it’s exactly what I was hoping it would be.
It’s funny, it’s really just a very small difference in the different versions but it seems to make a big difference to my ear in the band mix. (If that makes any sense at all).

I really liked the fact that it now had an increased “singing” quality....very much like a JB. Not quite 100% but close.

 

[ErikH]

I’m had band practice last night and got the chance to play the CC that I just put in my LP.
I’m glad to say that it sounded amazing. By far my favorite version of the Custom wind.
It sounded FAT and huge. And really warm....it’s exactly what I was hoping it would be.
It’s funny, it’s really just a very small difference in the different versions but it seems to make a big difference to my ear in the band mix. (If that makes any sense at all).

I really liked the fact that it now had an increased “singing” quality....very much like a JB. Not quite 100% but close.

That singing quality, especially in the upper registers, is so nice. Last night I played my Warmoth Strat at rehearsal that I slapped a CC in. Everything I expected from it was there. I found it easier to get what I wanted out of the guitar too. Glad it’s working out for you too.

 

[misterwhizzy]

I like the Custom Custom much better than a Custom 8. In fact, I think I just really like A2 bridge pickups best in my Les Paul.

 

[Gtrjunior]

I like the Custom Custom much better than a Custom 8. In fact, I think I just really like A2 bridge pickups best in my Les Paul.

This is my first A2 pickup and so far I’m really liking it. I have a few other A8 pickups that I may try the A2 in.
The possible exception is a JB that I put an A8 in recently. It’s a beast.

 

[Gtrjunior]

That singing quality, especially in the upper registers, is so nice. Last night I played my Warmoth Strat at rehearsal that I slapped a CC in. Everything I expected from it was there. I found it easier to get what I wanted out of the guitar too. Glad it’s working out for you too.

Thanks. I was skeptical about a mid heavy pickup going through a mid heavy amp( Splawn Quickrod) but man is it a great combination.