What can I expect from my Custom over the C-5?

[papersoul]

I am waiting for a Duncan Custom to come through an ebay purchase and I hear so many conflicting opinions. I ruled out the JB as it didn't have the fat bottom end I need running into my vetta II head.

The C-5 is pretty nice but I am thinking the Custom will sound a little thicker and more aggressive which is what I am going for in this LP. What I don't want is less warmth or a brighter tone. Quite a few of the respected tone "Gods" of the forum have mentioned I should actually notice a thicker and possibly warmer tone since it has more mids which may be perceived as less highs.

The C-5 is awesome for clean and lighter material but seems to be falling a little short in the high gain department.

Can't wait.

 

[RG 2570]

Re: What can I expect from my Custom over the C-5?

I am waiting for a Duncan Custom to come through an ebay purchase and I hear so many conflicting opinions. I ruled out the JB as it didn't have the fat bottom end I need running into my vetta II head.

The C-5 is pretty nice but I am thinking the Custom will sound a little thicker and more aggressive which is what I am going for in this LP. What I don't want is less warmth or a brighter tone. Quite a few of the respected tone "Gods" of the forum have mentioned I should actually notice a thicker and possibly warmer tone since it has more mids which may be perceived as less highs.

The C-5 is awesome for clean and lighter material but seems to be falling a little short in the high gain department.

Can't wait.

well i dont own either but i can tell you this,the custom is the same pup as the custom 5 with different magnets, and going by that alone you will have more output,bass,low mids,uppermids, with the ceramic version.
i feel it would be a denser,thicker tone overall?
the customs have more bass then a JB as is so the ceramic will have a tighter more pronounced bass than the custom 5.
the ceramic will also have more "presence" at the same time if you know what i mean?

here look this over
http://www.seymourduncan.com/website/support/faqdescr.shtml#magnets

 

[Stevo]

Re: What can I expect from my Custom over the C-5?

I don't find it thicker than the C5 but it is more agressive. It actually has a nice jangle to it when you play clean open chords too.
I like almost everything about the custom except for the way that it squeals a bit on the high end.

 

[papersoul]

Re: What can I expect from my Custom over the C-5?

well i dont own either but i can tell you this,the custom is the same pup as the custom 5 with different magnets, and going by that alone you will have more output,bass,low mids,uppermids, with the ceramic version.
i feel it would be a denser,thicker tone overall?
the customs have more bass then a JB as is so the ceramic will have a tighter more pronounced bass than the custom 5.
the ceramic will also have more "presence" at the same time if you know what i mean?

here look this over
http://www.seymourduncan.com/website/support/faqdescr.shtml#magnets

I think I should have taken the Custom advice a long time ago because other sare also telling the same as you.....that it will be thicker, more aggressive, punchier, and not quite as bright as the C-5 due to the increased mids.

What if I thew the Dimarzio Air Zone into this post? I have heard the Air Zone does not have as much bass as the Tone Zone but more than the Custom and also brighter than the Custom.

Stevo, what do you mean by squeels on the high end??

This is what a friend on another forum mentioned:
"The Custom is more agressive and 'punchy' than the C-5 mostly due to the added output and midrange. The cleans are not that great (a bit midrangey), but coupled with the neck pickup it sounds great. The Custom is just MADE for screaming leads, that's where it shines, IMO: leads and crunchy rythm. And yes, it sounds less bright than the C-5. It also sounds less bright than the Air Zone. You might think of the Air Zone as a C-5 on steroids, with everything the C-5's got only more of it...more lows and low mids for sure. THe Air Zone's also fatter than the Custom."

 

[Mac-P]

Re: What can I expect from my Custom over the C-5?

I think I should have taken the Custom advice a long time ago because other sare also telling the same as you.....that it will be thicker, more aggressive, punchier, and not quite as bright as the C-5 due to the increased mids.

What if I thew the Dimarzio Air Zone into this post? I have heard the Air Zone does not have as much bass as the Tone Zone but more than the Custom and also brighter than the Custom.

Stevo, what do you mean by squeels on the high end??

This is what a friend on another forum mentioned:
"The Custom is more agressive and 'punchy' than the C-5 mostly due to the added output and midrange. The cleans are not that great (a bit midrangey), but coupled with the neck pickup it sounds great. The Custom is just MADE for screaming leads, that's where it shines, IMO: leads and crunchy rythm. And yes, it sounds less bright than the C-5. It also sounds less bright than the Air Zone. You might think of the Air Zone as a C-5 on steroids, with everything the C-5's got only more of it...more lows and low mids for sure. THe Air Zone's also fatter than the Custom."

The Custom has more mids and a thicker tone than the C5 to my ears. There is a ceramic magnet and it has a certain "push" that is aggressive, but since the mids are there, the overall tone (to my ears) sound warmer and bigger than the C5, even though there may be more treble in the custom. The treble is just standing alone in the C5.

To my ears, the Air Zone does not have ANY less bass than the Tone Zone. I found the Air Zone to be clearer and more musical than the Tone Zone.

The Air Zone is definitely warmer than either the C5 or Custom. More low end and mids with less treble. About the same output as the Custom. Maybe a little less than the JB.

The Air Zone, again to MY ears, is NOTHING like a C5 (which is a scooped mid sound). The Air Zone has tons of mids. Totally different.

:burnout:

 

[papersoul]

Re: What can I expect from my Custom over the C-5?

Thanks Mac! great information and advice! Now, if I could just find someone who has also tried the above along with the Rio Grande BBQ, I'd be set to make a better decision on where to go with the C-5.

A few guysn on the Line 6 forum mentioned the Custom is warmer also compared to the C-5. They also said the Air Zone is fatter and warmer.

Your description of the Air Zone as fat, warm, bass, mids, with less highs is very close to what I perceive in the BBQ. Do you notice any mud or grainyness in the AZ?

 

[Stevo]

Re: What can I expect from my Custom over the C-5?

I did some clips with all 3 customs at soundclick
The "squeal" is what I hear when I play high notes. It's not a bad sound, just something that was not for me.

I don't like to use the word "warm" to describe tone anymore. It seems that there are too many versions of the word.

 

[Russ]

Re: What can I expect from my Custom over the C-5?

I am waiting for a Duncan Custom to come through an ebay purchase and I hear so many conflicting opinions. I ruled out the JB as it didn't have the fat bottom end I need running into my vetta II head.

The C-5 is pretty nice but I am thinking the Custom will sound a little thicker and more aggressive which is what I am going for in this LP. What I don't want is less warmth or a brighter tone. Quite a few of the respected tone "Gods" of the forum have mentioned I should actually notice a thicker and possibly warmer tone since it has more mids which may be perceived as less highs.

The C-5 is awesome for clean and lighter material but seems to be falling a little short in the high gain department.

Can't wait.

..I find the Custom to have more LOW-MIDs & kinda scooped UPPER-MIDs with a tad-bit of a spike on the HIGHs. ..I find the C-5 to more of an even scooped MID to show off the LOWs & HIGHs. ..The Custom's HIGHs will be louder but so will everything else. ...IMO.

 

[korinastratkyle]

Re: What can I expect from my Custom over the C-5?

Try making it an Air Custom. It's what you want!

 

[papersoul]

Re: What can I expect from my Custom over the C-5?

Try making it an Air Custom. It's what you want!

What's an air custom?

 

[papersoul]

Re: What can I expect from my Custom over the C-5?

Mac, after reading your comments and others....I am thinking the Custom may balance nicely. Sometimes I think the BBQ has too much bass for pounding high gain rock and the Cusotm may be the ticket. Also, my LP has a naturally thick and warm tone....so the Air Zone which I believe was designed for long scale guitars and thinner guitars that may need extra warmth, may be too much of a good thing, LOL!

 

[RG 2570]

Re: What can I expect from my Custom over the C-5?

The air zone is great! thick,fat tone with plenty of clarity!

 

[January_Embers]

Re: What can I expect from my Custom over the C-5?

Try making it an Air Custom. It's what you want!

I wanna hear more about this "Air Custom" . . .

 

[Guitarist]

Re: What can I expect from my Custom over the C-5?

I don't find it thicker than the C5 but it is more agressive. It actually has a nice jangle to it when you play clean open chords too.
I like almost everything about the custom except for the way that it squeals a bit on the high end.

Thicker - Yes
More Aggressive - Yes
Squeals on the High End - NO!!

 

[StefanM]

Re: What can I expect from my Custom over the C-5?

I have a custom as the only bridge pickup up that's even been in my only electric guitar. Tasmanian Oak (eucalyptus) is supposed to be the sonic equivilent of Ash, and there is definetly a high treble spike with the custom in this wood. Great lead pickup, but to shrill for my ears up the neck. I'm hoping a C4 magnet will be more suited forthis guitar.

 

[papersoul]

Re: What can I expect from my Custom over the C-5?

The thing is I actually like the C-5 for some things....but I notice a lack of thickness for single note runs, a little too bright, doesn't have the thick and fat mids I enjoy. This is my quandry and the reason I keep coming back to the Rio BBQ. I want to be able to find the right pickup within Duncan but so far it doesn't seem possible. People say the C-5 has low end, but the Rio has FAT low end and THICK mids. If only it was a tad less dark and a tad more clear you'd be talking to one happy camper.