who's using 59/custom for heavier styles?

dvanburen

dvanburen

New member
after watching the high output metal demo video on SD site. I noticed that the 59/custom hybrid is one of the pups being demoed for metal. It is listed on the site as being a moderate output humbucker. Also the 59 was not on that video and neither was the custom 5. is there something different with this hybrid that makes is better for metal and heavy styles? I liked the way it sounded but it seemed out of place among the other pickups it was demoed with. Any thoughts? experience with this pickup for metal?
 
Re: who's using 59/custom for heavier styles?

I dig high gain and heavier tones and typically use pups like the JB. I have a few 59/C hybrids and I like them just fine (they are in alder with maple neck adn rosewood board). they lack just a smidge of the sustain that you're going to get from a higher output pup, but not by a whole lot. they seem louder because of the tone, which is a little more open than some of the more 'modern' models. you're going to be able to get a lot of natural harmonics and the like, but if you're into Vai or Dime or Gillis you might not get those screaming sustained harmonics without tweaking some amp settings. now, I'm not going to tell you what a lot of people on here will say about how the hybrid is the best thing since sliced bread and it'll cure cancer and there's nothing better and all that, because that's bosh. if that were the case there wouldn't still be so many models to choose from. but if you're interested, give it a shot and if you don't like it you can take advantage of the exchange program or turn around and sell it. but I think that demo you are talking about is really the best way to tell if you might like it or not.
 
Re: who's using 59/custom for heavier styles?

I don't have a Custom/59, but I have made a hybrid out of a GFS Fat PAT (Custom 5 copy) and GFS 59, so it's probably pretty close. (I've also installed an A8 into a Fat PAT and then sold the Custom 8 I had.)

It *will* do metal just fine. It sounds great tuned down to Open C. It just depends on the amp you're using. I didn't like the 59 (although Mark Morton has used it) or Demon under tons of gain, both just seemed to need just a bit more output. The hybrid I made measured out to about 10.5k.
 
Re: who's using 59/custom for heavier styles?

Yes. And the reason why is that the mismatched coils add more growl on open chords, which sounds nice and evil for metal. Think of pickups as tone shapers, while letting the gain of your amp and/or pedals to do all the gain. The 59 is a great rock pickup, and the C5 is a great rock/metal pickup. When combined, you get a nice balance of the two.

To be honest, the C/59 is one of the best sounding pickups out there. Most players that go through all the hot pickups, then all the vintage pickups end up liking the virtues of both types. The hybrid gives you both attributes in one pickup.
 
Re: who's using 59/custom for heavier styles?

I think the '59/Custom hybrid could become THE most versatile bridge p'up ever if it was unpotted and with an A8 magnet. Put a cover on and it'll be hard to beat, as it can do from squeaky cleans to downright obnoxious hardcore metal just using the volume pot.

HTH,
 
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Re: who's using 59/custom for heavier styles?

LtKojak said:
I think the '59/Custom hybrid could the most versatile bridge p'up if it was unpotted and with an A8 magnet. Put a cover and it'll be hard to beat, as it can do from squeaky cleans to downright obnoxious hardcore metal just using the volume pot.

HTH,
Click to expand...

What would the net effect of unpotting it be? would it open the highs up some or something?
 
Re: who's using 59/custom for heavier styles?

Unpotting will make it feel a bit more alive.

I agree eith lt.kojak by the way. One of the best pickups around in terms of tone quality, playable styles and price, though a few come close. 59/jazz hybrid for the neck, seth, pearly, pearly/custom hybrid, jb/fullshred a8 hybrid, and for pure aggression, x2n/invader hybrid. But for pure 'allroundness', the 59/custom cant be beat.
 
Re: who's using 59/custom for heavier styles?

Edgecrusher said:
What would the net effect of unpotting it be? would it open the highs up some or something?
Click to expand...

Even though I wasn't convinced, after I've personally witnessed a subtle but audible difference of the same p'up unpotted and lightly potted, I stand corrected.

The outcome is a slightly airier, livelier and more articulation, generally speaking.

The specs also count, the difference was higher with lower wind, A2 p'ups for the neck position than in a higher wind, A5 p'ups for the bridge position.

Subtle, but audible in a A/B comparison.

HTH,
 
Re: who's using 59/custom for heavier styles?

I use it for thrash/black metal styles. It handles them just fine even with a UOA5 magnet in installed instead of the A5. I do happen to have amps that are very "metal" inclined (H&K Coreblade and Peavey 5150) so it's not hard for me to achieve metal tone with any pickup, but the Hybrid has a very unique tone that I really enjoy. Of course there's a bit less gain than some of my other pickups but once I crank the amp up it doesn't matter.

And *&**, X2N/Invader hybrid?? The world didn't explode when you fired that thing up? Lol
 
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Re: who's using 59/custom for heavier styles?

Ironbird666 said:
And *&**, X2N/Invader hybrid?? The world didn't explode when you fired that thing up? Lol
Click to expand...

I don't think the Duncan and the DMZ coils are compatible on a Duncan baseplate. I wouldn't know on a DMZ baseplate as they're made of brass and I wouldn't even touch'em with a thirty-foot pole.
 
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Re: who's using 59/custom for heavier styles?

LtKojak said:
Even though I wasn't convinced, after I've personally witnessed a subtle but audible difference of the same p'up unpotted and lightly potted, I stand corrected.

The outcome is a slightly airier, livelier and more articulation, generally speaking.

The specs also count, the difference was higher with lower wind, A2 p'ups for the neck position than in a higher wind, A5 p'ups for the bridge position.

Subtle, but audible in a A/B comparison.

HTH,
Click to expand...


Cool thanks.. I might have to try this. But i get the feeling that as the gain would increase this difference would become even less noticeable.
 
Re: who's using 59/custom for heavier styles?

Lt kojak, you are wrong. It fits on a dmz and SD baseplate. I have 2 of them now. One based on DMz's plate and magnets and one on duncans. Kick ass tone.
 
Re: who's using 59/custom for heavier styles?

orpheo said:
Lt kojak, you are wrong. It fits on a dmz and SD baseplate. I have 2 of them now. One based on DMz's plate and magnets and one on duncans. Kick ass tone.
Click to expand...

Ok, then. I stand corrected. :wave:

I still wouldn't touch'em with the same thirty-foot pole, though. :bling:

:kidding:
 
Re: who's using 59/custom for heavier styles?

If you've got a high gain amp the hybrid will do metal just fine, it just might not be the tone your after, and there's only one way to know that.

Hell, I do really heavy stuff at B with a 78 and a BG1400, works great.

There's nothing wrong with brass baseplates, in the right pickup.

Pepe is a hater :)
 
Re: who's using 59/custom for heavier styles?

King IzzO))) said:
There's nothing wrong with brass baseplates, in the right pickup.

Pepe is a hater :)
Click to expand...

I am NOT a h8'r.

But to make an analogy, is like how would you like to drink Coke after you've tasted really good wine... :cool2:
 
Re: who's using 59/custom for heavier styles?

LtKojak said:
I am NOT a h8'r.

But to make an analogy, is like how would you like to drink Coke after you've tasted really good wine... :cool2:
Click to expand...

I dunno that analogy might not work so good.... Lots of americans think that good wine comes in a box
 
Re: who's using 59/custom for heavier styles?

thats the first good demo i have heard of the alt 8. thats how it sounds in respect to the others
 
Re: who's using 59/custom for heavier styles?

I posted a few months ago that I thought the 59/Custom was dark sounding. After some height and pole piece adjustments it pretty aggressive and cutting in an ash w/rosewood board super Strat. Im playing classic hard rock and metal with it. I've got a UOA5 magnet in it
 
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