Why is the Duncan Custom so good?

Burnin_UP

Burnin_UP

New member
Funny, I always end up back on the Duncan Custom, or a Custom with the magnet swapped to an alnico. But it's always a custom where the search stops for me.

To me it sounds the way a pickup is supposed to sound. It's articulate, ballsy, balanced, great harmonics, tight bottom-end, good for chords or leads, and it sounds good through a variety of amps. It's funny that once I put one into a guitar, it seems to magically disappear. It's completely off my radar; the guitar itself just comes alive, like it's gotten a new heart, or soul, or a voice. That's exactly what it does - the guitar finds its voice. I hear the wood, the neck, the whole guitar, and it's singing to my ears.

I've used it in les pauls, 80's charvels, hamer's, gibson V guitars, jacksons... it just always sounds good, through amps by fender, boogie, marshall, bogner, aiken, and carr, and pretty much whatever else I plug it into. It makes the guitar get closer to how it sounds in my inner ear.

What is it about this pickup that makes it so universally good? There's really something special about it. It kinda stands out from the rest of the herd.

Seymour, you've made a lot of great pickups - but the Custom is your magnum opus, and it's been a close friend of mine for the last 20 odd years.

Thank you for everything,

Mickey
 
Re: Why is the Duncan Custom so good?

Because 14.4 is a value that Seymour realized sounds great.
It's universally good for Customs, C5, and CC.
My own opinion is that 12 is best for Custom and CC, 15 is best for C5. 14.4 is a good median point for all magnets.
 
Re: Why is the Duncan Custom so good?

I could never get it to sound good in a Les Paul, but it is an incredible pickup for a strat.

-Mark
 
Re: Why is the Duncan Custom so good?

but it is an incredible pickup for a strat.
Click to expand...
+1 Mine sounds so good in my Strat that I got one for my Tele. No dice! Way too "wrong" sounding for the Tele, just today I replaced the Custom with a Custom 5 and bingo, there it is. Sounded so good that I swapped out the PGn with a 59n and now it's even better. The Custom 5/59n combo is perfection. I was told here last year to try a Custom 5, I should listen more often.
 
Re: Why is the Duncan Custom so good?

I've noticed that the C5 and the '59b are really similar on the Tone Chart's EQ figures, does that translate to the real world? Does the C5 have the same 'sparkle' as the '59? I love the '59 in my Les Paul, but I was thinking I might like a more powerful version.
 
Re: Why is the Duncan Custom so good?

Interesting - I have been thinking about a Custom or a Custom Custom for my Jackson project or my Squier '51...


good info! (opinions)
 
Re: Why is the Duncan Custom so good?

Its a really great pup for sure!! I swapped pickups in and out of my superstrat: C5, JB, Custom, DiMarzio PAF, DiMarzio VPAF, custom wound 11k PAF. And than i began to change magnets in the Custom: A2,A4,A3 and A8.
My conclusion: only the Custom 8 is better than the Custom (a bit less bass and softer alnico highs, but more harmonics). The Custom 3 was very good too and will be the best bet in a all maple neck strat to sound more vintagey.
 
Re: Why is the Duncan Custom so good?

I've noticed that the C5 and the '59b are really similar on the Tone Chart's EQ figures, does that translate to the real world? Does the C5 have the same 'sparkle' as the '59? I love the '59 in my Les Paul, but I was thinking I might like a more powerful version.
Click to expand...

The Custom 5 sounds just like a 59 but hotter. I didn't believe it but they match up perfectly.
 
Re: Why is the Duncan Custom so good?

CUSTOM=:biglaugh: :biglaugh: :yourock: :laugh2: :bowdown: :yeah:


CUSTOM CUSTOM: :burnout: :burnout: :boggled: :bandit: :oo

CUSTOM 5: :thumbsdow :thumbsdow :thumbsdow :thumbsdow :nana: :nana: :banghead: :headache: :cussing: :cussing:
 
Re: Why is the Duncan Custom so good?

Funny, I've always thought the Custom = :smokin: and the CC = :earl:

:D

I had tried 4 humbuckers in the bridge of my LP before taking a blind shot at the Custom. For too long I had convinced myself that I hated ceramic magnet humbuckers after my experiences with other ceramic mag makes and models. I'm glad I took the plunge.
 
Re: Why is the Duncan Custom so good?

Doesn't Michael Schenker play a Custom?
-If so that's the ultimate endorsement in my book .

_Ube
 
Re: Why is the Duncan Custom so good?

saladin said:
+1 Mine sounds so good in my Strat that I got one for my Tele. No dice! Way too "wrong" sounding for the Tele, just today I replaced the Custom with a Custom 5 and bingo, there it is. Sounded so good that I swapped out the PGn with a 59n and now it's even better. The Custom 5/59n combo is perfection. I was told here last year to try a Custom 5, I should listen more often.
Click to expand...

Yup. Thats my current favorite Tele combo. I play this Tele even more than my Antiquity II equipped one.
 
Re: Why is the Duncan Custom so good?

I've tried all 3 versions of the Custom. Currently I own the Custom and the Custom 5 and I'm working on trading for another Custom/Custom. They are great pickups indeed. As far as the ceramic Custom, it's a great pickup when I want the character of the Distortion (my favorite Duncan pickup) but just a little less aggressive.
 
Re: Why is the Duncan Custom so good?

Yep---MichaelSchenker uses a CUSTOM in his DEANS & his GIBSONS...

& Marshall amps.
 
Re: Why is the Duncan Custom so good?

For all the custom users: Try to swap in a Alnico 8 you will be surprised.
 
Re: Why is the Duncan Custom so good?

sunny side up, the Alnico 5 is no the best move in a Custom IMO. Very scooped, i liked it with a full blown Marshall but not with most other amps.
 
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