Duncan Custom

[FatalTragedy]

This is an extension of an older thread in which I inquired about a nice replacement for my current bridge pickup, the X2N, which is way over the top and doesn't sound much like a guitar to me. A lot of people recommended the Duncan Custom. Tell me everything you can about the Duncan Custom and why I should buy it. Please.


Ha.

[nhspike]

What kinda guitar is it FT?
Wood type?
That kinda thing.
I won't give you an answer you can use, but others will want to know.
I can sense it.
LOL

[FatalTragedy]

KV2...alder body. Standard model, you know.

[zeegler]

I have a Duncan Custom in my KV1, which is essentially the same guitar, but without the Floyd. The Custom is a fantastic all-around pickup with a decent output level (around 14.4k if I remember correctly off the top of my head). It's got good low end, and lots of growly midrange. It's not fizzy or gritty sounding. It also cleans up pretty nicely when you roll off the volume. It's also a very versatile pickup, that sounds good in all types of guitars. I have Customs in my Strat, and LP type guitars too, and they sound awesome. It's also good for anything from classic rock to all out high gain down tuned metal.

That's probably the best thing about it. It's not a one-trick-pony.

[Rupe]

I like the Custom a lot in most guitars (Zeeg's write up is spot on), but in my experience, it's not a great match for ebony fretboards. I've tried it in my Les Paul Custom and in several Soloists and although it sounds good, it seems to lack some balls when compared to other models that I've tried (JB, Full Shred, Tone Zone) in those same guitars. I've recently come to prefer the Custom 5 over the Custom. It has slightly less output (it's still hot) with a fatter, warmer, rounder tone.

[MartinBarre]

Had one in my RR3, didn't like it that much. That said, I never liked DiMarzio FRED or Duncan Invaders in that guitar either. I think the guitar just lacked life.
It sounds fucking awesome with Blackouts in it now though!

So, I wouldn't personally buy a Custom, I prefer the Custom 5 I have in my Epi SG, or the JB in my SL3.

[FatalTragedy]

I've seen Custom, Custom Custom, Custom 5, Custom Custom Custom, Custom 5 Custom, Custom 5 Custom 5 Custom, 5 mutsoc and Custom 5555. UGH.

[sully]

the question isn't why you should buy a custom, the question is why shouldn't you? there's no reason why you should not. here's some sound clips:

custom in an alder/maple topped body/rosewood fretboard rolled off:

http://www.sullyville.net/music/regrets.mp3

custom in a alder/maple topped body/rosewood fretboard not rolled off:
http://www.sullyville.net/music/shockme_cut.mp3

custom in an alder bodied/ebony fretboard:

http://www.sullyville.net/music/BATM.mp3

[jackson1]

I was gonna say "ask sully about the Duncan Custom", but I see he's already here. sully loves it, if I recall correctly

[FatalTragedy]

It sure does roll off nice, and it has a nice organic sound. It seems every DiMarzio I play sounds too fabricated, can't hear the wood of the guitar.

Very helpful, Sully, thank you. Not sure how it'll sound through my amp but I'm sure it beats the X2N. For now I have a JB in it's place until I can track down a Custom.

[Nazgul]

I have a Duncan Custom in my poplar bodied RR with neck-thru maple neck and ebony fretboard. Sounds good, but I was expecting more. I don't have much experience with Duncans and I bought it just because of all they hype here. I'm happy with it, except for the leads which sound thin for some reason. Might be the cheap old 500k pot that I have. I'll try changing it out first!

I must say that I have two other very similar axes (same woods and construction) with Jackson pickups and electronics and I prefer how they sound.

[MartinBarre]

I've seen Custom, Custom Custom, Custom 5, Custom Custom Custom, Custom 5 Custom, Custom 5 Custom 5 Custom, 5 mutsoc and Custom 5555.

No you haven't.





Get a Custom 5 if you don't like the JB. The Custom is a more compressed, modern sounding pickup. The Custom 5 has nice gain, but sounds more vintage. The JB for heavy metal and Custom 5 for classic rock/heavy rock are ideal. You don't need no Custom.
If you're wanting to play extreme metal, get Blackouts.

[MartinBarre]

Anyway, join the Seymour Duncan forum. It's great.

http://www.seymourduncan.com/forum/index.php

[zeegler]

the question isn't why you should buy a custom, the question is why shouldn't you? there's no reason why you should not. here's some sound clips:

custom in an alder/maple topped body/rosewood fretboard rolled off:

http://www.sullyville.net/music/regrets.mp3

custom in a alder/maple topped body/rosewood fretboard not rolled off:
http://www.sullyville.net/music/shockme_cut.mp3

custom in an alder bodied/ebony fretboard:
http://www.sullyville.net/music/BATM.mp3

All 3 of those clips are VERY good representations of this pickup. The only thing missing is a clip of some downtuned stuff.

[sully]

No you haven't.





Get a Custom 5 if you don't like the JB. The Custom is a more compressed, modern sounding pickup. The Custom 5 has nice gain, but sounds more vintage. The JB for heavy metal and Custom 5 for classic rock/heavy rock are ideal. You don't need no Custom.
If you're wanting to play extreme metal, get Blackouts.

imo, the custom shits all over the jb. the jb is one of the most inconsistent pickups.
users of the custom care in lamb of god, and metal mike.

http://www.seymourduncan.com/products/electric/humbucker/progressive/sh5_duncan_cust/