Duncan Custom

[JACKSONFREAK]

Has anybody tried the new Alternative 8 (sh15) yet? sounds interesting. I just may have to order one and see.
Gil

[phill_up]

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

damn dude... This JB in my soloist is outa here! that guitar sounded like it was trying to speak! how do you feel that this pickup compares to the Custom 5?

[plon]

I had a JB in my RR-1 and it soudned like ass, too muddy. Then I tried EMG's, no dice there either. Then I put a Custom in, it sounded good but didn't really have any low end punch. So I switched out the ceramic magnet for an alnico 8 magnet and now it's the shit. It's not that hard to switch the magnets either. I believe there is a tutorial on the Duncan forum.

[toejam]

damn dude... This JB in my soloist is outa here! that guitar sounded like it was trying to speak! how do you feel that this pickup compares to the Custom 5?

Depends on the guitar. The Custom seems pretty even along the frequency range. The JB has a lot of high mids and treble, and I hate it in most guitars. I really like it in my import Brian Moore i9f (mahogany body, maple neck, rosewood board, thin maple top). I didn't like it in my RR1T (replaced that with a Parallel Axis Distortion Trembucker and love it).
The Custom 5 has slightly boosted treble and bass and more neutral mids where it seems scooped. It sounds more like a souped up '59, if you've ever played a '59 bridge pup.
I didn't like the C5 in my Charvel Star (alder body, maple/maple neck), and I replaced it with a DiMarzio Tone Zone and am very happy now. The C5 works very well in my Hamer Special FM (mahogany body/neck, rosewood board, 3/8" maple top).

[phill_up]

I was always under the impression that rosewood was the cheapest of fretboards but those clips sound bad ass. Who the hell was playing that guitar anyway?

[shreddermon]

Customs kick @ss. Best Duncan PU ever. 'Nuff said.

[zeegler]

damn dude... This JB in my soloist is outa here! that guitar sounded like it was trying to speak! how do you feel that this pickup compares to the Custom 5?

I've never tried a Custom 5 yet. I have Customs in my Strat, My LPs, my KV1, and my maple bodied/ebony board Lado. It sounds great in almost everything. I had to go with a Custom Custom in my Aria Pro II LC-550 though (LP copy). I'm not sure why, but the Custom sounded a tad bright in it. Maybe it's because it has a very thick maple cap. Not sure. The Custom Custom is great for situations like this because it sounds pretty close to a Custom, but with less high end. It's actually the same pickup, but with a different magnet.

[Rupe]

I was always under the impression that rosewood was the cheapest of fretboards

You've been under the wrong impression. Back in the day, rosewood was an upcharge over maple on Charvel necks. It is hands down my favorite fingerboard wood (actually pau ferro).

[shreddermon]

+1 for rosewood, especially pau ferro.

[Rich#6]

I can't believe there is so much love for the custom 5. I really hated that pickup in my charvel traditional. I changed it our for a JB.

[Newc]

I prefer the Custom Custom. It's a tad brighter than the Custom, which seems a bit muted, especially on the highs.

You might also want to try a Gibson 498T. I had one in a Performer Kelly and that thing punched like Ali.

[sully]

damn dude... This JB in my soloist is outa here! that guitar sounded like it was trying to speak! how do you feel that this pickup compares to the Custom 5?

thanks man! i had a custom 5 once, but i don't remember how it sounded.

I was always under the impression that rosewood was the cheapest of fretboards but those clips sound bad ass. Who the hell was playing that guitar anyway?

if you're referring to the clips that i posted of how a custom sounds in different guitars, that was me playing on all of them. thanks for the props about speaking guitars.

sully

[themisfit138]

Has anybody tried the new Alternative 8 (sh15) yet? sounds interesting. I just may have to order one and see.
Gil

I put a SH-15 in my ESP MX-II, it is voiced like a Duncan Distortion but it has smoother highs and a little more bass. and single note stuff sounds thicker then the DD.

[phill_up]

If anyone has a clip of an ebony neck through Jackson with a custom 5 can you post a URL?

[VitaminG]

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

I'm sitting here playing Freecell, listening to "Regrets", having just knocked off a bottle of Cab Merlot, and I wanna know....

how do you roll off a rosewood fretboard?