Would SH-5 be better for me then SH-14?
I have SH-14 alnico 5 in a LP into JMP. Nice open tone. Sounds big which I love. But on solos tone is very thin.
Wondering would the SH-5 be the same on solos or thicker? Would it still have open tone?
Re: Would SH-5 be better for me then SH-14?
The custom will have a big open tone, but probably not as open as the C5 and a bit more compressed. I'm thinking the solo tone will be thicker. The custom has more midrange than the C5.
Re: Would SH-5 be better for me then SH-14?
What value pots are you using for the bridge C5?
Re: Would SH-5 be better for me then SH-14?
I believe 300
Re: Would SH-5 be better for me then SH-14?
I think just boost the midrange in the amp and use the ur pedals and guitar tone knobs, or use an equalizer pedal, with todays effects and Amp, you could manage to fill in the pickups short commings,
and try to change picks, tortex have a thicker tone or use thicker strings, , and pick closer to the neck,
I have a C5 and I manage to thicken the tone, the c5 IMHO have a better tone than the custom, just fiddle with the C5 more, give it another chance,
Last edited by bryan the rocker; 10-29-2008 at 03:18 AM.
Re: Would SH-5 be better for me then SH-14?
Well, the Custom definitely has more mids than the C5. I would do the magnet swap to ceramic, personally, as the Custom is a more balanced pickup.
Re: Would SH-5 be better for me then SH-14?
+1 to a magnet swap. I'd try an A8 or A4 first myself to give it more body. Ceramics bring some brightness, possibly more than you might want, and there's nothing like alnicos for a good clean tone with personality.
The PU itself is a good design platform & adaptable to many kinds of music by simply changing magnets. You should be able to get what you want from it.
Re: Would SH-5 be better for me then SH-14?
I agree. I tried every mag (except the A4) in my custom coils, but when I tried the A8,... it never came out.Originally Posted by blueman335
I have a CC in another guitar and I think it will be a C8 soon, too.
....and to me, it's a great lead pup!
Re: Would SH-5 be better for me then SH-14?
What do you like about your C8 that you think is lacking in the CC?
Re: Would SH-5 be better for me then SH-14?
I noticed you're selling a Suhr Aldrich humbucker. Did you try that in this guitar?
I like both the C5 and Custom in a LP. The C5 cleans up better and has a great rhythm tone but like you said, can be a little thin for leads up on the neck.....not bad though.
The Custom sounds a little more pushed, has the same type of bass, thicker mids, and overall sounds a bit more ballsy than the C5. Both pickups are some of my favorite in a LP though. Think of the C5 as Rush/VH/ACDC and the Custom more as Judas Priest/KISS/Ozzy. That's how I hear them, in a way.
Re: Would SH-5 be better for me then SH-14?
I don't mean to answer for him, but it's bass and articulation in said bass. That's the biggest difference. That and everything about the C8 is more Aggressive than the Custom Custom, plus, it has a great deal more output, even though the DCR is the same. It's good if you play as much pantera as you do led zeppelin, and versatile enough to be in a 1-pickup guitar.
Despite all this, however, I like the custom custom more. Its just-the-right output, not too hot like the custom 8, and with the hex-screw mod (thanks 9finger) it's a pickup that you could use for anything, and pairs reasonably well with neck & middle surfers (when split). I like that it has a more vintage attitude as well. Just different flavors for different folks.
Re: Would SH-5 be better for me then SH-14?
A Custom with A8 is extremely loud (strong magnet but doesn't compress on loud play like ceramic does).
The Duncam Custom can't be desribed easily. It can be very cold on clean light play such as fingerpicking, and it can produce some of the warmest medium-high gain sounds you can hear anywhere, e.g. with Michael Schenker.
Re: Would SH-5 be better for me then SH-14?
I think it's the tightened up bottom end mostly. Crunches great and that's important,... I find the CC to be too smooth and lacking in the bass and I have to work too hard to get what I want out of it. The C8 has tighter bass, more open character with a little growl, and bite, definately more articulate, and to me, way more versatile than the CC, but at the same time it keeps a lot of the CC qualities. It just makes them better.
Keep in mind, its' moderate to high gain settings for me, I rarely play electric clean,.... thats what accoustics are for!
When I tried the C8 for the first time, it was the sound and feel I've always tried to get out of my bridge pickup no matter what it was. I have a blast everytime I play it.
Re: Would SH-5 be better for me then SH-14?
are the custom, c5 and cc the same but different magnets,
the Custom have a difference Resistance than c5 and CC, according to seymour Duncan tone chart,
I think a change in magnets is ok, but....
Just a question, did seymour Duncan workers put something extra to the CC, c5 and Custom,
Even if all of them have the same magnets, they will still be different, bec each of them is TWEAK differenctly to their original magnet specs, is this true ?????And I would first just fiddle with the guitar, hand Techniques, amp, strings, Pu setings before changing magnets, if all of them dont work to ur satisfaction, just change the magnets ok,
Re: Would SH-5 be better for me then SH-14?
Its hard to post a new thread, It sometimes dont reach the server,
Last edited by bryan the rocker; 10-29-2008 at 03:55 PM.
Re: Would SH-5 be better for me then SH-14?
Some people say some Custom variants or some Custom manufacturing periods have a grounded copper foil piece inside the coils.
I don't know, but if so a ground wire should be visible, I don't think they stripped the beginning of the coil wire.
It would explain why people don't quite agree on e.g. whether the CC has any highs or not. But then I don't like butter either so I'm definitely not a CC person either way.
Re: Would SH-5 be better for me then SH-14?
They're all the same, besides the magnet. The C5 and CC are 14.4 and for some reason the Custom comes in at 14.1 or something. It's weird, but that's the way they are.
Even players that don't think they'll like Ceramic still end up appreciating the tone of the Custom. It's like Seymour's answer to a ballsy pickup that still has traditionally sweet tone.
Re: Would SH-5 be better for me then SH-14?
I know where you're coming from. I think electrics are at their best with some overdrive. A2's can be a little too rounded on the high end for me, & not have quite enough cut. That plus the low end can be a little loose. I'm starting to use more A8's & A6's in my guitars, and they seem like a viable alternative to A2's. The benefits without the drawbacks.I think it's the tightened up bottom end mostly. Crunches great and that's important,... I find the CC to be too smooth and lacking in the bass and I have to work too hard to get what I want out of it. The C8 has tighter bass, more open character with a little growl, and bite, definately more articulate, and to me, way more versatile than the CC, but at the same time it keeps a lot of the CC qualities. It just makes them better.
Keep in mind, its' moderate to high gain settings for me, I rarely play electric clean,.... thats what accoustics are for!
When I tried the C8 for the first time, it was the sound and feel I've always tried to get out of my bridge pickup no matter what it was. I have a blast everytime I play it.
Re: Would SH-5 be better for me then SH-14?
I should probably also mention that so far, I like the C8 better covered. It's subtle, but seems to tame it just a little bit. I think it's a bit warmer. I've switched back and forth a few times to be sure and it's in an all mahagony guitar.
(I suck at descriptions so i hope i'm getting the right point accross)
When I got home last night I plugged in my schecter with the CC first and played for about an hour or so. It's the first time I played it in at least a month, and I was a little suprized at how good it sounded. (I hadn't played it since I installed new speakers) It was really alot better than I expected and I thought I might have to eat my words. But then I switched guitars and played my C8 with all the same settings and WOW!! It was very much like the CC just opened up and came to life. It was louder, clearer, and ballsy but with the same basic tone, just soooo much better. The impression I got was like I'd been playing with the volume knob turned way down and then turned it up full. So yeah,... this weekend I will make my CC a C8 to compare it in the same guitar (and without a cover).
I wish I had a way to record but I don't.
Re: Would SH-5 be better for me then SH-14?
I agree about liking a bit of upper treble taken off. The C8 is a great pickup, but the very top end is a bit bright where I'd like it a little smoother. 300k pots with a 0.022uf cap (or just using the tone knob), or a cover, would probably fix that up well.
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