Custom compared to JB

[Diocletian]

I recently put a Custom in my Jackson RR3 and find it a pretty good sounding pup.
However, tonight I played my Jackson SL3, with a JB in the bridge, then plugged in the RR3 immediately after with all the same amp settings.
It's very noticeable that the Custom is much less powerful a pickup. I had, for some reason, assumed the Custom and JB were about similar in terms of gain but clearly not.
Or have I wired it up wrong?!

[Iron Horse]

The Custom is more wide sounding, as opposed to the JB, which focuses mainly on higher mids. That makes the JB sound like it has more power. Actually the JB is 16 k and Custom is 14 k

[Jerky Chid]

The Custom is not as high output as other p-ups but it's heavy and sounds to me like it's discribed, PAF on steroids.

[Diocletian]

I suppose it could also be to do with the fact the SL3 is a huge slab of a thing - heavier than my Epi Black Beauty I'd think, whereas the RR3 is overall a smaller piece of wood?
I have to say, the SL3 continues to blow away every other guitar/pickup I try, it's just an awesome instrument.

[Rowan]

The JB lead tone is going to be alot better than the custom. Custom is going to have bigger, tighter lows and more even cleans. I actually found the custom pretty compressed. I guess its the ceramic magnet. But I gotta say its the most organic ceramic I've had.

[Pierre]

Could be the pickup height difference if there is any.

The Custom is ballsier than the JB, but output wise I'd say they're pretty equal. DC resistance means very little as both pickups are wound very differently.

[uOpt]

The Custom coils are probably awg43 where the JB/DD/Invader coils are awg44, and that throws off the whole resistance equation.

In addition, the ceramic magnet in the Custom compresses more, where the A5 goes full range, and the JB gives the impression of being louder than it is by piercing your ear's most sensitive frequency range.

I could image you like a Custom5 even better than either. In my opinion the JB overdrives the A5 magnet and while it might be good for high-gain lead tones I really don't like it. The Custom coil, to my ears, drives the A5 magnet and it's full dynamics out, without overdriving it.

I wouldn't rule out the guitar either. The SL3 is probably kickass, dunno about the other.

Last but not least, your ears get used to the more piercing sound easily. If you play a Strat for a while and then pick up a Les Paul, one that you liked perfectly fine last time, it will sound dull and dark until you re-adjust. It's not surprising that anything after the JB sounds lame. But the question is what you can do with the thing.

[fenderiarhs]

i find the custom more trebly but at the same time fuller sounding than the JB. It certainly has warmer and much tighter bass and even though it has less winds that the JB i find it to be almost as hot as the JB.

[uOpt]

i find the custom more trebly but at the same time fuller sounding than the JB. It certainly has warmer and much tighter bass and even though it has less winds that the JB i find it to be almost as hot as the JB.

I'm too lazy to do the math right now but if they have different wire gauge, then it's possible that they have the same number of winds.

[Diocletian]

I changed the strings tonight from a set of .10s to .009s. Sounds much nicer to me! I'm finally getting this RR3 to sound as good as it looks!

[Jackson Distortion]

Jackson's that aren't baritone's tend to sound better with a lighter gauge tuned closer to standard. Acoustically, it maintain's it's inherent liveliness. It's what style of playing they (most) were built for: soloing, clarity, speed, and high gain.

[Diocletian]

Jackson's that aren't baritone's tend to sound better with a lighter gauge tuned closer to standard. Acoustically, it maintain's it's inherent liveliness. It's what style of playing they (most) were built for: soloing, clarity, speed, and high gain.

I would have to think you're right, but then you read about guys like Phil Collen using like, .12s with metal plectrums!
But yeah, lighter guage strings are always better IMO and certainly seem to work better with this guitar in particular.

The trem springs were set so tight with the .10s it was pretty difficult just to use the trem at all.

[Jackson Distortion]

I would have to think you're right, but then you read about guys like Phil Collen using like, .12s with metal plectrums!

He also uses a DiMarzio Super 3 pickup which has very dark highs, so he must just like that sound. Plus, USA Jackson's have much more clarity overall than import Jackson's as well. When I had my DK1 and tuned to D standard, I remember it maintained a liveliness still, but when I tuned my DKMG to C#, it sounded darker and not lively, acoustically. But, you can definitely get imports to sound magic as well.

[Diocletian]

He also uses a DiMarzio Super 3 pickup which has very dark highs, so he must just like that sound. Plus, USA Jackson's have much more clarity overall than import Jackson's as well. When I had my DK1 and tuned to D standard, I remember it maintained a liveliness still, but when I tuned my DKMG to C#, it sounded darker and not lively, acoustically. But, you can definitely get imports to sound magic as well.

Thanks for posting this, it's great to see another Jackson fan around here!