Custom vs. Distortion -- Can't Decide

[Frogman]

Alright, so a little history.

I have been going through pickups a bit for the past 1.5 years.

I have a 1981 Greco Les Paul Custom, and I play through a RedBear MK60,
which is identical to a JCM800 schematically, only with 6 volt preamp tubes
and 2 6L6-GC's.

So, like a JCM 800, it has a good amount of gain, but it's not really a "metal amp" without a push.


So, back on track. I had the stock Greco "Screamer" pickups at first, then
rocked a set of Bill Lawrence (Wilde) L90's for about a year. I loved them
for a while, but they were just so clear and transparent, that they just didn't have much "character" to them, just kind of plain.

Then I went through a P90 phase and installed a set of Mean 90's.
I love the mid growl of them, but the bridge pickup just isn't hot and "pushy" enough for me.
I jumped on the "PAF/lower output pickups can do everything including metal" bandwagon, but in reality,
for what my band does, I need a higher output pickup.


So, I'm trying to decide between the Distortion or Custom.


Currently I have my OD pedal with the Drive on like 7/10 to get what
I need from the P90, but I would prefer to have the OD set as
just a boost, with the Drive on 1/10 or even 0/10, with the level dimed.



I play both rhythm and lead, so I want something that works for both.



I'm just nervous about clarity with the Distortion...don't want it to
sound super "fizzy", and I don't want any "honkiness/cocked-wah".


With the Custom, I'm nervous about the lack of "lead-character" that the DD & JB have.


For reference purpouses, my band's sound is a lot like Down, Clutch, and Corrosion of Conformity.
And we play in D standard.


Thanks!



ps: link to one of our songs

[GilmourD]

Once you said Down, Clutch, and CoC my brain immediately went to the Custom Custom. It'll give you that loose but heavy tone. I've got one in an ash hardtail Strat and it's awesome.

Excuse the sloppy bit at the beginning, but here it is in that Strat playing lead. I have one coil rolled off in the beginning, but it's the full humbucker once the lead starts.

http://www.geargeek.net/media/rotson.mp3

[dingleberry]

Custom has less fizz and a bit more old school vibe, works for Down really nicely. The top end only gets harsh for the leads if you're running it with no tone pot.

[Franknfilms]

I'm just nervous about clarity with the Distortion...don't want it to
sound super "fizzy", and I don't want any "honkiness/cocked-wah".

With the Custom, I'm nervous about the lack of "lead-character" that the DD & JB have.[/URL]

Your concerns are dead on, the distortion has a mid boost, slightly honky compared to the custom, although pretty clear. I think you want the Custom for the style of music you are playing, that is my style as well. I think you'll like the custom leads as well, not super scooped like a custom 5. With any mid boosting overdrive you'll do fine for soloing.

If you really want to HAVE IT ALL...tight rhythm and fat solos....custom 8!

[Franknfilms]

PS thanks for sharing that link of your band, great stuff!

[LtKojak]

If you really want to HAVE IT ALL...tight rhythm and fat solos....custom 8!

I concur.

[Frogman]

PS thanks for sharing that link of your band, great stuff!

Thanks man!!


-----

this tone is what I would love to have

....too bad I don't have the cash to buy a BKP....lol

[metalmachine]

Invader would work really well in this situation

[CTN]

Custom will be right up your alley. It has a nice lead voice, but if you find it too sterile, throw an Alnico 8 mag in it, and you'll gain a nice low-mid thump and smoother, singing highs.

[Frogman]

Forgot to mention that I used to have a JB with a ceramic magnet, and I really liked that pickup.

But it was in a Jackson superstrat with a baseball bat neck.


Wonder how the JB+ or JB8 would sound in a LPC... (?)

[atreidesheir]

The custom is probably right up your alley. It would not be too bright in your LP copy. I like that pickup. It is pretty tight.
A JB with a ceramic is practically a Duncan Distortion. I have no experience with the Distortion in a Les Paul body though. Someone could tell you more about that than me.

[dvanburen]

The JB with a ceramic magnet is the duncan distortion. same pickup i believe. I think the DD has a large ceramic in it.

I love both of them (the custom and the distortion). for rock or metal you cannot do better...but...

I have ordered the A8 mag and will swap it in my custom then let you know.

Until then, both the custom and the distortion are perfect in guitars that are not bright. I have an old ibanez with mohogany body and bolt on mohogany neck with rosewood board and both pickups kick so much ass in that guitar. Custom has more bottom end fatness and power. Distortion is more articulate and just freakin shreds!!

I put both those pickups in my Les paul with a maple top and they are overbearing with shrill high end. I put the distortion in an esp with an ebony fretboard and maple top, and same thing. sound was shrill and sterile...

I like the distortion so much in the ibanez that, despite the recommendation to put A8 mag in it, I will leave it like it is. It sounds that good.

Currently the custom is in my les paul and I will be doing the A8 swap on it for sure. But I loved that pickup in the ibanez.

If you want to do metal tones. both of these pups do exactly what you need. some just prefer A8 tones with them. I say it depends on what kind of wood you have in your axe. Hope this helps

Cheers

[Jeff5]

I think it was confirmed that the JB with a ceramic is not the distortion. There are other differences, but I don't know what they are and I don't think Duncan will tell us. At any rate you'd have to put a big ceramic in it, and not just a standard one. The JB with a regular ceramic is just a different animal.

I've tried the Custom, Distortion, JB and Custom 8. I always go back to the Custom. Something about it just seems....right to me. Maybe it's more balanced, maybe it doesn't have the sizzle on the high end that the Distortion has, I don't know.

[tonello]

I used a Custom when I was in a CoC cover band. It sounded really close to Pepper. The Distortion is a great neck pup, especially when I had it paired with the custom. It wasn't quite the same sound, and it gave a really tight, but thick sound for rhythm. I've since switched to a 59/JB neck and bridge, but I do wish I still had my Distortion/CC combo.

[misterwhizzy]

Your concerns are dead on, the distortion has a mid boost, slightly honky compared to the custom, although pretty clear. I think you want the Custom for the style of music you are playing, that is my style as well. I think you'll like the custom leads as well, not super scooped like a custom 5. With any mid boosting overdrive you'll do fine for soloing.

If you really want to HAVE IT ALL...tight rhythm and fat solos....custom 8!

We don't need to keep discussing after this post. Perfect.

[Aceman]

My approach to this issue is to actually have one guitar w/ a Distortion, and one with a Custom...

[tonello]

We don't need to keep discussing after this post. Perfect.

Absolutely agree.

[JPH118]

If you really want the Pepper CoC/Down tone, he uses Anderson H3 pups in his SGs. Just thought I'd mention it, fwiw. Personally, I'd go Custom all the way!


Ps- lots of stuff on Deliverance was a gold top with a Paf in the bridge and a P90 in the neck. Food for thought.

[dr. ad]

distortion.

[marvelous_seven]

My approach to this issue is to actually have one guitar w/ a Distortion, and one with a Custom...

This.