Custom, custom 5 , distortion for replacement of a JB ?

[Aceman]

Aceman does have some intelligent points there.

Thank you for the support. But don't.

The way to call out cork sniffing is not chops but sound. Blind pup tests.

Pick from three - which one do YOU like the most? A5, ceramic, or A8???

[marcello252]

Aceman, although I like the SH-5 very much I found it sometimes 'dry' in the upper register.
I put one in my pretty warm maoghany mapletop Esp, very tight bass, pleasant mid but highs a bit harsh in distortion, have you found something similar in your guitars?

[metalmachine]

Aceman, although I like the SH-5 very much I found it sometimes 'dry' in the upper register.
I put one in my pretty warm maoghany mapletop Esp, very tight bass, pleasant mid but highs a bit harsh in distortion, have you found something similar in your guitars?

I believe aceman likes using 300k pots with ceramic pups. I think he may also roll back on the tone sometimes

[Micha]

by comparing: what do I hope by changing my Jeff Beck by a Custom 5?

wich seymour pickups allow me as many things as the "jeff beck" in solo but goes further in terms of rhythm?

Scott Marceau who works at the Seymour's customer services advises me the "Custom 5" rather than the custom..........but not really tell me why ...

in the forum thread it basically gives me (after having visited Many of threads):

50% of people telling me: custom
50% of people telling me: custom 5

The problem is that I seek not just another pickup, but I really want a jeff beck with the punch of a custom or a custom 5, provided i don't loose too much in solo (or very little bit).


my amp do not sound like an known amp.
I can only say that it is a mix between a Marshall and a little mesa (without the dirty side and bold)

Marshall EL 34 100/100 power amp
Rocktron voodoo valve preamp
BBE sonic maximizer

2 marshall cabinets with vintage 30 speakers.

[GuitarDoc]

The problem is that I seek not just another pickup, but I really want a jeff beck with the punch of a custom or a custom 5, provided i don't loose too much in solo (or very little bit).

Well, if we've come back to the JB as the sound that you really like, but you want it with more punch, then I'd say keep your Jb and don't waste your time and money on trying new pups. You've already got the pup that you want, but it just needs some fine tuning to get that extra punch...you just need to put an A8 in your JB.

[dvanburen]

guitarDoc has a good suggestion. I've also suggested a Custom with the A8 mag. If you like the Custom and the JB but are not that happy with either of them. then both of these suggestions are more than logical for what you are asking. I know you don't want to do a mag swap and that's fine. But it's not hard at all and you may just get the sound you are asking for. You can do a search on here on how to change a magnet. If you want you can PM me and I'll write a detailed instruction on how to do it correctly. If you want to go with a duncan stock pup then try the Alt8. from what I hear that may be up your alley. Also, call duncan and see if they will build you a custom pickup for what you want...

[Micha]

ok, well.
The problem is that I have already tried going through the custom shop to make build a pickup. Scott always takes me back to a pickup that already exist.
So i will be faced with a problem. Where to find these alnico magnet 8 to swap my mags, my jeff beck ?

To those who have the "alternative 8" : it seems to me that the alternative 8 is a fat, round sounding pickup. Somewhat resembling the "invader", for the dirty side. Anyway this link:

http://soundcloud.com/seymourduncanp.../tracks?page=1

that's why, in my mind, the Alnico 8 has a fat sound at the base. I'm wrong about the effects of the Alnico 8?
Or it's just specially the alternative 8 that sounds like that ?
it's just this pickup, the alternative 8 that sounds so fat, without either of the type of the magnet, the alnico 8? Is that correct?

What are exactly the differences between the alnico 8 and alnico 5 ?
I know the alnico 5, so I could get an idea.
I love sounds warm but punchy and dynamic and I hate (fat) sounds .

thanks

[Micha]

Up

[dvanburen]

I don't think you will get a fat sound from the A8. At least I havent. It brings a warm sizzle (not harsh) to the sound. nice tight bottom end but not huge like the sh-5. The jb8 was just too much for me. It actually sounded good but was just too much of a good thing if that makes sense. Very overpowering and invasive. The custom8 is nothing like that. very smooth response on all frequencies. Most people like it for that reason. Probably the most versatile pickup in the duncan lineup (even tho it's not production).

the A8 mag has a "sound" that it brings to the table. you will know what i mean if you put one in several winds of pickup and hear for yourself. Most people love them for good reason. it's not the "be all end all", but it can be close in some pickups. I still reach for other pickups for different applications.

If you dont want to swap mags, then ducnan has a great 21 day exchange program. Call Scott, who is very helpful by the way, and ask for his suggestion. Then if you don't like it, swap it for another and you may find your sound. Most people find the sound they are looking for with stock pickups, but others find it by swapping mags and customizing the pickups they have.. that's why we all find a hobby in that. Enjoy!

[Micha]

Dvanburen and everyones else

How can I order these magnets? Do not forget, i live in France.
I think buying the custom 5 and a custom with a separate set of alnico 8 magnets.

I ll'try these three combinations.

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Technical question about mags:
Can we really say that: custom, Custom Custom, Custom five pup are exactly the same but with different magnets?

it would mean that:

Custom EQ: B7 M6 T9 .... with 14.1K and 6.0 kHz res. peak
Custom EQ 5: T8 B6 M3 .... with 14.4K and 5.4 kHz res. peak
Custom Custom EQ: B3 M7 T7 .... with 14.4K and 5.2 kHz res. peak


Really I 'd like to be able to understand for make better choices (and to die less stupid )
I also know that it depends on the number of coils, the coil thickness etc. ... which has always allowed not to make a mistake.

it would mean that all the EQ differences are only due to different types of magnets?
The JB with:
B5M6T8 .... with 16.4K and 5.5 kHz res. peak, the advice of Scott, to buy the Custom 5 does not seem a bad idea ???

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I think therefore buy the duncan custom 5, the custom, and a set of Alnico 8 magnets. And I 'll need your help to make the changes.

i will post by Tuesday a video of me playing guitar so you can see what kind of guitar player you recommend a particular pup.

This forum is full of very kind people , it's great.
thank you guys.

[Micha]

here's a video of me while playing. When I filmed me, I can' t play ^^
the have lot of distortion, but not too much, the sound is articulate, have not this typically dirty tube head tone.
that's my playing style.


https://vimeo.com/46245885

[RayBarbeeMusic]

Sounds like what you really need is a DiMarzio AT-1. JB like in terms of harmonics, but more punch and balls.

[bagouser]

The custom 5 isn't nearly as scooped as that chart indicates or as people around here always claim. I find it has plenty of mids, and I like in it guitars where a JB doesn't necessarily sound right. A very good pickup for the kind of music you describe.

+1 Yes. For some reason I just cant get into the sound of a JB in mahogany. there is just something wrong with the EQ. I have heard JBs sound good in instruments made of other woods, but never in mahogany. Ive tried most of the SD humbuckers at some point in time, and I would say the Custom 5 is the best sounding in a mahogany or Gibson style guitar. I like the Custom too, but the C5 is just perfect (to my ears, anyways). I agree that the tonechart exaggerates the C5's mid scoop, but there IS a mid scoop there that the Custom does NOT have......it's just not as bad as you might think from the "word on the street".

[SAVAGE DISTORTION]

here's a video of me while playing. When I filmed me, I can' t play ^^
the have lot of distortion, but not too much, the sound is articulate, have not this typically dirty tube head tone.
that's my playing style.


https://vimeo.com/46245885

Duncan custom gets my vote for what pickup to keep some JB like things and add punch and low end. IF you dont like the custom after trying it you still can stake the magnet from your JB and make a custom-5 which is like a custom with very scooped mids and not as much output and punch. I own all three pickups the JB,TB5 custom and distortion and all are great and are similar in ways. The custom should fill the void

[Dark Order Lord]

I have a pickup (TB4 JB Model) which I am satisfied but not completely.
I find that he has too much treble, or rather, not enough bass.
after seeing this video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ryzie...ature=youtu.be

.... it confirmed what I thought.

Looking at the charts tones, I have always known that the pickups "TB-6
duncan distortion" , "TB-5 duncan custom" were interesting to me. The
problem is the magnet. I have the habit of having alnico magnets because
I like the Warmth in a pickup.

I like the treble accuracy of the jeff beck but I find this pickup badly
balanced and not quite homogeneous.
So I search a pickup that has the power of the JB Model but more
homogeneous throughout. A warmer pickup but that gets the same harmonics
as the JB. It's a superb pickup but i miss the punch and bass response....
What I hate is when a pickup is too harsh.

My playing style ist bluesy metal with bluesy solos, and aggressive
style.

My guitar is a guitar with a mahogany body, a maple top, with a maple
neck with rosewood fretboard.

someone told me the custom 5 and the full shred do a good job for what i want to do......


.....so I have tried theese pickups this week.

"custom TB-5"
"full shred TB-10"
"distortion TB-6".


The distortion TB-6 is too aggressive , too dirty and has not enough precision (and for clean sounds it's not very the best one.) it's a big pickup but not versatile enough.


The full Shred TB-10 is very good one but lacks a little distortion. But it's very articulate, but get's not enough power in Low tonalitys. It's interesting too, but it's not what i'm searching for.


The custom TB-5 is well balanced but a little, little, little bit too aggressive
(the highs are a little little bit too harsh) certainly because of the ceramic magnet... i have easely heard the difference between Ceramic and alnico pickup by testing this one...but... the custom is wonderfully well balanced.
It's an intersting one. A great surprise.
In fact, it is the sound of the custom that I like the most, that i have to get.... with it's nice bottom end and great Punch. (this bottom end and punch are exactly want i 've searching for..), with well balanced mids and highs.



I wanted to try the custom 5 but they were all sold, so i could'nt test it.




what differences there are between Custom and Custom 5 ?
Custom 5 does not sounds too dark, muddy and not open enough?

I mean in the comparison chart:


the jeff Beck has:------bass 5 / middle 6 / Treble 8....................and 5,5 Khz

the custom5 has:-----bass 6 / middle 3 / Treble 8.....................and 5,4 Khz

the custom has:-------bass 7 / middle 6 / Treble 9.....................and 6,0 Khz


I ask because I really like the custom and I really do not want to make a mistake by taking a pickup with so little medium. At the Same time, it's precisely these too present mediums that bothered me a little bit in the jeff beck.
I imagine that the custom with its heavy bass and midrange has a more punchy and open sound than the custom 5 ???

I must get a more modern jeff beck, jeff beck with the bottom end and midrange (bass/middle) of the custom !!! but with alnico 5 magnet's.
A good mix of both.
good for solos, good rhythm and imposing in ls.


Please help me by developing your choices and your response. I'm lost.
thank you a thousand times


Michael

PS: i wrote this message with google traduction , so please, write for an idiot (Me)

Stick to the devil you know, read this article:

http://www.seymourduncan.com/blog/pr...c-combination/

It says that the JB is designed to be used with 250K pots, not 500K... so change your pot and get back to me....