Seymour Duncan Custom appreciation thread

[STRHelvete]

There are threads for everything else so why not? I feel like the Custom gets overlooked for the Distortion, Black Winter, etc.

Any other Custom fans? This goes for all the Custom variants as well.

 

[ArtDecade]

 

[Crungy]

Do Custom 5's count? I had one of those in a single humbucker guitar and really liked the sound, I'd get another one or a pair for another guitar.

 

[budda]

Send me one to try and i’ll get back to you (dont think ive ever tried one tbh)

 

[HeHasTheJazzHands]

Favorite passive pickup

 

[STRHelvete]

Send me one to try and i’ll get back to you (dont think ive ever tried one tbh)

For what it's worth, apparently Les Paul fans love the Custom. Google the Custom and it shows up in Les Paul forums and whatnot and gets rave reviews

 

[budda]

For what it's worth, apparently Les Paul fans love the Custom. Google the Custom and it shows up in Les Paul forums and whatnot and gets rave reviews

They also slammed norlins that now cost CS dollars, so I am graining their salt

(Send)

 

[KnightBrolaire]

Custom 59 hybrid is the superior variant, but I do like the custom 5 and regular custom a lot too.

 

[Crungy]

Custom 59 hybrid is the superior variant, but I do like the custom 5 and regular custom a lot too.

I haven't played the 59, is there much of a difference between that and the regular 5?

 

[HeHasTheJazzHands]

I haven't played the 59, is there much of a difference between that and the regular 5?

Less output and low end, but still retain that C5 trebly snap.

I had both and I prefer the regular Custom since it has that super gnarly high mid crunch

 

[STRHelvete]

Custom 59 hybrid is the superior variant, but I do like the custom 5 and regular custom a lot too.

What's so special about the hybrid?

 

[KnightBrolaire]

I haven't played the 59, is there much of a difference between that and the regular 5?

What's so special about the hybrid?

59 Custom hybrid doesn't have quite as much low end or the mid notch of the custom 5. It's generally cleaner under high gain and less hairy on the high end. It has way better split tones and is generally more versatile/more balanced than the custom 5 imo

 

[Seabeast2000]

How about that Custom Custom?

 

[HeHasTheJazzHands]

How about that Custom Custom?

Most mids of the Customs, but the darkest and least aggressive.

 

[MetalDestroyer]

I have a JB/Custom hybrid laying around that I ripped out of an ESP CS. I need to put it back into something

 

[MYGFH]

I love my Duncan Custom!!! In my 25y/o Epi Dot. Now I hear it that pickup tone on classic rock songs on the radio. It is paired with Pearly Gates in the neck. *chef's kiss

 

[STRHelvete]

59 Custom hybrid doesn't have quite as much low end or the mid notch of the custom 5. It's generally cleaner under high gain and less hairy on the high end.

So it has none of the qualities that make the Custom good? Eh....

I think it's a great metal pickup and an even greater rock pickup. If you want rock riffs it'll do it with little effort but if you want to play heavy it can handle it as well. For me it's a versatile pickup

 

[BabUShka]

I had a SH5 installed in a Schecter ATX 10+ years ago and was blown away from that moment. Never thought it would be so tight and at the same time punchy and powerfull. I played in a band at that time and the SH5 cut straight through the sound. Tried a whole bunch of pickups over the years, but recently I swapped a SH6 to a SH5 in my Eclipse II and never looked back.

My goal is to change to SH5 in several of my guitars over time. It's a pickup that works perfect for me, so I might just stick with this.

The best thing is that many here in my area buy it and dislike like it, so it's possible to find them second hand. They are marketed as "powerful PAF" which is misleading for many PAF-lovers , they should market it as a high gain pickup instead. It's versatile, but IMO there are bunch of other pickups that can do cleans and low gain better, while the SH5 is superior on the high gain.

 

[Captain Shoggoth]

The Custom more than any other pickup feels like a passive EMG 81 to me. Same overall output and tonal characteristics, just with a wider total frequency range. Fantastic split cleans too. More of a rock pickup, I prefer higher output for metal. I am curious about the new ESP Custom with extra magnets to beef up the output.

 

[KnightBrolaire]

So it has none of the qualities that make the Custom good? Eh....

I think it's a great metal pickup and an even greater rock pickup. If you want rock riffs it'll do it with little effort but if you want to play heavy it can handle it as well. For me it's a versatile pickup

It's still a pretty aggressive, high mid centric pickup like the Custom and Custom 5. The low end and high end are just a bit more refined and
it doesn't slam the front of the amp as hard.

Here's an old clip I made of the 59 custom showing how aggressive it can get: