So I just ordered Seymour Duncan SH-14 Custom 5 pickup...

[and]

...for the Malden Karma guitar that I've ordered last week. I have no idea if it will be a good match - anyone use these pickups around here? The guitar is slimmer than a regular LP, but I'm hoping this pickup will sound close to a chunky LP distortion.

[Clinically Deaf]

Never owned one personally, but have played a couple and really like them, I think they could get you what you're after.

[Armitage]

I really like the Duncan Custom 5 pickup, as well as Gibson's 498T... I can't tell them apart. Same wind, wire and magnet.

[Badside]

 

I really like the Duncan Custom 5 pickup, as well as Gibson's 498T... I can't tell them apart. Same wind, wire and magnet.

 

 

Hmmm, I replaced the 498T in my LP with a Custom 5 and there was a lot of difference. While the 498T was sort of grainy, the C5 was much more detailed and focused, with a much tighter low-end.

[jds22]

Really thinking about trying one of these in my Ibby S420. I have a Dimarzio 36th anniv in the bridge at the moment. I really like it but am thinking I want a bit more oomph.

[photon9]

I have one in my LP. It's a great pup and a definite improvement over the stock pup. It has a very pleasant, creamy distortion to my ears. I don't play high gain though. Usually dwell in the bluesy area of distortion. I would definitely recommend it. I don't think you will be disappointed.

 

EDIT: It's an '82 LP XR-1. Not sure what the stock pu was for it but I'm pretty sure Gibbo was using a carousel of the cheapest pups available for their lower end models back then. The wires were finish wrapped with electrical tape lol!

[notjonahbutnoah]

Dude, in my eyes, you have chose wisely.

 

Eric Melvin from NOFX plays that pickup.

 

Here is him with his guitar, you probably couldn't have found a better match for that pickup.

 

 

Heh, it's a non-Gibson LP, it's even the same color.

 

Having seen them live several times (twice last summer, St. Lou&Cinci) and fighting to be right up front, I can vouch that it is a fantastic combo. Very balanced. Suitable for damn near anything I'd imagine. His Mark V doesn't hurt matters, but still, he even gets nice bridge pup cleans.

 

[and]

It doesn't seem like a very popular pickup, especially compared to other SD's, but the reviews are pretty much all good. I wonder why it's not that common?

[Squier Fat Telecaster]

It's like a hot custom '59 PAF

[jds22]

 

It's like a hot custom '59 PAF

 

 

So the voicing is pretty close to the 59?

[notjonahbutnoah]

 

It doesn't seem like a very popular pickup, especially compared to other SD's, but the reviews are pretty much all good. I wonder why it's not that common?

 

 

If I had to take a stab, it's because it's one of those middle ground pickups. It's not really vintage-y, yet it's not uber modern like actives, and REALLY high output passives. This middle ground market is HUGE. There're just so many choices.

 

It's a great pup though. I have a custom-custom and theyre very similar, except the 5 is supposed to be slightly less bassy, which is a great tone, trust me. If you don't like it, I will be shocked. Big fan of the custom series.

[cratz2]

It really is a hot-rodded PAF sounding pickup. I've had two of them, one I had in about 5 different guitars and it always sounded great.

 

I tend to prefer the lower output humbuckers... vintage flavored for sure. But with much gain, many of them sound kind of dead and not very lively compared more modern pickups. But some of them are too over the top for when you do want vintage-ish tones. The Super Distortion, JB, Tone Zone, Invader.... They've all been used to great affect by certain artists, but in my experience, you can't really get one to sound at all like a true PAF-ish pickup. Maybe on stage at gig levels, not not at home or in a studio where you can hear every detail.

 

I'd say the Custom 5 is the best pickup I've ever used at getting almost all the oomph you can get out of a pickup while still being able to dial it back down to something that resembles a quality low-ish output PAF-ish pickup.

 

But... just because I like it doesn't mean you'll like it. If you are all about the brootz and want massive bottom end, it's not the right pickup.

[Squier Fat Telecaster]

Doesn't have the mid bump that the JB has

[Brian Krashpad]

Have one in my LP Classic, in which I somehow managed to destroy the stock bridge pickup. Had my old bud and former bandmate, who techs/luthiers at the local large mom&pop, choose for me and install.

 

Sounds great to my old ears!

 

 

Mine's actually a blacktop I zerba-tized with an great inexpensive product called Bobbin-Toppers. Removable cling-stick colored vinyl strips to make your open-coil pickups have any look you desire.

[and]

Mine's actually a blacktop I zerba-tized with an great inexpensive product called Bobbin-Toppers. Removable cling-stick colored vinyl strips to make your open-coil pickups have any look you desire.

 

I had no idea that something like that existed, but it makes sense

[Brian Krashpad]

I had no idea that something like that existed, but it makes sense

 

It's a great product. Iirc the guy who makes/sells them is in my state of Florida. The set of 2 came quickly via mail and was not expensive. They can be peeled off and reused again and again!

[EdMan57]

I have a Custom 5 in the bridge position of both my Washburn WI70 Pilsen XL and Washburn MG-120 and it sounds killer in both.Like others have stated,I find it to be voiced rather like an overwound '59.It also matches very well with a neck '59.In fact,I'm likely going to install a Custom 5/'59 set in my Malden Keyser [PRS CE24 clone].

 

 

 

 

Ed