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I've read the descriptions on the site and see the C5 is more vintage, so it says. I would like some real opinions from some of you who have actually played both. I would rather quot;hearquot; real world opinions than read the differences on the site, especially with no C5 clips available. Looking for something for a strictly quot;hair metalquot; vibe. I always thought that was the JB, but I've seen varying opinions on it. I've got a Tone Zone in one guitar and a Super Distortion in another. I've never owned a guitar with Duncans in it so I think its about time. Any quot;expertquot; opinions here. I don't trust the sound samples as well as words from the wise.

I'd say the difference is not sooo much different, but there still is some.
The Custom with Ceramic mag has quot;morequot; from everything than the C-5. More tighter bass, more power.
The C-5 is something between the '59 and the Custom.
I would describe it this way:
Custom 5 = '59x2
Custom = '59²

That's a very interesting yet simple comparison Inge, the 59x2 vs. 59squared. Even I in infinite noobness can grasp that. Thanks.

The Custom is fuller. More mids and more of a grainy sizzle to the highs when played with overdrive. Slightly louder, thicker and fuller with more mids and more punch is how I'd describe the Custom compared to the C5. Lew


Originally Posted by LewguitarThe Custom is fuller. More mids and more of a grainy sizzle to the highs when played with overdrive. Slightly louder, thicker and fuller with more mids and more punch is how I'd describe the Custom compared to the C5. Lew

The only thing the C-5 is 'better' for is cleans.. the Custom sounds a bit bland in comparison. When you turn up the gain though, the Custom is the better pup, IMO. I agree with Lew's description above ^

The hair metal thing will work much better on a Custom.

When I think about my Super Distortion, I obviously think Ace Frehley and other late 70's-early 80's guitarists. Which is what I was after in the first place. I take from your info, the Custom would be a little more quot;modernquot; than that. Maybe the C5 is closer related to the Super, or do I have that totally backwards. So if I want to go for a LITTLE more distortion into the 80's hair metal arena, the Custom would work better.

thanks nuntius, your post beat mine. You must have been reading my mind!

The diff between the ceramic magnet Custom and the alnico 5 magnet Custom 5 is the magnet type...other than that they are identical. So the diff in tone between the two has to do with the diff between the inherant tone of the two magnet types. Lew

Yeah, I read on the comparison chart about the magnet swap, I just didn't know the tonal differences of the two magnets. But I'll get there some day, maybe.

I have been experimenting with all 3 of the Customs for a few years. I really like the CC most of all....but thats not the topic here.I was initially in love with the C5 (I made one back when it was not available from Duncan and was called the Custom Custom Custom by us pickup nerds) but my affair ended. The C5 has a really nice sound for chording and cool cleans. I find the lack of mids to make it a little thin for lead playing...even on a middy guitar. I was thinking that it may be passable in the neck....after all there are those that try JB's in the neck and love it.

Custom is a bigger overall pickup, loads of bass....nice even treble and enough mids to really work well.

Both are great, but like I said I like the warmth and super mids of the CC.

Hellllllllooooo Archer.
I thought, and again, I'm by far not a tone wizard, a CC might be a little dark in a mahogany body with rosewood board, or even maple cap mahogany body? But I defer to the higher powers that be.


Originally Posted by Archer_of_FishI have been experimenting with all 3 of the Customs for a few years. I really like the CC most of all....but thats not the topic here.I was initially in love with the C5 (I made one back when it was not available from Duncan and was called the Custom Custom Custom by us pickup nerds) but my affair ended. The C5 has a really nice sound for chording and cool cleans. I find the lack of mids to make it a little thin for lead playing...even on a middy guitar. I was thinking that it may be passable in the neck....after all there are those that try JB's in the neck and love it.

Custom is a bigger overall pickup, loads of bass....nice even treble and enough mids to really work well.

Both are great, but like I said I like the warmth and super mids of the CC.

I agree. Of the three the Custom Custom is my favorite...followed by the Custom. I had the Custom 5 in my '95 Hamer Studio Custom for a while and liked it at first. Eventually it struck me as being a little bright and lacking in mids. Lew

I have dropped CC's in Les Pauls and they sound great. But I dont like the sound of guitars with to much high of low end.

I used a CC in my Brian Moore (mahogany body, maple top, bolt on Maple neck with a rosewood board) for years and it sounded amazing.

There are no powers that be in this sort of thing....its your tone that is the project. In the US there is a return period so you can try a pickup out (dont snip the leads uber short straight away) and give things a whirl.

Check with your retailer before buying with a return in mind.

You may also like the Blues Saraceno trembucker.....totally cool pickup that is overlooked far to often

I have owned all the mentioned pups. My take:

C5 - thinnest with very little mid content
CC - louder, more ballsy with more mids, but distorts easier
Custom - loudest quot;customquot; model, most mids, more headroom than CC

JB - warmer and louder than the custom models. Most mids and softer high end. This is the sound of 80's metal (JB into a JCM800 Marshall)
Pickups have headroom? I know what you mean but headroom is the wrong way of putting it.

Through my Matchless or Joyce none of the Customs offer more headroom. They just hit the amps differently. The CUstom is the hottest on the low end and drives every amp I have ever used harder than a CC.

I'd also say the JB's high end and accentuated upper mids are WAY more curtting and less 'warm' than any of the Customs.


Originally Posted by smauk43When I think about my Super Distortion, I obviously think Ace Frehley and other late 70's-early 80's guitarists. Which is what I was after in the first place. I take from your info, the Custom would be a little more quot;modernquot; than that. Maybe the C5 is closer related to the Super, or do I have that totally backwards.

The Custom is more Ace Frehley than the Custom 5 is. Full mids, bright top end, tight lows. Very punchy. The C5 is more open sounding with bigger bass, softer highs and less midrange punch.

Haven't tried a CC but I really should do.

Sounds like Custom or CC to me then. But I still hear people say the JB = hair metal and others hate it. I may have to get a JB and one of the Customs, I guess you can never experiment too much. But If I go to the troulble of replacing a Tone Zone, I DON'T want the Duncan version of the TZ. Which Duncan would be close to it, so I can stay away from it and just keep the TZ where I can swap it back if I want to?

Duncan doesnt have anything that sounds like a Tone Zone. The Duncan line is cleaner sounding. Tone Zones are muddy in my opinion...way overrated pickup.


Originally Posted by Archer_of_FishDuncan doesnt have anything that sounds like a Tone Zone. The Duncan line is cleaner sounding. Tone Zones are muddy in my opinion...way overrated pickup.I knew that was going to be your answer!


Originally Posted by Archer_of_FishPickups have headroom? I know what you mean but headroom is the wrong way of putting it.

Through my Matchless or Joyce none of the Customs offer more headroom. They just hit the amps differently. The CUstom is the hottest on the low end and drives every amp I have ever used harder than a CC.

I'd also say the JB's high end and accentuated upper mids are WAY more curtting and less 'warm' than any of the Customs.Yea, saying that the CC has less quot;headroomquot; than the Custom was figurative and not to be taken literally.

When I had the CC in the same guitar that had a Custom (and C5 and JB), the same amp was MUCH harder to get a clean sound out of.

The Alnico ll mag with the extra windings of the Custom series added up to a very distorted pickup for my taste.

The C5 on the other hand with the alnico V had no body and a shrill top end. The regular ol' Custom sounded the most balanced despite the ceramic magnet. I see why Seymour originally went with the ceramic mag in the Custom (the CC was added later and the C5 MUCH later).

In the same guitar my early 80's JB was noticabley more full bodied, with a thicker (more midrangey) and less trebly sound than any of the custom pickups.

Just my 2 cents! Peace.