Hi guys,
this is my first post on this forum. Hope to have an informative and great time here.
My problem is:
I play an Epiphone LP Custom with Distortion/Jazz combination. I was very happy with this combination for over one year.
I really like the transparent, chunky and rough rhythm sound of the Distortion. And I even like the clean sound, although a lot of people think it just makes a good sound if it's played distorted.
But since a few months I don't like the aggressive and harsh highs of the Distortion, if I play leads.
I love the lead sound of the Jazz. It's such a singing tone with smooth highs. And so i thought may it would be a good idea if i replace the Distortion by a pickup with Alnico 5 magnets. Of course the Custom 5 draw my attention. But I have some doubts, because the tone chart says it has a lot of bass and only few mids.
In fact, that my LP brings a lot of bass i think it might be muddy and not as transparent and great at rhythm like the Distortion.
So what do you guys think, could be a solution of my problem?
Thanks a lot for your answers!
Greetings,
Maverick
I never tried a JB in a Les Paul but it SUCKED in an SG. BTW swapping the Distortion ceramic magnet to an Alnico 5 turns it into a JB.
Maybe try adjsuting your amp to make the Distortion work better as a lead pickup? I can easily get a singing lead tone with my Distortion pickup when I use a TS-808/909 type of overdrive pedal (Tubescreamer.)
The JB is known for a nice lead tone, but a lot of people don't like it for rhythm. But... a lot of other people do like it for rhythm.
If you can't get the Distortion to work, I'd say try a Custom Custom. Really smooth, sweet tone. But it's rhythm tone might be too sweet, depending on the style of music you play. You might have to make some compromises!
If you like the balls of the Distortion and it's clarity - LEAVE IT ALONE!
The C5 will be very open and much sweeter, NOT RUDE. The lacking mids will make the pickup seem a lot cleaner.
The Custom is like a DD pulled backa bit. I like it a lot more in a LP than the DD.
In my band I play symphonic metal and the Distortion is really awesome for that, no doubt! At home I also play classical and bluesy things like AC/DC, Led Zepplin, Eagles...
In the foreseeable future I want to buy a second guitar which is more predestinated to the metal stuff. So maybe it will be good if I make my LP sound a little bit more quot;classicquot;. If I really wanna rock with it I think I can get the distortion from my Engl Screamer, so i dont need an enormous output from the pickup.
I also considered the Custom Custom but as you said I thought maybe it will be too sweet. I didn't tried many SD pickups, so I always stick to the tone chart. I don't know how meanful it is, but it says that the Custom has a spongy bottom end. But the pickup should sound punchy and tight on the low end. And the description of the Custom 5 fits perfect to my expectations.
I know that pickups make nuances but I'm looking for the nuances in my sound. With pickups it's often a trial amp; error and maybe I'll just try it. But i wanted to know if somebody has experiences with a C5 in a LP.
In the next few weeks I'm going to buy an equalizer, because my Screamer hast just one equalization for all channels. Primarily I want it to have an EQ for each channel but maybe I can resolve my problem with the aggressive highs.
@Benjy:
That sounds good.
Can you describe the differences a little bit more detailed?
if the DD is too harsh, go for the JB. its very similar to the distortion, but a bit smoother and more quot;singingquot;, especially on the lead end
I think the change from a DD to a C5 is very steep. The C5 only works in guitars which push everything thru the mids. I would support a JB. The JB cuts great in a heavy bandmix.
I would honestly suggest swapping the Duncan Distortion's thick ceramic magnet for the normal sized ceramic from say a Duncan Custom. It's like a pickup that splits the difference between a JB and a Duncan Distortion. I think you would be pleased and sounds like it would be what you are looking for.
Originally Posted by hamerfanI think the change from a DD to a C5 is very steep. The C5 only works in guitars which push everything thru the mids. I would support a JB. The JB cuts great in a heavy bandmix.
Well the step can be steep, if it just sounds like i want it to sound.
I don't have a problem to cut through the bandmix, my problem are the harsh and aggressive highs from the DD. I want the highs more smooth.
If the tone goes more classic it's no problem because considered that it would be good if my LP sounds more classic.
I don't know if it's more of a illusion but i think a pickup with an A5 magnet would sound smoother in the highs and would make a good combination with the Jazz in the neck.
I think i will choose between the JB and the C5 but i'm still very indecisive.
Can someone describe the differences between the JB and the C5???
Would be very helpful!
if you love everything apart from the highs, i personally would use an EQ pedal first in the chain... you might get the new pickup, and miss something the DD had!
tom
I had a JB, a Custom and a C5 in the same guitar. I would say the C5 has less mids (esp. high mids) and less highs. The C5 has a very low tone feeling and doesn't cut through the mix. I graded up to a C8 by swapping out the A5 to A8 magnet. The former C5 came to life with the A8: more highs more harmonics more mids, but not so plenty a the ceramic Custom.
If i should bring it in row regarding chunky tone: C5,59,JB,C8,Custom,DD
Well, that does not accord my expectations that much...
First, I try it with an EQ. If it does not help, I think i will go for the JB.
Thanks for your help!
Try one of these:
Maybe with a smaller cap if the stock cap takes off too much of the top end.
Originally Posted by chillTry one of these:
Maybe with a smaller cap if the stock cap takes off too much of the top end.
this is my first post on this forum. Hope to have an informative and great time here.
My problem is:
I play an Epiphone LP Custom with Distortion/Jazz combination. I was very happy with this combination for over one year.
I really like the transparent, chunky and rough rhythm sound of the Distortion. And I even like the clean sound, although a lot of people think it just makes a good sound if it's played distorted.
But since a few months I don't like the aggressive and harsh highs of the Distortion, if I play leads.
I love the lead sound of the Jazz. It's such a singing tone with smooth highs. And so i thought may it would be a good idea if i replace the Distortion by a pickup with Alnico 5 magnets. Of course the Custom 5 draw my attention. But I have some doubts, because the tone chart says it has a lot of bass and only few mids.
In fact, that my LP brings a lot of bass i think it might be muddy and not as transparent and great at rhythm like the Distortion.
So what do you guys think, could be a solution of my problem?
Thanks a lot for your answers!
Greetings,
Maverick
I never tried a JB in a Les Paul but it SUCKED in an SG. BTW swapping the Distortion ceramic magnet to an Alnico 5 turns it into a JB.
Maybe try adjsuting your amp to make the Distortion work better as a lead pickup? I can easily get a singing lead tone with my Distortion pickup when I use a TS-808/909 type of overdrive pedal (Tubescreamer.)
The JB is known for a nice lead tone, but a lot of people don't like it for rhythm. But... a lot of other people do like it for rhythm.
If you can't get the Distortion to work, I'd say try a Custom Custom. Really smooth, sweet tone. But it's rhythm tone might be too sweet, depending on the style of music you play. You might have to make some compromises!
If you like the balls of the Distortion and it's clarity - LEAVE IT ALONE!
The C5 will be very open and much sweeter, NOT RUDE. The lacking mids will make the pickup seem a lot cleaner.
The Custom is like a DD pulled backa bit. I like it a lot more in a LP than the DD.
In my band I play symphonic metal and the Distortion is really awesome for that, no doubt! At home I also play classical and bluesy things like AC/DC, Led Zepplin, Eagles...
In the foreseeable future I want to buy a second guitar which is more predestinated to the metal stuff. So maybe it will be good if I make my LP sound a little bit more quot;classicquot;. If I really wanna rock with it I think I can get the distortion from my Engl Screamer, so i dont need an enormous output from the pickup.
I also considered the Custom Custom but as you said I thought maybe it will be too sweet. I didn't tried many SD pickups, so I always stick to the tone chart. I don't know how meanful it is, but it says that the Custom has a spongy bottom end. But the pickup should sound punchy and tight on the low end. And the description of the Custom 5 fits perfect to my expectations.
I know that pickups make nuances but I'm looking for the nuances in my sound. With pickups it's often a trial amp; error and maybe I'll just try it. But i wanted to know if somebody has experiences with a C5 in a LP.
In the next few weeks I'm going to buy an equalizer, because my Screamer hast just one equalization for all channels. Primarily I want it to have an EQ for each channel but maybe I can resolve my problem with the aggressive highs.
@Benjy:
That sounds good.
Can you describe the differences a little bit more detailed?
if the DD is too harsh, go for the JB. its very similar to the distortion, but a bit smoother and more quot;singingquot;, especially on the lead end
I think the change from a DD to a C5 is very steep. The C5 only works in guitars which push everything thru the mids. I would support a JB. The JB cuts great in a heavy bandmix.
I would honestly suggest swapping the Duncan Distortion's thick ceramic magnet for the normal sized ceramic from say a Duncan Custom. It's like a pickup that splits the difference between a JB and a Duncan Distortion. I think you would be pleased and sounds like it would be what you are looking for.
Originally Posted by hamerfanI think the change from a DD to a C5 is very steep. The C5 only works in guitars which push everything thru the mids. I would support a JB. The JB cuts great in a heavy bandmix.
Well the step can be steep, if it just sounds like i want it to sound.
I don't have a problem to cut through the bandmix, my problem are the harsh and aggressive highs from the DD. I want the highs more smooth.
If the tone goes more classic it's no problem because considered that it would be good if my LP sounds more classic.
I don't know if it's more of a illusion but i think a pickup with an A5 magnet would sound smoother in the highs and would make a good combination with the Jazz in the neck.
I think i will choose between the JB and the C5 but i'm still very indecisive.
Can someone describe the differences between the JB and the C5???
Would be very helpful!
if you love everything apart from the highs, i personally would use an EQ pedal first in the chain... you might get the new pickup, and miss something the DD had!
tom
I had a JB, a Custom and a C5 in the same guitar. I would say the C5 has less mids (esp. high mids) and less highs. The C5 has a very low tone feeling and doesn't cut through the mix. I graded up to a C8 by swapping out the A5 to A8 magnet. The former C5 came to life with the A8: more highs more harmonics more mids, but not so plenty a the ceramic Custom.
If i should bring it in row regarding chunky tone: C5,59,JB,C8,Custom,DD
Well, that does not accord my expectations that much...
First, I try it with an EQ. If it does not help, I think i will go for the JB.
Thanks for your help!
Try one of these:
Maybe with a smaller cap if the stock cap takes off too much of the top end.
Originally Posted by chillTry one of these:
Maybe with a smaller cap if the stock cap takes off too much of the top end.
