Question about Duncan 59/Custom5 Hybrid

[sveto]

Hi folks,

This is my first post here, and the 59 model is my first Duncan pickup (used DiMarzios in the past)

I'm really glad that i discovered the 59 model. Since i went to 10-46 (from 009s) i never was happy about my tone with the DiMarzio Breeds (too buzzy and hard, but dull, without sparkle)... I think the 59 is a superb solution for cleaning up my tone. My stylistic interests a very broad, but lying mainly in fusion/prog-rock territory.

Now, the 59 sounds clean, fat, juicy, powerful, glassy, woody, percussive, and that's absolutely wonderful for Holdsworth-like tones. My only little problem with the 59 is that pinch harmonics don't jump out as easy and are a little weak when i'm playing Vai stuff. And the second nitpick: on muted riffs the bass is a little weak (not enough thump?).

I figured that maybe a 59/Custom5 hybrid is the solution to the problem. A bit more mids and lows without getting buzzy/sizzly and loosing the power and the percussive attack.

1) Can anyone describe the tone of this hybrid in comparison to the 59 model? What would i gain after the modification? Will the tone suite my tone preferences?

2) What about the Blues Saraceno model?

3) Is a 59n a good match for the hybrid or for the Blues? I need similar tones in neck/bridge, just like a PafPro neck / PafPro bridge combination

OK. Sorry for the long post. Any help is very welcome!
Sveto

PS: My guitar is an alder bodied Ibanez JEM (Vai-Signature - was the only Ibanez model with ebony fretboard at the time) with an Ibanez Backstop tremsetter in the tremolo for better tone. I'm a strat guy.

PS2: I posted this in the Seymour Duncan Forum, but no one really helped me out, so i'm trying here.

[GuitarGuru]

I'm a Duncan user so I know what you want. The 59n is the best pickup for the neck that I've ever used. The George Lynch Scream'n Demon actually is like the 59 with more bite for the pinch harmonics and heavier stuff, but it's not a full out distortion pickup. I have a Custom 5, but haven't tried it yet. I wouldn't go with the Blues Sareceno's. I would recommend the Custom Custom for the VH sound. It's the best pickup.

[jaxadam]

I don't know about the 59/Custom 5 hybrid, but I do know about the JB/Custom 5 hybrid, and it rocks. I have one in a mahogany body guitar, and it is really amazing. Very unique and different. It's like the best of both worlds.

I have a feeling it will have a little more bite, and get those attributes you are looking for. 59 is a great neck pickup, and I have a feeling with the Custom 5 coil it will add a little more single coil "bite" to what you're looking for. I don't think you can go wrong.

Custom Custom is also a great pickup as well. Custom Custom in the bridge with a 59/Custom 5 hybrid would be a killer combo.

[David McCarroll]

I had a PRS Custom 22 with the '59 neck/ Custom Custom bridge combination - only comment was that the CC is a great sounding pickup but a lot hotter than the '59 - it was replaced by a Pearly Gates, which is a much better match output wise, ridiculously easy for all that harmonic stuff (after all it WAS designed for Billy Gibbons), but it is very bright in a PRS!

[sveto]

Thanks guys for the replies.

Maybe Frankfalbo can chime in and say some things about the hybrid? I'm pretty shure he knows it...
sv

[GuitarGuru]

David, you're right on the money. The Pearly Gates is way to bright for me.
Every guitar has a different type of tone. You have to just try them. The JB is a very popular pickup in a lot of stock mfr guitars like Schecter.

[sveto]

Anyone else any ideas?
Thanks,
sv

[David McCarroll]

Well, while I am in this thread - totally agree with you Guitarguru regarding the Pearly Gates, but what do I replace it with - I want a pretty much standard output (ie: Gibson PAF style) humbucker that's juicy and warm without being thick and muddy, but that still has the sort of "airiness" that you get with really nice low output humbuckers. Maybe a Gibson Burstbucker perhaps? I love the PRS - everything about it, but I bought it with the Duncans already installed.....

[ibanezking]

I've just put a pair of Duncan 59's in zebra in my new Gibson Les Paul Standard Double Cut in Amber

Just got back from a gig and they sounded GREAT!!!!

Max

[David McCarroll]

Originally Posted by ibanezking

I've just put a pair of Duncan 59's in zebra in my new Gibson Les Paul Standard Double Cut in Amber

Just got back from a gig and they sounded GREAT!!!!

Max

Cool! How do you find the balance between the output/tone of the neck pickup and the bridge pickup?

[sveto]

Thread hijack alert! LOL...
sv

[David McCarroll]

Apology - I guess I'm trying to justify my loathsome behavior by thinking that all this pickup talk contributes to the thread topic......

Oh, yeah, and I'll contribute right back to your first post SV, have you tried a Duncan JB in the bridge position - wonderful pickup - much more open than a Duncan Custom in sound with a sparkle in the top end and nice mids/low end.

[sveto]

As i have read in countless posts, it would not have enough bass for me. Hell, i even wish that the 59b had a bit more bass (i tried it in my guitar). So we're back to hybrid territory

sveto

[GuitarGuru]

Sveto, Think of it like the main difference is the magnet. Ceramic magnets give more of a boost/punch, but don't have as warm a sound as a regular Alnico magnet. The Alnico magnets come in 5 and 2 pole. Try the Tone Wizard on seymourduncan.com. I came up with this:

The Custom CustomTM is our SH-5 Duncan CustomTM humbucker with an Alnico II magnet for warm and smooth highs, more midrange, and a spongier bottom end than the SH-5. It's a good choice for players who need a traditional vintage tone with increased output. Comes with four-conductor hookup cable.

[sveto]

Custom5 has an Alnico5 magnet.

The Hybrid uses one 59b coil and one Custom5 coil, but the magnet can be exhanged to alnico2 or ceramic.

What i'm talking about here is a hybrid with the original alnico5 magnet (my favorite magnet type BTW).

sv