Pickup - Looking at the Duncan RTM or Custom

[Cap217]

I want to swap the pickup in my friedman cali that alder/rosewood. I have a cali thats ash/maple and it sound good with the stock pickup (I might want something hotter) but my alder body sounds loose in the low end and muddy. Its great for super low gain stuff but I am looking for the 80s into 90s metal and shred sounds (even hardcore if possible) I know this is hard because every guitar is different but I am considering the JB Antiquities or the RTM bridge.

It seems that the RTM might work for me. Soften the low end, tighten it up, and make the response more articulate. But A high gain humbucker with A2 seems strange to me and thats the roadblock currently.

I like the JB but in my other guitars they can get overwhelming and mushy. I know the highs are what people dont like but its almost too much of everything.

JB Antiquities may soften the high end.

I have a full shred in my kramer and I really like it. Tight and aggressive but I hate the hex poles. That isnt something Id pick for this guitar.

I found the custom and custom custom is the same with A2 vs A5. The custom is interesting and was at the top of the list. It still might be the choice.

PB I have a guitar being built with the PB so I am going to wait on that.

 

[JackBootedThug]

for alder bodies and maple necks I love the custom 5. I just installed a set of scottosan's tonenerd pups and they are pretty killer. I would give him a shout.

 

[Racerxrated]

I have an RTM, and the Custom is my fav Duncan stock pup. I also have a 1983 JBJ. My guitars are 2 Charvel ProMods from 08/09 and an 84 Charvel with Rosewood/Alder. The RTM is very nice and approaches an MCP in articulation. Highs are smooth not abrasive; lows are nice/tight and the mids are not overwhelming. I’ve had Customs in both pro mods as well and they seemed to have a little too much in the low end for me; but not a deal breaker. Softer highs/mids than the RTM. The JBJ I’ve had in the 84, as well as the RTM and the RTM just sounded better. But this JB is unlike any I’ve ever had; I would consider it dark compared to any other JB. Mids are strong, lows are not overwhelming and the highs are very tame vs a stock JB.
I don’t think you can go wrong with either a Custom or an RTM in your Cali but I’d go with the RTM.
Btw both the RTM and JBJ are available if you’re interested.

 

[napalmdeath]

I want to swap the pickup in my friedman cali that alder/rosewood. I have a cali thats ash/maple and it sound good with the stock pickup (I might want something hotter) but my alder body sounds loose in the low end and muddy. Its great for super low gain stuff but I am looking for the 80s into 90s metal and shred sounds (even hardcore if possible) I know this is hard because every guitar is different but I am considering the JB Antiquities or the RTM bridge.

It seems that the RTM might work for me. Soften the low end, tighten it up, and make the response more articulate. But A high gain humbucker with A2 seems strange to me and thats the roadblock currently.

I like the JB but in my other guitars they can get overwhelming and mushy. I know the highs are what people dont like but its almost too much of everything.

JB Antiquities may soften the high end.

I have a full shred in my kramer and I really like it. Tight and aggressive but I hate the hex poles. That isnt something Id pick for this guitar.

I found the custom and custom custom is the same with A2 vs A5. The custom is interesting and was at the top of the list. It still might be the choice.

PB I have a guitar being built with the PB so I am going to wait on that.

Custom works well in everything. Can't go wrong.

 

[Cap217]

I have an RTM, and the Custom is my fav Duncan stock pup. I also have a 1983 JBJ. My guitars are 2 Charvel ProMods from 08/09 and an 84 Charvel with Rosewood/Alder. The RTM is very nice and approaches an MCP in articulation. Highs are smooth not abrasive; lows are nice/tight and the mids are not overwhelming. I’ve had Customs in both pro mods as well and they seemed to have a little too much in the low end for me; but not a deal breaker. Softer highs/mids than the RTM. The JBJ I’ve had in the 84, as well as the RTM and the RTM just sounded better. But this JB is unlike any I’ve ever had; I would consider it dark compared to any other JB. Mids are strong, lows are not overwhelming and the highs are very tame vs a stock JB.
I don’t think you can go wrong with either a Custom or an RTM in your Cali but I’d go with the RTM.
Btw both the RTM and JBJ are available if you’re interested.

So I should get over the A2 isnt hot enough or aggressive enough thing? Any metal guitar always had A5 and going to a softer magnet seems odd.

 

[Cap217]

Custom works well in everything. Can't go wrong.

Yea, the other thing is I want NO LOGO and its hard to find a custom no logo.

 

[napalmdeath]

Yea, the other thing is I want NO LOGO and its hard to find a custom no logo.

Get a '59.

 

[scottosan]

The original JBs and the Antiquities used a rough cast A5, whereas they later moved to a smooth A5 magnet. The older ones have a less harsh high end. The RTM and JB look similar on paper except the magnet (A2) but as other have stated, more articulate and not as bunched up in the mids to my ears. That said, A2’s have a distinct bouncy thick lowend that people either love or hate. If you’re adventurous, you can try swapping magnets in your existing pickups.

 

[_actual time_]

IMO you might consider tweaking the pickup height and/or the height of the screw pole pieces (if your pickup has those) first. For me, small adjustments in pickup height, like just 1/4 turn on the mounting screw, can make a difference. A trick I read on the Duncan blog for clearing up a pickup's low end a bit is lowering the bass side of the pickup some, then raising the bass three pole screws back up to the height that they were before the pickup was lowered.

I've also had good results making Duncans brighter and crunchier by changing the stock screw pole pieces, which are 3/4" long, to ones that are 1/2" long. But I was aiming to tweak or EQ the existing tone a bit, not change it completely. YMMV.

 

[Cap217]

IMO you might consider tweaking the pickup height and/or the height of the screw pole pieces (if your pickup has those) first. For me, small adjustments in pickup height, like just 1/4 turn on the mounting screw, can make a difference. A trick I read on the Duncan blog for clearing up a pickup's low end a bit is lowering the bass side of the pickup some, then raising the bass three pole screws back up to the height that they were before the pickup was lowered.

I've also had good results making Duncans brighter and crunchier by changing the stock screw pole pieces, which are 3/4" long, to ones that are 1/2" long. But I was aiming to tweak or EQ the existing tone a bit, not change it completely. YMMV.

Im looking at a full shred and swapping the hex to pole on a covered one so I can use it on a thick sounding les paul.


But back to pole pieces. 1/2" vs 3/4". Duncan told me that I would need 1/2" for the full shred. Why is that and how do you know if its 1/2 or 3/4 without taking it out? Do pickup manufactures use different lengths like they use different magnets to alter sound or is there a standard size?

 

[_actual time_]

Im looking at a full shred and swapping the hex to pole on a covered one so I can use it on a thick sounding les paul.

But back to pole pieces. 1/2" vs 3/4". Duncan told me that I would need 1/2" for the full shred. Why is that and how do you know if its 1/2 or 3/4 without taking it out? Do pickup manufactures use different lengths like they use different magnets to alter sound or is there a standard size?

I'm familiar enough with Duncans going back 30 years that I've seen many examples of what they use. Their flat-head screw poles, all the ones I've seen are 3/4", and their hex poles are usually 1/2". I bet they told you 1/2" poles for the Full Shred because that's the length of the stock hex poles in the Full Shred and they're recommending that you use new poles that are the same length so that the tone stays as similar as possible.

(BTW the only place I found that sells flat-head poles in 1/2" length was Mojotone.)

Yes, the different lengths change the area of the magnetic field and alter the sound a bit. I don't know specifics, but the Duncan blog and Duncan forums probably have plenty.

Here's that Duncan blog article: https://www.seymourduncan.com/blog/tips-and-tricks/tinkering-with-pickups-101

DiMarzio flat-head screw poles, all the ones I've seen were 1/2". So it seems there's not a standard size.

 

[Cap217]

I'm familiar enough with Duncans going back 30 years that I've seen many examples of what they use. Their flat-head screw poles, all the ones I've seen are 3/4", and their hex poles are usually 1/2". I bet they told you 1/2" poles for the Full Shred because that's the length of the stock hex poles in the Full Shred and they're recommending that you use new poles that are the same length so that the tone stays as similar as possible.

(BTW the only place I found that sells flat-head poles in 1/2" length was Mojotone.)

Yes, the different lengths change the area of the magnetic field and alter the sound a bit. I don't know specifics, but the Duncan blog and Duncan forums probably have plenty.

Here's that Duncan blog article: https://www.seymourduncan.com/blog/tips-and-tricks/tinkering-with-pickups-101

DiMarzio flat-head screw poles, all the ones I've seen were 1/2". So it seems there's not a standard size.

Interesting. I wonder what 3/4 to a full shred would do?

 

[harddriver]

Yea, the other thing is I want NO LOGO and its hard to find a custom no logo.

Some toothpaste and a cloth plus elbow grease will remove any Seymour Ducan logo.

 

[Cap217]

Some toothpaste and a cloth plus elbow grease will remove any Seymour Ducan logo.

I tried that along with a bunch of other stuff. I got most off but it’s still there. I also messed up the cover a little aging it which was ok because the guitar is aged.

 

[_actual time_]

Interesting. I wonder what 3/4 to a full shred would do?

You might ask on the Duncan forums. There's tons of hardcore pickup tweaker folks there, who I bet would have a good guess or might've even already tried it.

 

[Subsonic73]

So I should get over the A2 isnt hot enough or aggressive enough thing? Any metal guitar always had A5 and going to a softer magnet seems odd.

There's plenty of output with the RTM, I personally think it's plenty hot enough for metal. The A2 just gives it a bit of a sweeter and less sharp top-end and essentially a more balanced sounding version of a JB (to my ears at least). Whether that's going to jibe with your own ear and feel right is tough to say until you're playing it unfortunately. But yes, I think it's more than suitable for metal playing in most cases.
Otherwise, I think the SH-5 Custom is a great idea too. It sounds excellent in Alder bodies when I've used it and it should tighten up that bottom end for you.

 

[Cap217]

Just to update because I hate threads that never have an ending....


I ordered a set of duncan full shred, RTM bridge, and a vintage duncan JB to try. I need to really sit down with that guitar and listen to what I like and dont like then decide what to do.

full shred if its too boomy and needs to be tight and aggressive. Also have the neck for this.

jb if I need more output but I assume this will make that guitar muddy

rtm as an in between. Little looser but not as loose as the jb but still be aggressive.


I think the full shreds will be the choice but Im not sure yet.

 

[Exo-metal]

The original JBs and the Antiquities used a rough cast A5, whereas they later moved to a smooth A5 magnet. The older ones have a less harsh high end. The RTM and JB look similar on paper except the magnet (A2) but as other have stated, more articulate and not as bunched up in the mids to my ears. That said, A2’s have a distinct bouncy thick lowend that people either love or hate. If you’re adventurous, you can try swapping magnets in your existing pickups.

Love my old JBs and always wanted to try a custom custom but that low end bounce was perfectly described by your post.

 

[romanianreaper]

I have an RTM in my USA Demartini Charvel "Frenchie". I don't like it as much as the one I had in my old Demartini "Blood and Skulls". Sounds different to me for some reason. I think rather have a Custom.