BKP Rebel Yell vs. SD Custom 5

[bulletproof_funk]

I noticed both the BKP Rebel Yell and SD Custom 5 bridge pickups have similar DC resistances of 14.4 kOhm and Alnico V magnets, but do they have a similar general tone? I don't know how well different manufacturer's tone charts directly compare to each other so I'm looking other opinions. Would anyone by chance have experience with both?

 

[EyesOfTheSouth]

They are nothing alike. I have both sitting in a parts drawer because I can't stand either.......for different reasons:

Rebel Yell - super tight, all high mids and highs, nonexistent lows (in my LP)

Custom 5 - loose overwhelming lows, totally scooped in mids, trashy sounding treble

 

[Erock]

They are nothing alike. I have both sitting in a parts drawer because I can't stand either.......for different reasons:

Rebel Yell - super tight, all high mids and highs, nonexistent lows (in my LP)

Custom 5 - loose overwhelming lows, totally scooped in mids, trashy sounding treble

Hehe, kind of agree with your assessment, although they are two of my favorite pickups, lol. They can be real hit or miss depending on the guitar, but when you get the right match, they can sound killer IMO. I've generally liked the RY in some bigger mahogany single cuts, where the guitar has a lot of depth already, and there isn't a big spike in the upper mid/treble already. I've liked the custom 5 in guitars that are the opposite of what I like the ry in, mainly alder super strats that can benefit from the extended depth. When they both hit the right combo, they do feel similar to me, with real nice controlled lowend, and strong grind in the upper mid, both on the brighter side. Of course, I've had examples of each that should have worked in the guitar, but still sounded like a can of ass.

 

[bulletproof_funk]

Thanks for the feedback. I know what you mean about the C5's hit or miss. It was a miss in my alder neck-through FR Horizon (nothing but mids, no high end sparkle), but well balanced in my bolt-on alder Ibanez with edge zero trem.

Erock, have you tried the RY in an alder super strat?

 

[Soulstealer]

Hated the Custom 5 in the bridge of my PRS McCarty. I agree about it being scooped and harsh trebly. My guitar was lost in the mix in a 2-guitar band.

Have the Rebel Yells in a poplar/maple Washburn Steve Stevens, and they kick ass. Plenty of low end, very balanced and punchy.

 

[Erock]

Erock, have you tried the RY in an alder super strat?

I have not, I've been a little worried about it being too bright, but I guess it's just really dependent on the actual slab of wood. I would have thought it would be bright in poplar/maple too, but I've been around long enough to know, sometimes what works is the opposite of what you would think.

 

[tripstan]

I agree with Erock on the RY. I have a set in a Mahogany Modern and the totally rip. Tried them in a alder strat w/a rosewwod neck and had too much treble and I didn't like the low end. Very bad match for that guitar.

 

[IntenseJim]

Rebel Yell in this Luxxtone superstrat sounds epic.

I dig them in one of my Les Pauls. Compressed cleans; punchy mids and upper mids, tight bass...great with high gain and sit amazingly well in the band mix when I was gigging.

 

[PBGas]

It's the player that is Epic! Doug is such an amazing talent!

 

[Kapo_Polenton]

Just go Dimarzio At-1 and call it a day. Nice balanced tight low end, not too gained out, clear, and a nice top which isn't too thin or glassy. Likes alder and will dig in nicely in mahogany LP's.

 

[SFW]

The Custom 5 is my least favorite Duncan pickup. The regular Custom is much better to my ears. The Rebel Yell is a different beast. It is very very clear and defined. It kinda throws you off at first because the clarity is kinda striking. Takes a bit to get use to. It has a nice grind. Once you get the height set up, it's a nice pickup.

 

[Erock]

The Custom 5 is my least favorite Duncan pickup. The regular Custom is much better to my ears. The Rebel Yell is a different beast. It is very very clear and defined. It kinda throws you off at first because the clarity is kinda striking. Takes a bit to get use to. It has a nice grind. Once you get the height set up, it's a nice pickup.

So you ended up liking the ry after all? Good to hear man! That was an odd thread, one of the few times I've heard someone so dissappointed, that sounded so good, lol.

 

[SFW]

Yeah. It took a while to get the height dialed in. It is more sensitive to height than any other pickup I've ever had. If you miss the sweet spot it sounds very harsh.

 

[Erock]

Yeah. It took a while to get the height dialed in. It is more sensitive to height than any other pickup I've ever had. If you miss the sweet spot it sounds very harsh.

Yup, wicked sensitive to height, more so than any pups I've owned. It's not just the ry either, all of his pups seem to have that sweet spot

 

[napalmdeath]

Duncan Custom has been my go-to. Balanced all the way around.

 

[JohnSykes]

Hated the Custom 5 in the bridge of my PRS McCarty. I agree about it being scooped and harsh trebly. My guitar was lost in the mix in a 2-guitar band.

Have the Rebel Yells in a poplar/maple Washburn Steve Stevens, and they kick ass. Plenty of low end, very balanced and punchy.

You know i had the same problem with the C5.

I really like to record with my Charvel (C5 in the bridge, alder/maple), but it gets lost in the mix when i play live with my band (2 guitars).

 

[thiswaythatway]

I had a LP with Rebel Yell pups, I thought it sounded really really good. Yes it had tons of mid but the low end was there. Not sure if the great tone was the guitar or pup.

 

[bulletproof_funk]

I saw this video a while back reviewing the Bogner Red pedal where the bridge pup used was the Rebel Yell, that's what got me wondering about it. I really like the range of tones he got from it in a neck-through, fixed bridge 25.5" scale guitar (seems many of the RY users have them in shorter scale LP guitars). Sounded very dynamic and open to me.

 

[WizardSouth-JP]

Thanks for the feedback. I know what you mean about the C5's hit or miss. It was a miss in my alder neck-through FR Horizon (nothing but mids, no high end sparkle), but well balanced in my bolt-on alder Ibanez with edge zero trem.

Erock, have you tried the RY in an alder super strat?

Tim at BKP suggested the Aftermath pickup in alder guitars - it's fantastic

 

[JohnSykes]

Bumping this.

Im thinking about going with some BKP RY in my Les Paul Custom (maple neck). Any thoughts? Good match?