Seymour Duncan SH-5? Anyone familiar with them?

wicked1 · Aug 23, 2011

Got one in a trade but I'm not familiar with them. Love the Duncans, just wondering if the "PAF on steroids" description is close to accurate.

Looks interesting but not in a hurry to put it in a guitar unless I hear something encouraging, ya know? :salude

Thanks!!

1fastdog · Aug 24, 2011

wicked1 said:
Got one in a trade but I'm not familiar with them. Love the Duncans, just wondering if the "PAF on steroids" description is close to accurate.

Looks interesting but not in a hurry to put it in a guitar unless I hear something encouraging, ya know? :salude

Thanks!!

You can put it in and decide if it works for your ear in a particular guitar. Ceramic magnet, I have never been really pleased with a ceramic mag pickup, but you own one and can give it a go and off it if necessary.

It might match up with a really warm guitar. For me, they sound a bit brash. YMMV

I wouldn't put one in a guitar with an ebony neck.

jpap · Aug 25, 2011

I have it on my Black LPC since 2007 and it was a "never look back" swap. However, the "PAF on steroids" promise is valid in a way that emphasizes upper mids and delivers instant mid 70's (hard) rock sound... Along with Ants and Seths, the best Duncan I've ever tried. Very good are also the A2 & A5 versions (SH-11 & 14, resp.). I have the SH-11 (Custom Custom, A2) on the bridge of my 336 and it blew away the OEM 57 classic...

wicked1 · Aug 26, 2011

Interesting. I may have to take the plunge and check it out. I don't hear much about them.

sickboy79 · Aug 26, 2011

Duncan Custom - I've got one in a Yamaha Pacifica USA 1. I dig it. It's very much a PAF on steriods. In this guitar - it's very warm and has a big beefy tone. Great for really pushing an amp hard. I'm a big fan! Can't speak for how it sounds in an LP though.

spidey · Aug 26, 2011

I think that's the pup schenker used until his signature pups were released.

59Vampire · Sep 25, 2011

Is this the custom 5? I hate that duncan assigns names and part numbers. I have a custom 5 whiuch is a custom custom with an alnico 5 in a mahog bodies music zoo san dimas charvel. I'm not a fan. Its too smooth in my opoinion

DonP · Oct 19, 2011

59Vampire said:
Is this the custom 5? I hate that duncan assigns names and part numbers. I have a custom 5 whiuch is a custom custom with an alnico 5 in a mahog bodies music zoo san dimas charvel. I'm not a fan. Its too smooth in my opoinion

No it's not the Custom 5. It's the Custom - the original Custom.

wicked1 · Oct 20, 2011

Well, I popped the pickup into my Ibanez RG550 with a '59 in the neck. It sounds pretty awesome and a big improvement over the stock pups.

I certainly wouldn't describe it as a "PAF on steroids" but it's quite good on its own merits. Great 2&4 position out of phase sounds. Thanks to all for chiming in.:salude

zombiwoof · Oct 20, 2011

You could also experiment with different Alnico mags in place of the ceramic if you wanted to check out the differences.

Al

Dave G · Nov 12, 2011

59Vampire said:
Is this the custom 5? I hate that duncan assigns names and part numbers. I have a custom 5 whiuch is a custom custom with an alnico 5 in a mahog bodies music zoo san dimas charvel. I'm not a fan. Its too smooth in my opoinion

The Custom 5 has an alnico 5 magnet.
The SH-5 is the same PU with a ceramic magnet.

I recently installed a Custom 5 in my Hamer Artist and it is definitely "smooth".
It's a dark sounding PU which makes it sound smooth.
It lacks the crunchy aggressiveness of the Duncan 59 BUT in split mode it just KILLS. Sounds like a great P90. That's the real secret of the Custom 5.

Seymour Duncan SH-5? Anyone familiar with them?

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