Who's tried both a Duncan 59 and 59/Custom Hybrid?

[James Lugo]

Curious. Interested in bridge position. I am assembling up a 2nd guitar for my cover band and I bought a full set of 59s to go in an Epi Les Paul. We do lots of 80's new wave/dance, 70's disco and funk, some hard rock and current Top 40. So I am setting them both up so they can also be coil tapped. Kind of a Les Paul or Tele when tapped. Cross over from rock to funk on the fly. My question is does anyone know the tone difference? I can't find a straight up comparison anywhere.

 

[Dave K]

Have both of them- the 59 is very scooped,lots of low end and highs,lower output, the hybrid has a lot more mids,less lows.
The hybrid walks a nice line between vintage tone and moderate ouput, and if you intend to split coils,turn off the lower output screw coil and use the 7k slug coil for single coil tones.

 

[James Lugo]

Went for the 59, really nice. I have a Custom in my other Epi Paul and the distance between the guitars is pretty drastic, the 59 is cleaner and brighter and sweetly articulate, where the Custom is weightier, darker, more chug chug. As I went back and forth between them last night I started to like the thing the 59 had but wanted more booty out of it. So today I went and grabbed a 59/Custom Hybrid. Wow that is the shit. What a great pickup for my playing and what I am doing musically right now. One rail of 59 and one rail of Custom, 11.5 output, better for me then the PAF thing and honestly it sounds better and more organic then the Custom. More stringy sounding, reminds me a little of the Motor City 2nd Degree Blackbelt. I am thinking of pulling the Custom out of my other Epi and making them more carbon copy, I think it will work better for the band. Anyway, shot some video of the bringing back to life of this guitar and pickup selection. The first 2/3 of the video is the fixing and cleaning up of the guitar, the back end is all playing. I will post it tonight when it's done.

 

[James Lugo]

Here are some clips from this week of guitar restoration and pickup swapping. One more video to come, we are swapping out the Custom in the flame top for a 59/Custom Hybrid.

Video #1 has the restoration

Video #2 is the playing and clips

 

[MrDowntown]

Can't wait to See these vids....at work now, boss wouldn't dig them too much, I'm sure.

Missed your show at WOB the other week. Got home, the day I asked you where you were playing next, and my bride informed me she had quit her job....that day. So we regroup....

Will have to make it to the next, perhaps if this freaking snow and ice ever-the-hell go away.

 

[War Admiral]

Here are some clips from this week of guitar restoration and pickup swapping. One more video to come, we are swapping out the Custom in the flame top for a 59/Custom Hybrid.

Video #1 has the restoration

Video #2 is the playing and clips

That Hybrid has the right balance man...whats the sweetspot you got it set at James?

 

[James Lugo]

Here are some clips from this week of guitar restoration and pickup swapping. One more video to come, we are swapping out the Custom in the flame top for a 59/Custom Hybrid.

Video #1 has the restoration

Video #2 is the playing and clips

That Hybrid has the right balance man...whats the sweetspot you got it set at James?

The amp? Pres 2, Bass 7, Mid 4, Treb 5, Master 2.5, Gain 4

 

[War Admiral]

No...the pickup

 

[James Lugo]

No...the pickup

Maybe a half inch off the strings, pretty standard setup.

 

[fuzzyguitars]

59 custom is a lot brighter

 

[James Lugo]

Brighter then the Custom but not as bright as the 59. I'm playing right now, learning songs for the band. Learning Get Lucky by Daft Punk and the Hybrid just slays the funky swankly greasy funk. The Custom is to sluggish, does't have the snap.

 

[Kapo_Polenton]

custom is horrible.. big fat ass and no definition. Not even in a maple neck strat for me... 59 too bright, this sounds just right. Dimarzio 36 anniversarie will also kick you in the nuts though i find it a tad too bitey up top for leads on certain guitars.

 

[Junk Yard Dog]

I have the Custom in a HH Tele, Custom8 (Custom with Alnico 8 mag) in a HSS Strat, and a 59/Custom8 (59/Custom with A8 mag) in a BC Rich Mockingbird. Each sound great in each guitar. The Custom has the snarlier mids and highs, with a big bottom. The Custom8 made my Custom5 WAY better with more mids and chunk, but still PAFish.

The 59/Custom I liked it on it's own, but suits my hard rock needs better with the A8 magnet. The mids are slightly more pronounced than the reguar 59/Custom, the highs are less harsh and strong, the bass is stronger, so its a really well balanced pickup.

Never played the 59. Hope that helps.

 

[James Lugo]

custom is horrible.. big fat ass and no definition. Not even in a maple neck strat for me... 59 too bright, this sounds just right. Dimarzio 36 anniversarie will also kick you in the nuts though i find it a tad too bitey up top for leads on certain guitars.

Yup. Played them tonight. The 59/Custom Hybrid is pretty incredible.

 

[James Lugo]

Video #3, flame top gets a new pickup:

 

[Kelly]

Pretty cool. I picked up a Goldtop Agile (made in the same factory as Epiphone) a couple months ago. It's a great guitar. It needs a little "umph" in the bridge, though. I might have to check this pickup out.

 

[Bxlxaxkxe]

You've got me interested too James. How does it compare to the Detroiter? Feel like they'd be similar.

 

[MrDowntown]

Man that green guitar is bitchin looking. Even with the black pups, Love the white rings. And it sounds awesome. One can tell you bond more quickly with it when playing.

 

[Chubtone]

Yes, the 59/Custom Hybrid does rule. I love it in a superstrat. I have them in an alder body and in a northern ash body. Both fantastic.

 

[James Lugo]

Man that green guitar is bitchin looking. Even with the black pups, Love the white rings. And it sounds awesome. One can tell you bond more quickly with it when playing.

Yeah been playing all day. Switched out the neck in the Flame Top for a 59, so now they are identical. The Flame is a little heavier sounding but doesn't have the clarity and snap of the Greeny. Both are great but I like playing the Greeny better.