Alternative 8 - Am I doing it wrong?

[vera_gemini]

As the title says, is it me or..?

I recently bought a SH-15 as a replacement for the stock pickups in my Jackson JS32.
Since I had another Jackson with a JB (which I love!) in the bridge, I wanted something similar, but "different".
Based on the fantastic reviews and feedback on the interwebs I felt confident that the Alt8 would be an excellent choice.

However, so far I'm less than impressed!
I find that, if setup to "default" specs (around 3/32 or 2.4mm), the Alt8 is:

• Insanely hot
• Fizzy
• Sterile
• Extremely compressed

If lowered to around 4-5mm I can achieve reasonable dynamics but the overall tone is, well, unspectacular...

I'm running my guitar into BIAS FX2 through a MOTU m2 interface.
Using the same settings and amp modelling as with the JB I can get the Alt8 to sound "OK" at best...

So, did I get the wrong pickup or is it something else, like right pickup/wrong guitar?

//Vera

[Mr. B]

You may not be doing anything wrong. That is basically how I would describe every Alnico 8 based pickup I have tried. I never have understood why anyone likes them unless they are into the tones you described.

[Demanic]

You seem to have gone from one extreme to the other when adjusting the height. Before you give up, try somewhere in the middle. The Alternative 8 is very sensitive to height adjustment.

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[SweetClyde99]

I like the Custom 8 much better than the Alt 8. The alt 8 is higher output with more high end fizz. I found the Custom 8 much smoother, more even, and more organic. Rolling down the volume and tone knobs with the Alt 8 does help though.

[Securb]

I am trying to get my head around how something can be extremely compressed and fizzy. I get it but I don't get it.

[vera_gemini]

I am trying to get my head around how something can be extremely compressed and fizzy. I get it but I don't get it.

Fizzy might not be the right word to describe it . (Non native english speaker...)
But it kind of reminds me of when I ran my Yamaha John Patitucci Signature bass(*) through distortion or an overdriven vintage amp.
Instead of the warm, slightly broken up sound I got from my P-bass all I got was Bzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz!

(*) Yes, I'm a bassist...


//Vera

[Jack_TriPpEr]

I bought a new guitar recently and found the pickups were - as you describe - extremely hot and fizzy. And I could not dial the fizziness out despite adjusting pickup height. I did some research on the stock pickups and found that they featured Alnico 8 magnets. They were Schecter Apocalypse Series II pickups. Once I replaced them w Alnico 5 pups, the fizziness resolved.

[Securb]

Seeing my tone is a high-gain tone that sounds like a can full of bees, the Alt-8 sounds perfect to me.

[Clint 55]

Try a more musical mag.

[vera_gemini]

Try a more musical mag.

And what would that be?
A Mag swap to an A5?

//Vera

[Clint 55]

You have several options. Could choose between A2,3,5,6 or uoa5.

I would recommend either A5 for a standard swap or A3 to drop the heat since it's the lowest power mag and maybe sweeten it up a tad.

[EmiAba]

I bought a new guitar recently and found the pickups were - as you describe - extremely hot and fizzy. And I could not dial the fizziness out despite adjusting pickup height. I did some research on the stock pickups and found that they featured Alnico 8 magnets. They were Schecter Apocalypse Series II pickups. Once I replaced them w Alnico 5 pups, the fizziness resolved.

Do the apocalypse pickups have alnico 5 mag and ceramic 8 flanker? Am I wrong?

[Jack_TriPpEr]

Do the apocalypse pickups have alnico 5 mag and ceramic 8 flanker? Am I wrong?

You are correct. And I would say the fact that the fizziness of Alt 8 still dominated despite only only being flankers, says a lot.

[Demanic]

You are correct. And I would say the fact that the fizziness of Alt 8 still dominated despite only only being flankers, says a lot.

Uh, the flanking magnets are C8, not A8.
Alnico magnets don't usually sound fizzy.

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[EmiAba]

The ceramic 8 is not an alnico 8. The ceramic mags have different grades like alnico mags but they are still ceramic. The apocalypse pickups are very different from the Alt 8 to my ear but I agree with you when you say that the former have that annoying fizziness. I found them too hot, compressed and dull. Don't like the Alt 8 as well, but not for the mags in it (the custom 8 is one of my favorite pickup of all the time). I find it too compressed for my tastes.