A3 or A5 brighter?
- Thread starter dazco
- Start date
Re: A3 or A5 brighter?
I agree with all that except the more mid range. a3 is bright and weaker compared to a5 which I find to have a sharper treble and bigger bolder bass with more output. I don't hear more mids with the a5. the treble on the a3 is a little softer on the very top than a5
I agree with all that except the more mid range. a3 is bright and weaker compared to a5 which I find to have a sharper treble and bigger bolder bass with more output. I don't hear more mids with the a5. the treble on the a3 is a little softer on the very top than a5
idsnowdog
Imperator of Indignation
Re: A3 or A5 brighter?
I really like A3's for neck and middle positions but not bridge. If you're going to use A3's in the bridge you need to be in a band where you have a lot space in the mix and where you can showcase that magnets touch sensitivity. Something like Dire Straits or U2. In a loud rock setting it could get lost because it's frequency range is narrower and its power is less than most other magnets.
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blueman335
Mojo's Minions
Re: A3 or A5 brighter?
A5's are brighter, with a sharp high end and scooped mids, which adds to the effect. A3's are bright but in a different way. They have a rounded high end and a lot of mids, so they're bright and fat at the same time. For raw treble, A5's have the most. They'll cut thru better because of it.
A5's are brighter, with a sharp high end and scooped mids, which adds to the effect. A3's are bright but in a different way. They have a rounded high end and a lot of mids, so they're bright and fat at the same time. For raw treble, A5's have the most. They'll cut thru better because of it.
DreX
New member
Re: A3 or A5 brighter?
How A5 poles will differ from an A3 depends on the coil that's around it. If it's a hotter coil, it can sound even darker, but if it's a brighter coil, it can sound brighter.
The reason is because the weaker A3 magnet till not induct as much as the more powerful A5. The resonant peak will be of a lower amplitude, no matter where it happens to be, and hence a flatter (but not flat) response. Since the lower amplitude peak is putting less emphasis on any one frequency, it's instead putting more emphasis on all the surrounding frequencies instead, so if that peak resonance is high, it seems that much brighter by virtue of the broader spread, but if the peak is in the mids, the mids seem that much more prominent for the same reason.
How A5 poles will differ from an A3 depends on the coil that's around it. If it's a hotter coil, it can sound even darker, but if it's a brighter coil, it can sound brighter.
The reason is because the weaker A3 magnet till not induct as much as the more powerful A5. The resonant peak will be of a lower amplitude, no matter where it happens to be, and hence a flatter (but not flat) response. Since the lower amplitude peak is putting less emphasis on any one frequency, it's instead putting more emphasis on all the surrounding frequencies instead, so if that peak resonance is high, it seems that much brighter by virtue of the broader spread, but if the peak is in the mids, the mids seem that much more prominent for the same reason.
Re: A3 or A5 brighter?
Thats exactly what i figured. Now i just have to decide whether i want to chance a A5 which may be too bright and thin sounding solo even if it's better in a mix. Anyone know of a tele bridge pup with A5 but leans a bit towards the A3 tone. My A3 tonerider is almost there, but it just lacks that very high top end, like it's chopped off at 4k or something. The extra chimy region i think would give me just what i want, but i'd like a pickup that only varies from what i have now in that way. Same tone as my tonerider A3 hot classic, but with a extended high end. I'd hate to have to resort to a tone thats tinny when solo so it'll sound good in a mix. I'd live with what i have now before i'd want that. What i have now works for both, tho just not as cutting in a mix as i'd like due to that chopped off top.
Thats exactly what i figured. Now i just have to decide whether i want to chance a A5 which may be too bright and thin sounding solo even if it's better in a mix. Anyone know of a tele bridge pup with A5 but leans a bit towards the A3 tone. My A3 tonerider is almost there, but it just lacks that very high top end, like it's chopped off at 4k or something. The extra chimy region i think would give me just what i want, but i'd like a pickup that only varies from what i have now in that way. Same tone as my tonerider A3 hot classic, but with a extended high end. I'd hate to have to resort to a tone thats tinny when solo so it'll sound good in a mix. I'd live with what i have now before i'd want that. What i have now works for both, tho just not as cutting in a mix as i'd like due to that chopped off top.
blueman335
Mojo's Minions
Re: A3 or A5 brighter?
Everything being equal, you'll lose some mids going to an A5. But, an A5 PU can be wound to sound fuller, an example being Rio Grande BBQ HB's.
Everything being equal, you'll lose some mids going to an A5. But, an A5 PU can be wound to sound fuller, an example being Rio Grande BBQ HB's.