A4 vs. A5

[Bazooka Joe]

How are they different? Mainly how they sound. I've been doing some winds with A5's lately and the sound is good I like the mid scoop, but the bass isn't tight enough for me, seems a little too boomy, and the highs are nice but not sweet. Will an A4 help me with this?

 

[jeremy]

Re: A4 vs. A5

typically the highs arent as sharp with a4 and there is less mid scoop but im not sure the bass is much tighter and i wouldnt call the highs sweet. bottom is not as boomy as a5 though. outputs a touch less

 

[blueman335]

Re: A4 vs. A5

A4's have a more or less balanced EQ, no big push in any direction, so to players that are used to that, A4's can seem bland. But less coloring also means that more of the PU's and wood's tone may come thru.

A4's won't have a boomy low end, or sharp highs. The bass in an A5 is tight, but because ther's so much of it, that abundance can sometimes be an overdose and make it sound loose.

A RC A5 will take off a little of the high and maybe a bit of the lows of a polished A5. A3's have almost as much treble as an A5, but they also have some mids and not much bass; won't have any boominess with them.

 

[AniML]

Re: A4 vs. A5

Blueman, what is your take on an A4 Demon? I'm playing with the idea of taming the scratch a bit but I like the honk. Better to just swap out the hex screws?

 

[jeremy]

Re: A4 vs. A5

A3's have almost as much treble as an A5, but they also have some mids and not much bass; won't have any boominess with them.

i hear the high end of a3 as sweeter than a5, they are both bright but the a5 sounds sharper/harder than a3 in my experience

 

[blueman335]

Re: A4 vs. A5

i hear the high end of a3 as sweeter than a5, they are both bright but the a5 sounds sharper/harder than a3 in my experience

I agree. Part of it may be the mids that the A3 has, that 'back up' that high end. A5's high end is like a razor blade.

 

[Bazooka Joe]

Re: A4 vs. A5

Thanks for the input guys. It is very appreciated!

:yourock:

 

[Laughing Kookaburra]

Re: A4 vs. A5

I've been listening to samples of the Mule (A4) vs the Riff Raff (A5) on the Bareknuckle site, and from what I hear I concur with Jeremy and Blueman. I have not used an A4 in real life, however!

 

[MattPete]

Re: A4 vs. A5

A4s can sound antiseptic.

 

[MattPete]

Re: A4 vs. A5

i hear the high end of a3 as sweeter than a5, they are both bright but the a5 sounds sharper/harder than a3 in my experience

I agree.

 

[rumblebox]

Re: A4 vs. A5

i used a custom4 for a while. it's very very clear and natural sounding without overpowering highs or lows. very flat EQ.

 

[symptom]

Re: A4 vs. A5

I once tried an A4 in my 59n (the guitar is a SG). Didn't like it at all. I think the pickup lost its personality and just sound a bit sterile, maybe because it has this flat eq that I'm not used to.

 

[blueman335]

Re: A4 vs. A5

I once tried an A4 in my 59n (the guitar is a SG). Didn't like it at all. I think the pickup lost its personality and just sound a bit sterile, maybe because it has this flat eq that I'm not used to.

There's guys here that really like A4's in '59N's and other neck HB's. I prefer to use A4's in the bridge slot myself, and usually those are roughcast. Warmer and less bassy than an A5, but not as warm and loose as an A2.

 

[STRATDELUXER97]

Re: A4 vs. A5

I bought some A4s from Lew several years ago...Tamed the woofy bass crap out of one of my own 59N pickups....I Like the 59N A4 myself...This with 500k pots and I Like a .015 cap on the neck tone control.

I always find the stock A5 59N to be too bass heavy..These days I Much prefer a JazzN instead.

 

[blueman335]

Re: A4 vs. A5

I always find the stock A5 59N to be too bass heavy.

It does have that tendency, especially in LP's and 335's.

 

[WGTP]

Re: A4 vs. A5

Wondering about a 4 in a Screaming Demon or Pearly Gates.

 

[symptom]

Re: A4 vs. A5

I think one of the reasons that makes me like the stock 59n is that my guitar is a SG. I don't know how it goes in a Les Paul.

 

[blueman335]

Re: A4 vs. A5

I think one of the reasons that makes me like the stock 59n is that my guitar is a SG. I don't know how it goes in a Les Paul.

Right, they're not as bassy with '59N's. Thin wood and double cutaways makes a difference, spreads the wood out, rather being compacted into a smaller package.

 

[LtKojak]

Re: A4 vs. A5

A4s can sound antiseptic.

Only if you don't know how to set'em up correctly and EQ'em accordingly... :scratchch

 

[Reverberocket2]

Re: A4 vs. A5

Pretty sure Fralin uses A4 in his buckers and Tonerider has an A4 set as well - so you could search for clips of those pups.