A8 bridge A4 neck - magic combo

[vinnie1971]

Thanks to Lt Kojak - I have seen you recommend this combo several times and was quite sceptical with circa 8k DCR and excessively bright pickups, but WOW!
My vintage Maxon super 80 DiMarzio clones now have the tone I want.
1970s blues rock rather than harsh sterile heavy handed giant ceramics, this combo has brought warmth and depth to what was a shrill unpleasant clean tone (great under saturated gain though)
Now I have gorgeous cleans with depth, chime, ringing warm trebles and under mild to moderate gain singing harmonics.
I know A8 was used in Maxon super 70s but did not realise they sound this good.
I found a tone I like more than my APH1s and I LOVE those.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[LtKojak]

Re: A8 bridge A4 neck - magic combo

Glad you like it.

You're welcome!

 

[WoodGrain67]

Re: A8 bridge A4 neck - magic combo

Hmmm, I might have to try this. I replaced the A2 mags in my SG Faded 490 pups with an A8 and A5 and it saved those pups from being replaced. I really like the A8 bridge (makes me suspect that its close to a Super70's Ibanez tone since playing "Running with the Devil" sounds great on my gear), and the A5 neck sounds nice enough.. Would it be worth the effort to try the A4 in the neck?

 

[Demanic]

Re: A8 bridge A4 neck - magic combo

I have an Ibby with an A4SH-6n in the neck paired with an Alt8 in the bridge. Match made in heaven, or hell.

Sent from my MotoE2(4G-LTE) using Tapatalk

 

[LtKojak]

Re: A8 bridge A4 neck - magic combo

the A5 neck sounds nice enough.. Would it be worth the effort to try the A4 in the neck?

In a LP or 335, I'd say yes, no doubt, in a heartbeat. But due to the p'up's placement, an A4 might sound a little bit flat, specially if you're actually liking the A5.

Of course, there's only one way to be certain in for sure, and that's by actually trying it.

HTH,

 

[vinnie1971]

A8 bridge A4 neck - magic combo

Hmmm, I might have to try this. I replaced the A2 mags in my SG Faded 490 pups with an A8 and A5 and it saved those pups from being replaced. I really like the A8 bridge (makes me suspect that its close to a Super70's Ibanez tone since playing "Running with the Devil" sounds great on my gear), and the A5 neck sounds nice enough.. Would it be worth the effort to try the A4 in the neck?

Definitely- I tried A8 in the neck and it was a bit too boomy. Even worse with an A5 which I think is down to its scooped EQ. But each guitar is different. My pickups are Maxon so I just basically turned what I think is a Super 80 into a super 70.

I tried A2 in the neck - too trebly which is an issue with this guitar - straight through maple neck. brass but, brass saddles string through back hard tail bridge 25.5 inch scale length - so yes theoretically A2 should sound warm but don't in this guitar. My APH1s sounded great but still bright and are lined up for another guitar which I think will sound great in too.

I wanted that big blues rock 70s tone and this combo works. The A4 in the bridge I find perfect, somewhere between a super 58 which I think sounds too brittle and a super 70 so in my guitar the bridge is beefed up in the basses while still having brightness in the top end. And I wanted the guitar as close to stock as possible so putting the original Maxons back in with different magnets has done the trick - tone search over!

So if your neck sounds boomy it could work. It did for me. Unless your pickups are covered it's less than 5 minutes to find out. I just loosen the strings to get the pickups out.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[vinnie1971]

A8 bridge A4 neck - magic combo

BTW that middle position tone with A8 and A4 - magical sweet spot - tonally I find them similar in this guitar with these pickups but but the A8 is slightly hotter and slightly nasal with lots of upper mid sizzle. With the neck, I think less is more to get a balance between the 2 pickups.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: A8 bridge A4 neck - magic combo

Hmmm, I might have to try this......Would it be worth the effort to try the A4 in the neck?

It would be worth the effort because you'll know whether you like it or not.

You may or may not.

I don't.

 

[Aceman]

Re: A8 bridge A4 neck - magic combo

There is no "magic" combo. There are some combinations that work well for most or many things, and are generally considered "better" than others.

But - YOU have found YOUR magic tone!!!! And that is all that really matters.

 

[vinnie1971]

A8 bridge A4 neck - magic combo

There is no "magic" combo. There are some combinations that work well for most or many things, and are generally considered "better" than others.

But - YOU have found YOUR magic tone!!!! And that is all that really matters.

I take your your point, It's magic in this guitar with these pickups for my style of playing and my ear.

With all my experiments and swaps I find A4 bridge and A2 neck is a close second but the A2 is a rather bright in this guitar with these pickups. Not what you would expect from A2 - spongy bass yes - a bit too soft, pronounced upper mids - yes aplenty but warm trebles, not so much. Very bright trebles, almost to the point of being brittle.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: A8 bridge A4 neck - magic combo

I take your your point, It's magic in this guitar with these pickups for my style of playing and my ear.

With all my experiments and swaps I find A4 bridge and A2 neck is a close second but the A2 is a rather bright in this guitar with these pickups. Not what you would expect from A2 at all.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Polished A2 is brighter and, IMO, clearer sounding than Roughcast A2. Are you using polished or roughcast?

And do you play clean or is your overdrive pedal usually "on"?

 

[allbutromeo]

Re: A8 bridge A4 neck - magic combo

I swapped the ceramics for this combo in the 496R/500T set in my V and it greatly improved the tone. Gone were the scratchy harsh highs and nasal mids, and instead it's nicely balanced, warm yet articulate.

 

[vinnie1971]

Re: A8 bridge A4 neck - magic combo

Polished A2 is brighter and, IMO, clearer sounding than Roughcast A2. Are you using polished or roughcast?

And do you play clean or is your overdrive pedal usually "on"?

I only have easy access to polished A2 and I play either clean or low gain - amp gain usually although sometimes my tube overdrive pedal.

I think it's the Maxon pickup and guitar combo - I need to take out the spacers as there were double size ceramics in there and replace with regular spacers. Seems Maxon used 12mm hex poles so they could use oversized size and standard size magnets without using different hex poles. I bet if I can close the gap between the magnet and the brass base plate that might take some if the edge off. I may yet try that before I finally tape up the pickups.

The hex poles have a very deep recess for the hex key and I do wonder if they are also a contributing factor.

But the guitar is bright. Even APH1s sound bright even in the neck.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[vinnie1971]

Re: A8 bridge A4 neck - magic combo

I swapped the ceramics for this combo in the 496R/500T set in my V and it greatly improved the tone. Gone were the scratchy harsh highs and nasal mids, and instead it's nicely balanced, warm yet articulate.

This is the same experience for me. I expected the A8 bright to sound close to a ceramic and the A4 to sound generic and bland going off the Internet alnico magnet descriptions hence I was sceptical.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk