A8 "character"?

[Jigsisme]

I've switched out 2 pu's with A8 mags and have a question for the experts:
Both have short lived sustain. Love the sound but they quickly kill the string vibrations, 2 to 3 seconds, and give a tremelo type vibe. I've adjusted the height multiple times but still can't find a sweet spot. Any advice?

 

[Demanic]

Re: A8 "character"?

It's probably due to the high strength of the magnet.

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[Discharged]

Re: A8 "character"?

Due to the effective magnetic field projected, the possibility of "string pull killing sustain" in a humbucker p'up, no matter what magnet is in it, is pretty close to nil.

The reason for "lack of sustain" is to be found elsewhere.

HTH,

 

[Jigsisme]

Re: A8 "character"?

That's what I thought. I'll just keep fiddling with them cuz both pu's sound to great...other than that.
Appreciated

 

[Nightburst]

Re: A8 "character"?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nqE1xMUvVq4

 

[blueman335]

Re: A8 "character"?

Lower the PU's a little more. I haven't had an issue with A8's and sustain. Then too, I wonder if string gauge makes a difference. I use 9's, but maybe thicker strings are pulled a little more because there's more metal in them?

 

[eclecticsynergy]

Re: A8 "character"?

Lower the PU's a little more. I haven't had an issue with A8's and sustain. Then too, I wonder if string gauge makes a difference. I use 9's, but maybe thicker strings are pulled a little more because there's more metal in them?

I tend to think the extra mass of heavier strings would more than offset the increased pull. I agree the sweet spot with an A8 could wind up being lower than expected.

I also concur that magnetic pull killing the sustain in a conventional humbucker is unlikely, short of something outrageously strong like neo, or placement closer to the center of the string. We are talking bridge pickups here, right? (A8 in a neck pickup would be overkill, IMO.)

You mentioned a tremolo-type effect- what are the guitars? they're dual humbucker, not triple singlecoil, yes?

Was anything else on the guitars changed when you swapped the pickup mags?

 

[Clint 55]

Re: A8 "character"?

I had some weird chorus and lack of sustain going on on the 2nd string and I thought it was string pull but that string's intonation was way off. Give it a check.

 

[Jigsisme]

Re: A8 "character"?

Guitars are dual HB. Just the bridge HB mags were changed. Strings are 11's and professionally set up. Its not the end of the world, its just the first time I've switched pu's and was wondering if it was normal? If I can't get them to "behave", I can always switch them back to original mags.
Appreciated

 

[Clint 55]

Re: A8 "character"?

Again, give your intonation a check. I have an A8 plus ceramic in the bridge of my HSS and the problem got at least 2/3 better after I fixed the intonation.

 

[eclecticsynergy]

Re: A8 "character"?

If nothing else was changed or adjusted when the mag swap was done, I don't have many more ideas to suggest.
Just out of curiosity, what are the pickups in question, and what mags were in them before?

 

[Mincer]

Re: A8 "character"?

Did you notice the lack of sustain before the pickup switch? A8s are strong, but I don't know if they are strong enough to affect vibration unless they are really close. Lower them, and then look elsewhere- how old are the strings? Has anything else changed?

 

[gregory]

Re: A8 "character"?

I assume the A8 has gone in the bridge which is the least likely place where stronger magnet pull will dramatically affect sustain.

At the same time there have been plenty of guitars sold with even more powerful ceramic magnets in both the neck and bridge, yet no complaints about dramatically reduced sustain. The issue of magnetic dampening centers and has always been centered around single coils.

The problem lies elsewhere.

 

[Jigsisme]

Re: A8 "character"?

Pickups are Gibson 498 and the other is a JB. Both were new and were stock. Strings are new.

 

[AlexR]

Re: A8 "character"?

What sort of guitar??

Could your setup have been altered during your works on the guitars

 

[SrDeMaFp]

Re: A8 "character"?

Sounds to me like it's adjusted too high. The sweet spot on any A8 IME had to be lower than "normal", IMO.

 

[Metalman_666]

Re: A8 "character"?

I had a JB/Custom hybrid with A8 in the bridge of my main guitar for a couple years, and the pickup was quite close to the strings. Even on cleans, sustain was not an issue at all for me.

Are you using any more or less gain than before? Or did the pole piece height get tweaked at all after the magnet swap?

I'm not too familiar with the sound of the 498T but with A8 in it I would expect it to fatten up, the highs would smooth out while still being clear, and overall a jump in output. Hopefully this is just a setup issue

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[posite63]

Re: A8 "character"?

Re: A8 "character"?

I had a JB/Custom hybrid with A8 in the bridge

I haven't heard much about this combo. Can you tell me about it? What it's used in, amp, playing style, etc? I'm a fan of A8s, love the JB in most situations, and kinda dig the Custom in my limited use. I'm very interested to know how this hybrid performs.

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[Clint 55]

Re: A8 "character"?

The JB/Custom 8 is tone rich and has the benefits of both pickups. The nice tight bass from the Custom coil and mids from the JB.

 

[Joey Voltage]

Re: A8 "character"?

The JB/custom 8 does indeed sound like a cool pickup to try. If you use hex poles in each bobbin I'd bet you would get something mean sounding.