A8 PAF!

CloneRanger

CloneRanger

New member
Finally got 'round to try out a weak A8 with a PAF wind (7.6K), in an LP. And it sounds like you would imagine: bold, smooth, beautiful rounded top. It is utterly beyond me why this combo doesn't exist in the market; it's the neck pup of a lot of people's dreams, I'm sure...
 
Re: A8 PAF!

I for one love the A8 in many applications. It has its limitations, but when it works, it works magnificently.
 
Re: A8 PAF!

Look at how few PU manufacturers use A8's, and do any of them use UOA5's? Arguably two of the best bridge magnets there are. PU makers love to play around with windings to get what they want, and don't get nearly as creative with magnets. Us on the other hand, buy existing PU's and all we can do is change magnets in them. Two different approaches.
 
Re: A8 PAF!

blueman335 said:
Look at how few PU manufacturers use A8's, and do any of them use UOA5's? Arguably two of the best bridge magnets there are. PU makers love to play around with windings to get what they want, and don't get nearly as creative with magnets. Us on the other hand, buy existing PU's and all we can do is change magnets in them. Two different approaches.
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Maybe the magical part of the pickup is the winding more than the magnet itself. I would assume, because I know nothing about this matter, that the wind of a pickup is what makes a pickup shine, rather than the magnet itself. Try an put in a A2, A3, A4, A5, UOA5, A8, Ceramic, or other magnets that I have not listed in a poor wind and see whether you will get pleasing results. I vote that you will not.

Magnet swapping is EASY and there is NO excuse for an able guitar player to be able to magnet swap in a humbucker, so I do not blame manufacturers for offering pickups with less magnet choices opposed to offering pickups with a variety of coil windings that make a pickup sound unique. Unfortunately winding a new coil is a precise process and it is time consuming and I do not think it would yield quick tone fixes such as the magnet swaps. However, if one is able, go find your own unique sound. ;)
 
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Re: A8 PAF!

I had a Screamin' Demon with a Alnico 8 magnet.
It sounded extremely angry! Super tight and crunchy and cutting. It's more like a Headbangin' Demon or something.
Not much of a sweet sounding thing.

And now I have it with a UOA5 magnet. It gained a lot of bloom, dynamics and sweetness. It's just fantastic, I'm still understanding and discovering it but it's the ****.
 
Re: A8 PAF!

eMyTh said:
Maybe the magical part of the pickup is the winding more than the magnet itself. I would assume, because I know nothing about this matter, that the wind of a pickup is what makes a pickup shine, rather than the magnet itself. Try an put in a A2, A3, A4, A5, UOA5, A8, Ceramic, or other magnets that I have not listed in a poor wind and see whether you will get pleasing results. I vote that you will not.

Magnet swapping is EASY and there is NO excuse for an able guitar player to be able to magnet swap in a humbucker, so I do not blame manufacturers for offering pickups with less magnet choices opposed to offering pickups with a variety of coil windings that make a pickup sound unique.
Click to expand...

+1. Right, the windings are the most important part of a PU. The magnet adds some color, but it can't make up for an unimaginative wind. But there's no way the vast majority of us are going to make the investment in PU winding, or be able to come up with anything worthwhile.

And double +1 about changing magnets. I've heard some pitiful excuses given, by grown men! If you don't change magnets either: A) you're very lucky and your PU's perfectly align with your wood to give the exact tones you want in all your guitars, B) you settle for tones you're not thrilled with, or C) you buy and sell PU's and/or guitars in an attempt to somehow stumble across a pairing that sounds the way you want, which can be expensive. The best advice on this forum is: 'Work with what you have before you give up on it' and 'Understand your guitar and take control of your tone.' The better you sound, the better you play.
 
Re: A8 PAF!

Diego said:
And now I have it with a UOA5 magnet. It gained a lot of bloom, dynamics and sweetness. It's just fantastic, I'm still understanding and discovering it but it's the ****.
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And what great magnets UOA5's are. We owe Dennis at Addiction our gratitude for carrying that rare magnet.
 
Re: A8 PAF!

how do you think a set of UOA5's would sound in a set of P rails blueman? Particularly a hot P rails bridge. I'm thinking about trying a magnet swap.
 
Re: A8 PAF!

PRSfan nym 1985 said:
how do you think a set of UOA5's would sound in a set of P rails blueman? Particularly a hot P rails bridge. I'm thinking about trying a magnet swap.
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I haven't tried a P-Rails. I don't think I'd use the options; especially the series one, which is really hot. UOA5's are the warmest mag after A2's, so let that be your guide. I like UOA5's in P-90's and most HB's, but once the PU gets too hot, and naturally starts to lose treble, I wonder if it would lose too much in a hot HB in series. Maybe an A5 and UOA5? Only one way to find out...
 
Re: A8 PAF!

Yeah I was more concerned with the other modes since I'm a big P90 fan that was the big reason i got the P-rails the other modes are just fun to play with. I just that sometimes the A8 seems to be too much. I think it might be nive to try swapping the magnets in the bridge. Do you have a place I can order magnets? Sorry to threadjack btw.
 
Re: A8 PAF!

BTW how come so many people refer to things like they are all PAFs. Have you guys actually played real PAF pickups they vary so much in output and character I just find it humorous to even label something as the definitive PAF tone. Sorry for my rant. Glad the OP likes the A8 magnets.
 
Re: A8 PAF!

PRSfan nym 1985 said:
Yeah I was more concerned with the other modes since I'm a big P90 fan that was the big reason i got the P-rails the other modes are just fun to play with. I just that sometimes the A8 seems to be too much. I think it might be nice to try swapping the magnets in the bridge. Do you have a place I can order magnets? Sorry to threadjack btw.
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Yes, an A8 can be overkill sometimes; that's when an UOA5 or A4 comes in handy, dials down the output and keeps the warmth. We get our mags from Addiction FX on eBay. Biggest selection, best prices.
 
Re: A8 PAF!

PRSfan nym 1985 said:
BTW how come so many people refer to things like they are all PAFs. Have you guys actually played real PAF pickups they vary so much in output and character I just find it humorous to even label something as the definitive PAF tone.
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Absolutely, and some original PAF's don't sound all that great. They used several different alnicos and the coils were paired up randomly, without regard for resistance. Yeah, they were all over the map. We like to try the different manufacturer's take on PAF's, each has a different interpretation, which they based on the better examles of originals. The current remakes always seem to sound good, especially in Gibson-design guitars. An LP with PAF's can be magic; SG's and 335's ain't shabby either.
 
Re: A8 PAF!

eMyTh said:
Maybe the magical part of the pickup is the winding more than the magnet itself. I would assume, because I know nothing about this matter, that the wind of a pickup is what makes a pickup shine, rather than the magnet itself. Try an put in a A2, A3, A4, A5, UOA5, A8, Ceramic, or other magnets that I have not listed in a poor wind and see whether you will get pleasing results. I vote that you will not.

Magnet swapping is EASY and there is NO excuse for an able guitar player to be able to magnet swap in a humbucker, so I do not blame manufacturers for offering pickups with less magnet choices opposed to offering pickups with a variety of coil windings that make a pickup sound unique. Unfortunately winding a new coil is a precise process and it is time consuming and I do not think it would yield quick tone fixes such as the magnet swaps. However, if one is able, go find your own unique sound. ;)
Click to expand...

Amen to that, bro.

Truer words are yet to be spoken! :cool2:
 
Re: A8 PAF!

blueman335 said:
Yes, an A8 can be overkill sometimes; that's when an UOA5 or A4 comes in handy, dials down the output and keeps the warmth. We get our mags from Addiction FX on eBay. Biggest selection, best prices.
Click to expand...

as soon as I get my checkbook and new debit card I'm gonna have to order a couple sets of the UOA5 mags for my P rails set and give this mag swap a try. I think Falbo gave directions on swapping P rails magnets on here a while back. I think they'll give me exactly what I'm after.
 
Re: A8 PAF!

PRSfan nym 1985 said:
as soon as I get my checkbook and new debit card I'm gonna have to order a couple sets of the UOA5 mags for my P rails set and give this mag swap a try. I think Falbo gave directions on swapping P rails magnets on here a while back. I think they'll give me exactly what I'm after.
Click to expand...

Guitar Doc swapped mags in his P-rails, he's a good one to ask.
 
Re: A8 PAF!

blueman335 said:
Look at how few PU manufacturers use A8's, and do any of them use UOA5's?
Click to expand...

AFAIK, the only p'up manufacturer commercially offering the possibility of an UOA5 magnet is Throbak.

Anyway, he doesn't like it that much because it's not as stable as the other magnets to hold a charge, and specially not "consistent enough" to ensure the same tone from batch to batch.

Owning a Gaussmeter, I can't say what he says is not true, because it is, but... the differences I've measured are not that far off from other A2 and A4 mags I've tried and I currently have.

One man's consistency is another man's overzealousy... but what do I know? I sell legal books and databases to lawyers as a living! ;)
 
Re: A8 PAF!

blueman335 said:
+1. Right, the windings are the most important part of a PU. The magnet adds some color, but it can't make up for an unimaginative wind. But there's no way the vast majority of us are going to make the investment in PU winding, or be able to come up with anything worthwhile.

And double +1 about changing magnets. I've heard some pitiful excuses given, by grown men! If you don't change magnets either: A) you're very lucky and your PU's perfectly align with your wood to give the exact tones you want in all your guitars, B) you settle for tones you're not thrilled with, or C) you buy and sell PU's and/or guitars in an attempt to somehow stumble across a pairing that sounds the way you want, which can be expensive. The best advice on this forum is: 'Work with what you have before you give up on it' and 'Understand your guitar and take control of your tone.' The better you sound, the better you play.
Click to expand...

+1 ,, I changed out the A2 in a PGb to a polished UOA5 and it was unreal how much better the sound and tone was.
 
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