Alnico 8 ---> Alnico 5

J

JarickL

New member
Alright, swapped back for my A5's after my A8 experiment.

I like it much better.

The output is a little lower, and sustain is a bit less, but there are more harmonics. Instead of the guitar feeling kind of dull and muddy, it feels open and alive. The strings sounded just a bit more snappy and metallic instead of just the raw note.

The change was somewhat subtle, so it didn't drastically alter the sound, but it is really good. The JB/C5 humbucker is dead on PERFECT. A nice blend of raw and smooth. Great highs, mids, and lows. This is a great rock pickup. The Jazz is back to being a nice pickup with a good snap in the high end. It was far too muddy before.

Pinch harmonics aren't nearly as prominent, but the overtones seem to ring a bit more. Kind of sucks for metal stuff, but I'm not a metal guy.

So basically, the A8 was more output, more lows, less highs, but easier harmonics than the A5.

On a side note, do Phat Cats take bar magnets?
 
Re: Alnico 8 ---> Alnico 5

Great if it works for you!
In question is: Where can a A8 really help?
It can help if want the the same highs as a ceramic but less harsh.
It can brighten up a too dark a5,a4 pup.
It can bring out harmonics even more if that is desired.

So i liked it in a overwound PAF clone (11k), in a ceramic Custom and - dont laugh - to push a JB over the edge (it became a kind of DD light)!

I would not put it in an already bright a5 (Demon?;Jazz), would not put it in a vintage PAF copy (PG,SL,Ants or whatever)!

MHO!
 
Re: Alnico 8 ---> Alnico 5

See, I found that it made the pickup darker. The way I read about the pickups is that it sounds in between an A2 and A5 but with the output of a ceramic. I'd fully agree with that.

The JB/C5 hybrid and the Jazz are both A5's...so putting the A8's in there made it a bit darker.

With my Microcube, I wanted to swap the speaker or mod it to get a brighter tone because the tone knob was on full. Now, I actually find myself using the tone knob on my guitar or amp to tame it a bit. It's much more aggressive sounding, although you have to bump up the gain and volume a bit.
 
Re: Alnico 8 ---> Alnico 5

I'm looking at making an experimental 'bucker at about 6.5k but with Alnico 8 magnet. I'll probably use 41 or 41.5 wire to make sure the coil isn't to narrow.
 
Re: Alnico 8 ---> Alnico 5

I asked Seymour why he doesn't experiment more with odd magnets like 3, 4, and 8. He kinda shrugged and explained that the best tone will always come from Alnico 5 and 2, being manipulated by all the other aspects like magnetic charge, windings, wire, and materials. He's got a few pickups that utilize A3, but A2, A5, and Ceramic are what he still thinks has the best tone.
 
Re: Alnico 8 ---> Alnico 5

I have tried the A8 twice now, and always been unhappy.

it has the tonal qualities alright, along with the feeling that its too high powered and too midrangey. I felt like I lost the loose feel and twang/sparkle I have from my other Duncans.

Zhang turned me onto A3's and I am quite impressed!
 
Re: Alnico 8 ---> Alnico 5

Alico 8 is good for more power and more low mid .
So it works with bright pickups ( pafs , demon , full shred ) in bridge
but I wouldn't try it in a Custom cause it would turn muddy ( in an alredy bassy p-u), in a JB it could be interesting .
But really Jackyl if you have a JB/Custom hybrid it should be powefull and balanced enough with the alnico 5 !
 
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Re: Alnico 8 ---> Alnico 5

OlinMusic said:
I have tried the A8 twice now, and always been unhappy.

it has the tonal qualities alright, along with the feeling that its too high powered and too midrangey. I felt like I lost the loose feel and twang/sparkle I have from my other Duncans.

Zhang turned me onto A3's and I am quite impressed!
Click to expand...

Speaking of A3 pickups, there is one over at my place still pining away for you...
 
Re: Alnico 8 ---> Alnico 5

OlinMusic said:
I have tried the A8 twice now, and always been unhappy.

it has the tonal qualities alright, along with the feeling that its too high powered and too midrangey. I felt like I lost the loose feel and twang/sparkle I have from my other Duncans.
Click to expand...


Now this sounds like my kind of pickup! I like high power w/ alot of mids. Of course my biggest guitar idol is Randy Rhoads so that would probably have something to do w/ it.
 
Re: Alnico 8 ---> Alnico 5

Zhangliqun said:
I'm looking at making an experimental 'bucker at about 6.5k but with Alnico 8 magnet. I'll probably use 41 or 41.5 wire to make sure the coil isn't to narrow.
Click to expand...

Dang, Zhang, If you make that, I am first on your list to purchase. I am that I am.
 
Re: Alnico 8 ---> Alnico 5

JarickL said:
See, I found that it made the pickup darker. The way I read about the pickups is that it sounds in between an A2 and A5 but with the output of a ceramic. I'd fully agree with that.
Click to expand...
I thought that in the first moment too, but then i realized it has not softer or less highs but more mids. That makes you feel you have lesser highs than before. My aspect is cut through the mix with highs. And the C8 cut thru the mix as good a the Custom but better the C5.
 
Re: Alnico 8 ---> Alnico 5

fab.regnaut said:
Alico 8 is good for more power and more low mid .
So it works with bright pickups ( pafs , demon , full shred ) in bridge
Click to expand...

I was thinking of putting an A8 in my FS. Would I lose any of the "texture" 0r articulation of the FS? The 'texture" is the alure of the FS sound for me.
The FS is in an Epi Lp.
 
Re: Alnico 8 ---> Alnico 5

hamerfan said:
I thought that in the first moment too, but then i realized it has not softer or less highs but more mids. That makes you feel you have lesser highs than before. .
Click to expand...

Agree with that !
 
Re: Alnico 8 ---> Alnico 5

Sykes said:
I was thinking of putting an A8 in my FS. Would I lose any of the "texture" 0r articulation of the FS? The 'texture" is the alure of the FS sound for me.
The FS is in an Epi Lp.
Click to expand...

No you wouldn't loose any articulation but by having more mids and power you woud have more punch .
 
Re: Alnico 8 ---> Alnico 5

fab.regnaut said:
No you wouldn't loose any articulation but by having more mids and power you woud have more punch .
Click to expand...

Thanks. I'm gonna do it then.

But what about the crunchy/nasaly texture of the FS? I know how the voicing of the Custom series changes. Surely there is a change in the FS8?
 
Re: Alnico 8 ---> Alnico 5

The crunch factor is due to the two rows of allen so you would still have it , and nasal cause of focus on the high mids , you would still have it but with broader mids so more singing .
 
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