Alnico 8 magnet pickup options - please help!

[Noodler]

I've read through as many posts as I can handle about the Alnico 8 pickups, but I'm still at a standstill on making a decision.

The guitar for this pickup replacement currently has a Pearly Gates bridge pickup and it's just too weak and thin sounding in this guitar for my taste. I have JB pickups in a few guitars and I like those generally, but I don't want another. I also have Custom 5 pickups and have had good experiences with that one if it's matched well to the instrument.

I'm really excited about what I've read about the alnico 8 magnet pickups - it sounds like exactly what I'm looking for if I can just get it matched to the right wind. I was originally considering the Alternative 8, but it's so overwound I'm worried that it won't clean up well with the volume control backed off. Then I read about the Custom 8 and that sounds pretty good, but I'm worried that it may be lacking in midrange like my Custom 5 experiences in some guitars (it needs an already thick sounding guitar IMO).

So I'm wondering if a Custom 8 is right or maybe JB8 (JB with the A8 mag). I was also wondering if anyone has created a Pearly 8 (then I could just swap the magnet in the current pickup). How does an A8 play in a vintage wind lower output pickup?

TIA

 

[super rad stuff]

Re: Alnico 8 magnet pickup options - please help!

check out my link in my signature, and listen to the songs "ice blast highway" and "dunno...". i'm using a PG8 in an SG and an a8 gibson 490t in a dot studio the heavy rhythm parts for both of those songs, both into an 800 style setting into a line 6 toneport. maybe that'll give you an idea of what alnico 8 sounds like:fing2:

 

[NoOnesFang13]

Re: Alnico 8 magnet pickup options - please help!

I seriously would not worry about the C8 being scooped, its basically as if an A2 an A5 and the Hulk decided to genetically make a magnet. Throwing one in a Custom wind sounds like a good idea every day of the week. I have a Demon8 and i love it. Big and fat and full of mids

 

[lowenzz]

Re: Alnico 8 magnet pickup options - please help!

The A8 will put mids o' plenty in that custom wind, especially compared to the A5. The A5 custom sounds thin compared to the A8. Night and Day difference.

 

[blueman335]

Re: Alnico 8 magnet pickup options - please help!

The A8 will put mids o' plenty in that custom wind, especially compared to the A5. The A5 custom sounds thin compared to the A8. Night and Day difference.

+1. An A8 gives mids & muscle to the party, with a firm low end and just enough treble to cut thru. Works very well for a lot of bridge PU's. The C8 is a great HB; nothing thin or scooped about it.

 

[Rowan]

Re: Alnico 8 magnet pickup options - please help!

It sounds like the c8 is for you. The alt 8 actually has better cleans than any other pickup out there with the same output. But the c8 is going to have more PAF flavor. Hell, the Pearly Gates 8 could be the ticket as well. I love me some a8 magnets. :bigthumb:

 

[Tor]

Re: Alnico 8 magnet pickup options - please help!

Yeah, the C8 is wonderful!

 

[hamerfan]

Re: Alnico 8 magnet pickup options - please help!

Another C8 lover here. Ballsy, gutsy, juicy, everything and hair metal at his best. The JB8 is more hardrock, the Demon more cutting thru the mix.

 

[Noodler]

Re: Alnico 8 magnet pickup options - please help!

OK - thanks guys. I just bought a bunch of A8 magnets and I'm going to do some mag swapping in my PG, JB, and C5. Then I'll be able to decide on which version of an A8 PU is right for this guitar.

 

[CaughtLikeFire]

Re: Alnico 8 magnet pickup options - please help!

OK - thanks guys. I just bought a bunch of A8 magnets and I'm going to do some mag swapping in my PG, JB, and C5. Then I'll be able to decide on which version of an A8 PU is right for this guitar.

smart decision.

A note on the JB- it's still a very "picky" pickup when it comes to guitar type, no matter what magnet it has. I wasn't big on the JB8 when I first tried it, but I recently put one in my Strat project and it rips.

my top pick for A8 pup is still the Alternative 8 - you can tell that the pup was engineered around the A8 mag. if I had a spare $75, I'd drop one of those in my superstrat.

 

[hamerfan]

Re: Alnico 8 magnet pickup options - please help!

smart decision.

A note on the JB- it's still a very "picky" pickup when it comes to guitar type, no matter what magnet it has. I wasn't big on the JB8 when I first tried it, but I recently put one in my Strat project and it rips.

my top pick for A8 pup is still the Alternative 8 - you can tell that the pup was engineered around the A8 mag. if I had a spare $75, I'd drop one of those in my superstrat.

Hey, you make me nervous!

I have an Alt8 on my bench (thanks Theodie), but i had no time to put it into my Superstrat (alder body, one piece birdseye maple neck).

 

[CaughtLikeFire]

Re: Alnico 8 magnet pickup options - please help!

Hey, you make me nervous!

I have an Alt8 on my bench (thanks Theodie), but i had no time to put it into my Superstrat (alder body, one piece birdseye maple neck).

no need to be nervous. I've tried the Alt 8 in several Fender guitars recently (it now has a permanent position in one) and it's the perfect modern rock pickup. It's less sensitive to guitar tonewoods and construction than the JB (in my experience so far). I think the prominent low mids in the Alt 8 are less likely to cause problems than the prominent high mids in the JB as far as bolt-on Fender-type guitars are concerned.

 

[hamerfan]

Re: Alnico 8 magnet pickup options - please help!

no need to be nervous. I've tried the Alt 8 in several Fender guitars recently (it now has a permanent position in one) and it's the perfect modern rock pickup. It's less sensitive to guitar tonewoods and construction than the JB (in my experience so far). I think the prominent low mids in the Alt 8 are less likely to cause problems than the prominent high mids in the JB as far as bolt-on Fender-type guitars are concerned.

Thanks, good to hear. Did you (or anybody) compared the Alt8 to a JB8 ??

 

[CaughtLikeFire]

Re: Alnico 8 magnet pickup options - please help!

Thanks, good to hear. Did you (or anybody) compared the Alt8 to a JB8 ??

I think Bloodrose did a comparison between several A8 magnet pickups . . .

I didn't have the Alt8 and JB8 in the same guitar but I can make some general observations since I've used each in multiple guitars. I noticed that the metallic "clank" you get from the strings when using a JB is still present in the JB8 - this is not a characteristic of the Alt 8. the Alt 8 has a more rounded, smoother high end and response to pick attack is average (good) for an SD pup (I find the JB to be really sensitive).

As I mentioned before, the Alt 8 has a stronger focus on low mids whereas the JB8 has a stronger focus on upper mids. I could see the JB8 being a little better for high gain lead work. both pickups have a lot of clarity under high gain but the Alt 8 maintains better low mid and bass definition.

 

[hamerfan]

Re: Alnico 8 magnet pickup options - please help!

Thanks!

 

[Noodler]

Re: Alnico 8 magnet pickup options - please help!

Ugh - forgot that my Custom 5 wasn't a trembucker and I need a trembucker for this guitar. So I got my magnets from Wymore and now I have a JB8 and a Pearly G8, but no Custom 8 yet. I'm on the hunt for a cheap Custom wind pickup...

 

[jhale667]

Re: Alnico 8 magnet pickup options - please help!

These days I'm always on the hunt for cheap Trembucker Custom wind pickups.

 

[BloodRose]

Re: Alnico 8 magnet pickup options - please help!

The A8 will put mids o' plenty in that custom wind, especially compared to the A5. The A5 custom sounds thin compared to the A8. Night and Day difference.

Can Ah get an Amen!!!???
yeah, it wont become a CC mid range machine, but it fills in nicely..
Just try it Noodler.. If you dont like it, swap it back..

 

[BloodRose]

Re: Alnico 8 magnet pickup options - please help!

smart decision.

A note on the JB- it's still a very "picky" pickup when it comes to guitar type, no matter what magnet it has. I wasn't big on the JB8 when I first tried it, but I recently put one in my Strat project and it rips.

my top pick for A8 pup is still the Alternative 8 - you can tell that the pup was engineered around the A8 mag. if I had a spare $75, I'd drop one of those in my superstrat.

I am a C8aholic! But I have an ALT8 in my Charvel 4 and have always been pleased with it, but the other day I reunited with the guitar and MAN, what a blast that axe and pup are! Im thinking of putting an alt 8 in my Kramer Bluesbreaker

 

[uOpt]

Re: Alnico 8 magnet pickup options - please help!

I felt that the heavier the coils the better A8 comes out. Didn't like it in a Jazz, mumble in a Custom, almost good in a JB.

Consequently, I recommend getting an Alt-8, which has different coils than the JB for some extra kick. Which I imagine SD did after making the same observations.

The JB/A8 is pretty good, though.