Alnico 8 sounds good in which pickups?

[Gearjoneser]

I used the search function, but the key words are too vague.

I want to hear from the guys who've actually installed an A8 magnet in various humbuckers, and what their results were. I've only tried it in a Custom with good results, as most have.


Custom
59/C hybrid?
59B
Seth Lover
JB
Pearly Gates
Distortion
Screamin Demon
APH

Gibson 498T
Burstbucker
57 Classic

PRS McCarty Treble

Which of these sounded good, and which would you steer away from with A8 magnets?

 

[scarr]

Re: Alnico 8 sounds good in which pickups?

From my own searches, I think I've seen A8 approval from someone here for everything on that list, except maybe the APH, Burstbucker, 57 Classic and McCarty. The latter is probably from only reading a few dozen threads on magnet swaps, rather than a few hundred.

 

[Dark Order Lord]

Re: Alnico 8 sounds good in which pickups?

All I can tell you that most of the ceramic haters use A8 to mag swap, mainly as it has a similar tight bottom end with a more tappered off high end, like a A5. I'm not one of those, love my ceramics, especially for playing Thrash Metal direct into a Marshall TSL 100.

 

[SAVAGE DISTORTION]

Re: Alnico 8 sounds good in which pickups?

I think you have to be the real judge of this Q because while i hate the 8 in all higher output models other than the custom many disagree.
Originally the first pickup that had a A8 was a 7.6K ibanez super 70 that i know of?

 

[GuitarDoc]

Re: Alnico 8 sounds good in which pickups?

I've really liked it in the:

Custom (obviously),
'59,
P-90,
Distortion,
P-Rails (regular),
Demon,
59/C hybrid

 

[misterwhizzy]

Re: Alnico 8 sounds good in which pickups?

I think that magnet has a midrange quality that you either love or hate. I happen to like it. I've got a PRS SE Custom 24 with a Crazy 8 and a Les Paul with a Custom 8. I like the slight Alnico sag and slight rounding of the top end. I was playing the Les Paul today and noticed it's still got the chirp of pick attack when you move up the neck a bit to really distinguish the notes on lead runs, but it's not razor sharp like the Distortion.

Speaking of the Distortion, I tried it there too, and it had the same relative effect. It rounded off the high end a bit and gave it just a touch of sag. I can't say whether I liked it better or worse. I was still trying to figure out what exactly I wanted that guitar to sound like and how to get there. I think it really is right with the Custom 8 now, though.

 

[dvanburen]

Re: Alnico 8 sounds good in which pickups?

did not like it in the jb
did not like it in the distortion
dont like any of the clips of the alt8
really love it in the custom
totally love it in the custom/jb

 

[King IzzO)))]

Re: Alnico 8 sounds good in which pickups?

The Distortion and JB become real flame throwers, and they constantly roar at you, really cool for metal, probably not so much for anything else. Cool for me, probably not for you. Even strictly metal dudes comment that the roar gets old after a while.

The A8 Invader (or Detonator) is a machine of total devastation. Has some qualities that I've only found in the BK Warpig. My favorite A8 swap.

Aside from that I've done the Custom, 490R/Custom hybrid, Demon, and PGb. All are more diverse than the JB/DD/Invader. You're already familiar with the Custom, I liked it in my hybrid a little better, that one was pretty hairy though. A8 makes the Demon useable as a bridge pickup for me, where the stock Demon is too bright, thin and plucky. And I liked the PG, but in the end I like it with the A2 better.

I'm getting ready to try it in a PATB-1b, so like an overwound Crazy8. We'll see on that one.

 

[dvanburen]

Re: Alnico 8 sounds good in which pickups?

The Distortion and JB become real flame throwers, and they constantly roar at you, really cool for metal, probably not so much for anything else. Cool for me, probably not for you. Even strictly metal dudes comment that the roar gets old after a while.

this was my experience exactly with the JB. I thought the DD sounded much weaker with the A8 mag. To me, I think the DD is perfect just the way it is..with that fat ass ceramic mag in it

 

[King IzzO)))]

Re: Alnico 8 sounds good in which pickups?

I swapped a DDJ and a more recent JB, the DD just seemed a smidge brighter and more open with the same mags, but it also measured a bit lower and the coils were slightly mismatched, so I just chalked up the difference to that. I didn't find enough difference to conclude that they're different winds.

 

[LtKojak]

Re: Alnico 8 sounds good in which pickups?

A8 gives my nod in the following p'ups:

'59b
'59/Custom Hybrid
Custom
498T
496R as a bridge p'up
PATB-3
Antiquity bridge
'57 Classic Plus

HTH,

 

[metalmachine]

Re: Alnico 8 sounds good in which pickups?

this was my experience exactly with the JB. I thought the DD sounded much weaker with the A8 mag. To me, I think the DD is perfect just the way it is..with that fat ass ceramic mag in it

Agreed.

I liked it in the custom and jb. Wasn't crazy about either though. I guess I am more of a a5 and ceramic guy

 

[Dark Order Lord]

Re: Alnico 8 sounds good in which pickups?

The Distortion and JB become real flame throwers, and they constantly roar at you, really cool for metal, probably not so much for anything else. Cool for me, probably not for you. Even strictly metal dudes comment that the roar gets old after a while.

Ha ha! I'm getting MJ to make me a DD with a bit more roar in it!!

 

[King IzzO)))]

Re: Alnico 8 sounds good in which pickups?

Did you ever try the DD8 or JB8? They have a real RAWWRR-RAWWRR sound to them, that's how I refer to it, roar.

 

[CustomCustom]

Re: Alnico 8 sounds good in which pickups?

59n in the neck with A8 anyone? Would that be any good?

 

[LtKojak]

Re: Alnico 8 sounds good in which pickups?

59n in the neck with A8 anyone? Would that be any good?

Not in my experience, but YMMV.

 

[dd12939]

Re: Alnico 8 sounds good in which pickups?

I have one in a PATB-1. I like it pretty well. I don't really remember what the original A5 sounded like now. With the A8 it's got a lot of cut for sure.

 

[Dark Order Lord]

Re: Alnico 8 sounds good in which pickups?

Did you ever try the DD8 or JB8? They have a real RAWWRR-RAWWRR sound to them, that's how I refer to it, roar.

.....hmmmmmmm.... :scratch:

 

[KeeperOS]

Re: Alnico 8 sounds good in which pickups?

Hmm, the only mod I have it in is the Custom 8 and love it.
I also have the Crazy 8 and Alt 8 though and love it in both too, however these were built around the A8 to begin with.

The Crazy 8 is perhaps the most lead-work oriented while the Alt 8 is intentionally made with less high end to give it a great chuga chuga sound that is still pretty clear without ever being harsh.
Although pretty great at lead, nevertheless that would be the last of the three I'd choose for lead work, unless the guitar it goes in was bright to begin with (the guitar I got it in is so it works in her like a champ, thanks Ascension!!!).

As a rule of thumb, I'd use A8 to give Ceramic pickups a little more organic feel (what some call sag) while mostly retaining that same EQ or to give A5 pickups more pronounced mids and output.

I would probably be careful of putting it in already bright pickups since it has plenty of highs (never shrill though).

From the SD clips I LOVED that old-school vibe but with a modern EQ the 59/Custom hybrid has and I believe that it would be a wonderful match to the A8. What I am not sure is whether that pickup would be better with an A8 or the A5 SD decided on in the first place...

 

[blueman335]

Re: Alnico 8 sounds good in which pickups?

59n in the neck with A8 anyone? Would that be any good?

A8's are loud and dark, as is the neck slot by nature. Combine the two and you won't have any treble and will probably overpower whatever's in the bridge. If that's what you're going for...