Alt 8 - compressed?
- Thread starter Eddie J.
- Start date
mustaine-who?
New member
Re: Alt 8 - compressed?
Alt 8 is very open...not as compressed as the Full Shred or Distortion.
Alt 8 is very open...not as compressed as the Full Shred or Distortion.
Re: Alt 8 - compressed?
The Alt 8 is a very Big sounding pickup.. Not compressed. Very articulate under heavy gain.
Ive tried every version of the Custom and currently use most of them. Any specific questions? Im a huge fan of the Custom series, esp custom 8.
Id say the biggest difference tween the Alt 8 and custom is this.. To me the Alt 8 is almost like adding a boost to the signal. It doesnt seem to make much distortion on its own. Very clear, but big and drives the amp hard.
Its a great pickup
The Alt 8 is a very Big sounding pickup.. Not compressed. Very articulate under heavy gain.
Ive tried every version of the Custom and currently use most of them. Any specific questions? Im a huge fan of the Custom series, esp custom 8.
Id say the biggest difference tween the Alt 8 and custom is this.. To me the Alt 8 is almost like adding a boost to the signal. It doesnt seem to make much distortion on its own. Very clear, but big and drives the amp hard.
Its a great pickup
Eddie J.
New member
Re: Alt 8 - compressed?
Thanks. You know, all this sound almost to good to be true
I must check it out.
I tried all official customs and currently i am waiting for alnico 8 bars which i`ll try in custom and a demon. First I thought that Alt8 is kinda X2N/invader flavour, but after reading your posts i started to think how Alt8 could be the best of both above mentioned pickups. (demon and custom).
I just got gas. Again.:34:
Thanks. You know, all this sound almost to good to be true
I must check it out. I tried all official customs and currently i am waiting for alnico 8 bars which i`ll try in custom and a demon. First I thought that Alt8 is kinda X2N/invader flavour, but after reading your posts i started to think how Alt8 could be the best of both above mentioned pickups. (demon and custom).
I just got gas. Again.:34:
Ascension
Well-known member
Re: Alt 8 - compressed?
I have yet to try the Alt 8 but am a big Custom 8 fan. i also have a JB8 and a Dimarzio Norton with the A8. Bloodrose is right on about the A8 the articulation and clarity of a ceramic without all the harshness + the alnico warmth and roundness.
I have yet to try the Alt 8 but am a big Custom 8 fan. i also have a JB8 and a Dimarzio Norton with the A8. Bloodrose is right on about the A8 the articulation and clarity of a ceramic without all the harshness + the alnico warmth and roundness.
fab.regnaut
New member
Re: Alt 8 - compressed?
I wonder how can it be possible for the SH-15 to be around 16 dc resistance
and to be articulate and not compressed ?
Perhaps they use a thinner wire gauge than Custom and JB , to increase the treebles also ?
I wonder how can it be possible for the SH-15 to be around 16 dc resistance
and to be articulate and not compressed ?
Perhaps they use a thinner wire gauge than Custom and JB , to increase the treebles also ?
Rowan
New member
Re: Alt 8 - compressed?
Magic. :wizard:
I pay attention to my ears instead of the numbers. The alt 8 is easily my favorite pickup. Very big sounding, liquid smooth solo tone, awesome harmonics and all this with open clarity. Its not as compressed as a Distortion or Custom. The clean isn't mind blowing but its okay for pickup of this output. Roll back the volume and it becomes quite nice.
This pickup makes me wonder if this is how all a8 magnets are. I've never sampled them before the SH-15.
Magic. :wizard:
I pay attention to my ears instead of the numbers. The alt 8 is easily my favorite pickup. Very big sounding, liquid smooth solo tone, awesome harmonics and all this with open clarity. Its not as compressed as a Distortion or Custom. The clean isn't mind blowing but its okay for pickup of this output. Roll back the volume and it becomes quite nice.
This pickup makes me wonder if this is how all a8 magnets are. I've never sampled them before the SH-15.
KeeperOS
New member
Re: Alt 8 - compressed?
Frank said that for the Alternate 8 they used a special wire gauge AND winding so at least with this pickup values won't be very helpful in determining attributes me thinks.
Right now I am thinking of putting my Crazy 8 in my shred axe but if it doesn't suit it as well as I think it will I will probably be trying the Alt8 sooner rather than later...
Frank said that for the Alternate 8 they used a special wire gauge AND winding so at least with this pickup values won't be very helpful in determining attributes me thinks.
Right now I am thinking of putting my Crazy 8 in my shred axe but if it doesn't suit it as well as I think it will I will probably be trying the Alt8 sooner rather than later...
Re: Alt 8 - compressed?
Well said!! Yeah, the note clarity is awesome! And clean isnt shabby. You mentioned rolling back... I wanted to emphasize this point.. If I have my amp on Ultra setting (highest gain) and I roll the volume down half way, it doesnt thin out like some pups do, or lose definition. It stays big and full and clear. Rolling off is almost like switching down to the crunch setting. very cool
Right now my 2 fav pups are the Custom 8 and Alt 8. I need to order some more 8 magnets.
Well said!! Yeah, the note clarity is awesome! And clean isnt shabby. You mentioned rolling back... I wanted to emphasize this point.. If I have my amp on Ultra setting (highest gain) and I roll the volume down half way, it doesnt thin out like some pups do, or lose definition. It stays big and full and clear. Rolling off is almost like switching down to the crunch setting. very cool
Right now my 2 fav pups are the Custom 8 and Alt 8. I need to order some more 8 magnets.
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mustaine-who?
New member
Re: Alt 8 - compressed?
Yeeeeeeeeaaaaaaaaaaaahhhh...I have to disagree on the whole articulation thing. The Alt-8 is not as articulate as a Full Shred. If you pedal diads and triads off the E or A strings ala Megadeth or the like, it does get mushy. I think the BO neck is more articulate than the Alt-8, as is the Demon and the PATB-3. And if you do a lot of start/stop riffing in alternate times, I'm not sure the Alt-8 can keep up.
Just my $.02
Yeeeeeeeeaaaaaaaaaaaahhhh...I have to disagree on the whole articulation thing. The Alt-8 is not as articulate as a Full Shred. If you pedal diads and triads off the E or A strings ala Megadeth or the like, it does get mushy. I think the BO neck is more articulate than the Alt-8, as is the Demon and the PATB-3. And if you do a lot of start/stop riffing in alternate times, I'm not sure the Alt-8 can keep up.
Just my $.02
Pierre
Stratologist
Re: Alt 8 - compressed?
It's articulate enough I felt. More so than say the Distortion. Less than the Jazz(b) and FullShred. But it's not bad, especially considering how hot it is (regarless of numbers
)
And yes, it's not as compressed as some may think. Keep in mind that with high levels of gain, your amp compresses too.
It's articulate enough I felt. More so than say the Distortion. Less than the Jazz(b) and FullShred. But it's not bad, especially considering how hot it is (regarless of numbers
)And yes, it's not as compressed as some may think. Keep in mind that with high levels of gain, your amp compresses too.
frankfalbo
In Fluence Y'all
Re: Alt 8 - compressed?
Yeah that's exactly what I was going to say, Pierre. The correct way to A/B it against the Full Shred would be to back the amp's gain down a hair. I'm not saying it would all of a sudden be cutting as razor sharp as the Full Shred, but some of the difference in dynamics heard between the Alt8 and any other pickup in our line-up is somewhat colored by the output of the pickup, and how it hits the preamp.
In short, I wouldn't say it's a compressed pickup by any means. If you listen close, you'll even hear that hard picking does seem to have a hard hitting punch to it and pump the amp. You say that you "presume it can't be open" due to it's output, but that's all the magic of the wind, the wire, and the Alnico 8 magnet working together. It is extremely open for a high output pickup. In a weird way, it's actually a pretty "freeing" pickup. It's like "finally a pickup with the tone and dynamics of a medium output pickup, with the gain of a high output pickup."
Yeah that's exactly what I was going to say, Pierre. The correct way to A/B it against the Full Shred would be to back the amp's gain down a hair. I'm not saying it would all of a sudden be cutting as razor sharp as the Full Shred, but some of the difference in dynamics heard between the Alt8 and any other pickup in our line-up is somewhat colored by the output of the pickup, and how it hits the preamp.
In short, I wouldn't say it's a compressed pickup by any means. If you listen close, you'll even hear that hard picking does seem to have a hard hitting punch to it and pump the amp. You say that you "presume it can't be open" due to it's output, but that's all the magic of the wind, the wire, and the Alnico 8 magnet working together. It is extremely open for a high output pickup. In a weird way, it's actually a pretty "freeing" pickup. It's like "finally a pickup with the tone and dynamics of a medium output pickup, with the gain of a high output pickup."
Rowan
New member
Re: Alt 8 - compressed?
Agree 110% Its very different, (in a great way) but familiar in the aspect that you dont have to change your style or anything. (only come up with new cool stuff) Its inspiring
Agree 110% Its very different, (in a great way) but familiar in the aspect that you dont have to change your style or anything. (only come up with new cool stuff) Its inspiring
Eddie J.
New member
Re: Alt 8 - compressed?
I hope ALT 8 will hit me. I`ll post a review as soon as I get one.
btw, zebras with flame maple and creme rings are just about perfect.
Thanks, she is my friend`s daughter, and yes, she`s a pro
I hope ALT 8 will hit me. I`ll post a review as soon as I get one.
btw, zebras with flame maple and creme rings are just about perfect.
Rowan
New member
Re: Alt 8 - compressed?
Okay I finally got some recordings of this pickup. My band is working with a new singer so we got a small local studio to do a live demo so our guy can listen to our newest songs whenever he wants. I'm kinda bummed because I've never recorded with this amp before and set the treble and presence too low. But the recordings actually turned out pretty good for a live demo.
www.myspace.com/elbodojr
The songs are Naked, Covered in Chili and Pushing a Piano Uphill. I'm coming out of the right channel. The guitar is an Ibanez SZ520 and the amp is an ENGL screamer. Its all done with the Alt 8 except for the a small part in Pushing a Piano.
Okay I finally got some recordings of this pickup. My band is working with a new singer so we got a small local studio to do a live demo so our guy can listen to our newest songs whenever he wants. I'm kinda bummed because I've never recorded with this amp before and set the treble and presence too low. But the recordings actually turned out pretty good for a live demo.
www.myspace.com/elbodojr
The songs are Naked, Covered in Chili and Pushing a Piano Uphill. I'm coming out of the right channel. The guitar is an Ibanez SZ520 and the amp is an ENGL screamer. Its all done with the Alt 8 except for the a small part in Pushing a Piano.
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