Anyone tried a rough A5 in a 59/Custom?

[SJ318]

Hi,
I do know, try it yourself. But it will be a big job as I'm going to need to clean up all the parts
inside, messy wiring, worn out loose everything. Big gig (for me) coming up.
So, I've been meaning too, but enjoy others experience. If you did, was there much change
In texture, volume, etc?
Thank you very much,
Steve Buffington

 

[eclecticsynergy]

Re: Anyone tried a rough A5 in a 59/Custom?

I haven't, but my preference for older 59Bs has led me to consider it. Also toyed with the idea of trying UA5, my current fave for bridge pickups- but the Hybrid seems pretty near perfect the way it is and I wouldn't want to alter it too much. Seems to me the slight sweetening of rough A5 might make a great pickup even better.

Please let us know your opinion of the result, ok?

 

[LtKojak]

Re: Anyone tried a rough A5 in a 59/Custom?

Hi,
I do know, try it yourself. But it will be a big job as I'm going to need to clean up all the parts
inside, messy wiring, worn out loose everything. Big gig (for me) coming up.
So, I've been meaning too, but enjoy others experience. If you did, was there much change
In texture, volume, etc?
Thank you very much,
Steve Buffington

Your perfect '59/Custom Hybrid will be a non-potted one, with an roughcast A5.

You know that, generally speaking, I don't like A5 p'ups, so I'm not quite impartial, but IME, the best-sounding versions of the '59/Custom Hybrid, depending on context, are A2, A4, UOA5 and A8.

HTH,

 

[SJ318]

Re: Anyone tried a rough A5 in a 59/Custom?

Thank you Pepe, electric synergy,
I will let you know. Pepe, after all I've read and TRIED to assimilate, the nuances of RC A5 and UO A5 - I really am not sure the difference between these 2 in my 59/Cust. Any way I could cajole an opinion between the 2 in this pickup?
And yes it is unpotted.
Sorry to bug you with this question as you have answered it a million times, that is why I say "in the context of this p'up."
I always prefer a rough cut, every time, in all my p'ups: Seth, WLH, ThroBak, Antiquities, even ECP's which I know are favorites of yours. RC 4, RC 5, seem to make me hear the sound in my head I want closer than any others.
Thank you,
Steve Buffington

 

[LtKojak]

Re: Anyone tried a rough A5 in a 59/Custom?

Steve, if you like the p'up as it is, why do you wanna change? And just before a big gig?

 

[SJ318]

Re: Anyone tried a rough A5 in a 59/Custom?

Well,Pepe,
I probably wouldn't have, but the WLH sounds so great and "crackling", like all my others that when I changed to roughcast
4 or 5, was such a change toward a grittier feel, but still staying true to the pickup, Seths being such a great test bed ( the 2's and 8's not a fit form me, nor polished mags) I thought "This beautifully loud but clean-upable p'up is for me, a touch of grit would be a plus to *me* per my experience, and reading here, mostly from you, Mincer, Lew, Blueman,Dr.F., Dr.N. Aceman, so many I can't name all seem to love roughcast of all styles, I decided to change my 59/ C. - but the choice is RC A5, or UO A5, and I am going to do one, I wanted an opinion from a top knowledgable guy as to UO or RC 5. I don't know enough to make
an informed decision.
Best I can explain myself. They are different. What can I expect, not in general, but in this p'up. I still have much time left before my big Star Spangled routine. All alone, where feed back is king for long holds w/Vibrato arm, not Jimi stealing, but my own interpretation. I am so proud to be permanently chosen till the day I can no longer stand and play. Every year for the veterans food bank and veterans affairs.
Steve Buffington

 

[LtKojak]

Re: Anyone tried a rough A5 in a 59/Custom?

I decided to change my 59/ C. - but the choice is RC A5, or UO A5,

If that's the case, then go with the Roughcast A5.

HTH,

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: Anyone tried a rough A5 in a 59/Custom?

Thank you Pepe, electric synergy,
I will let you know. Pepe, after all I've read and TRIED to assimilate, the nuances of RC A5 and UO A5 - I really am not sure the difference between these 2 in my 59/Cust. Any way I could cajole an opinion between the 2 in this pickup?

Steve, are you clear on the difference in sound between A5, RCA5 and A2?

If so, think of RCA5 as taking the A5 sound just a little in the direction of A2, but not much.

Think of UOA5 as taking the A5 sound even a little further in the direction towards A2 than RCA5 does, but again, just a little further in that direction.

 

[Mincer]

Re: Anyone tried a rough A5 in a 59/Custom?

I have one! But it also has double screws.
To my ears, it isn't as 'hard' as a regular one (I have a few of those). It is a little squishier, and the mids are different. Not more or less, just shifted to a different frequency. Overall, it is a great change, and I'd recommend it.

 

[LtKojak]

Re: Anyone tried a rough A5 in a 59/Custom?

I have one! But it also has double screws.

Dave, do you remember how I was trashed by the forumites when I suggested double screws to be a great feature?

That was my original idea when I proposed the neck version of that p'up. The perfect set, a marketing dream product, with no competition from other brands.

Had I been physically present, I would've been killed, dismembered and burned at the stake while being spit on by the angry mob of forumites.

"Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing"
- Jesus Christ, hanging from the cross.

Swell...!

 

[daenius]

Re: Anyone tried a rough A5 in a 59/Custom?

Dave, do you remember how I was trashed by the forumites when I suggested double screws to be a great feature?

That was my original idea when I proposed the neck version of that p'up. The perfect set, a marketing dream product, with no competition from other brands.

Had I been physically present, I would've been killed, dismembered and burned at the stake while being spit on by the angry mob of forumites.

"Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing"
- Jesus Christ, hanging from the cross.

Swell...!

I'm surprised by how many people do not like the double screws! Why? I have a double screw pickup and I think it's awesome! It's a Suhr DSV as a neck pickup. They have a whole line of double screw pickups actually. Now I'm not sure when they first released them but if what you said is true and it was a long time ago then Duncan could have beaten them to the punch!

 

[SJ318]

Re: Anyone tried a rough A5 in a 59/Custom?

Lt.Kojak-
That is all i need, RC A5 it is.
Mincer -
Thank you too!
All formumites: I cannot believe all Humbuckers where folks take the cover off, (or even on will work) that they do not have Screws in BOTH the slug position and the usual screw position.
Get the pup close for the high strings, in my case, raise the the slug side a bit, and drop the whole pup on the lower strings (very heavy in my case) and bring the bridge side poles up!
Thanks, really,
Steve Buffington

 

[SJ318]

Re: Anyone tried a rough A5 in a 59/Custom?

And no, With Respect,
Wide range pickups do the opposite, and turning them makes no difference, in case someone is thinking that.
SJB

 

[Mincer]

Re: Anyone tried a rough A5 in a 59/Custom?

Dave, do you remember how I was trashed by the forumites when I suggested double screws to be a great feature?

That was my original idea when I proposed the neck version of that p'up. The perfect set, a marketing dream product, with no competition from other brands.

Had I been physically present, I would've been killed, dismembered and burned at the stake while being spit on by the angry mob of forumites.

"Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing"
- Jesus Christ, hanging from the cross.

Swell...!

Yeah, but funny- I totally forgot about that when I ordered mine. It does sound really good..and I like it a little better than the stock Hybrid.

 

[LtKojak]

Re: Anyone tried a rough A5 in a 59/Custom?

It does sound really good..and I like it a little better than the stock Hybrid.

Boy, don't I know that?

Yeah, tell me about it...

 

[eclecticsynergy]

Re: Anyone tried a rough A5 in a 59/Custom?

I'm surprised by how many people do not like the double screws! Why? I have a double screw pickup and I think it's awesome! It's a Suhr DSV as a neck pickup. They have a whole line of double screw pickups actually. Now I'm not sure when they first released them but if what you said is true and it was a long time ago then Duncan could have beaten them to the punch!

I have a DSV too, a good sounding pickup. Some say the regular Suhr humbuckers can be a bit dry or clinical sounding; I think the double screws may mitigate this hi-fi quality slightly in the case of the DSV. Anyway, I like both the tone and the feel. Have been meaning to try the Thornbuckers one of these days.

 

[Mincer]

Re: Anyone tried a rough A5 in a 59/Custom?

I know that Allan Holdsworth was fond of a double screw '59 neck in the bridge position.

 

[Aceman]

Re: Anyone tried a rough A5 in a 59/Custom?

Always loved the double screws in the SuperDistortion

 

[daenius]

Re: Anyone tried a rough A5 in a 59/Custom?

I have a DSV too, a good sounding pickup. Some say the regular Suhr humbuckers can be a bit dry or clinical sounding; I think the double screws may mitigate this hi-fi quality slightly in the case of the DSV. Anyway, I like both the tone and the feel. Have been meaning to try the Thornbuckers one of these days.

Couldn't agree more

DSV kicks butt! Easily one of my favorite neck pickups with its great clarity and very smooth and sweet sounding highs. Plenty of warmth to deliver a creamy tone in all situations too. It also splits like a boss so I recommend it to everyone.

I used to have an SSH+ in one of my Suhrs and I thought it was a good sounding pickup, but it wasn't anything to write home about either. It had a little fizzle in the high end that I did not enjoy too much. Swapped that out for an SSV and it had a lot more growl and character to it, but certainly dropped the output a whole lot, which I made up with by just always using a tubescreamer when using that guitar. For me, most of their single-screw pickups are either a bit scoopy or have a very narrow and specific mid spike that cause a lot of people to feel that it's lacking some character.

A while ago I came across the Aldrich, which is the 10% overwound brother of the SSH+ and boy that thing KICKS ASS. Totally made me question why they don't install the Aldrich in all their guitars instead of the SSH+ hahaha.

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: Anyone tried a rough A5 in a 59/Custom?

I know that Allan Holdsworth was fond of a double screw '59 neck in the bridge position.

For many years.

And with no neck pickup...just a double screw bridge pickup.

Sort of like how Fender Esquire players feel they get their best sound without the neck pickup magnets pulling on the strings.