Ask the experts: Ash body, maple neck Super Strat with TB Custom - A8 or UOA5?

[jhale667]

Alright, so after multiple delays, I'm finally getting the Charvel mutt I've been planning on making the first guinea pig for my 1st mag swap back from getting finished soon, but figured it'd be nice to have some input from the Duncan forum bros before I dive in.

It's a 2-piece KnE Northern Ash body with an old-school 80s Charvel neck, and it's also fitted with a Floyd Upgrades Ti Big-Block on the Floyd. I play through a Mesa MK III amp that'll do pristine-clean to 'kill everybody'. It's going to be primarily used for heavy rock tunes, but I'd like it to have some versatility (will be using either an STK-S1N or a Dimarzio Heavy Blues in the neck slot for cleans - still debating THAT too! :scratchch), especially split. I think judging by my other Ash/maple Strat the ceramic Custom will be overkill (especially with the Ti block); I have both A8 and UOA5 mags on hand (thanks AddictionFX!!) and will likely still A/B them, but - which in your expert opinion(s) would be the most lethal-yet-swiss-army knife of the two choices?

I had been leaning towards A8 since the Custom 8 gets so many rave reviews around here, but lately UOA5 seems to be all the rage...with that wood combo, what can I expect from both?

Thanks in advance! :thanks:

 

[dominus]

Re: Ask the experts: Ash body, maple neck Super Strat with TB Custom - A8 or UOA5?

First, try stock.

Then, try the A8.

Then, try the A5.

 

[GuitarDoc]

Re: Ask the experts: Ash body, maple neck Super Strat with TB Custom - A8 or UOA5?

I wouldn't even bother with the ceramic Custom. Put the A8 in it before you even try it.

That will be your last mag swap in that pup. The C8 is the only way to fly.

 

[jhale667]

Re: Ask the experts: Ash body, maple neck Super Strat with TB Custom - A8 or UOA5?

I wouldn't even bother with the ceramic Custom. Put the A8 in it before you even try it.

That will be your last mag swap in that pup. The C8 is the only way to fly.

Thanks. Definitely not bothering with the ceramic. I'm betting you're right about the C8, too - just wanted to see what other's opinions were on it vs. the UOA5 in an ash/maple combo.

 

[Despair]

Re: Ask the experts: Ash body, maple neck Super Strat with TB Custom - A8 or UOA5?

Ash and a maple fretboard (I'm assuming) is likely to be too bright for most people with ceramic. Everyone's tastes (and degree of upper frequency hearing loss) are different!

I'm not sure I'd rule out trying it stock. If your guitar lacks bite for some reason or is unusually dark, it might be the right thing. I'd probably magnet swap first, though, as I tend to not like ceramic presence (but the original Custom is on the short list of ceramics that I've heard work in the right guitar without post-EQ to remove ear discomfort).

UOA5 isn't just different in EQ, it's very different in feel from A8.

A8 has a ceramic like bass punch and attack, but a more open midrange. Lends itself well to both ultra-heavy styles and blues. Vintage metal tone that never was.

UOA5 is like a higher output A2 (which is, curiously also an unoriented magnet...) with more treble and bass, but a touch lighter on the midrange. Great for vintage tones, but probably a bit soft for more extreme metal styles. Still strong for hard rock, depending on what you need for the particular song/band.

All great sounds, just a matter of which one works for your guitar/taste.

 

[jhale667]

Re: Ask the experts: Ash body, maple neck Super Strat with TB Custom - A8 or UOA5?

Ash and a maple fretboard (I'm assuming) is likely to be too bright for most people with ceramic. Everyone's tastes (and degree of upper frequency hearing loss) are different!

I'm not sure I'd rule out trying it stock. If your guitar lacks bite for some reason or is unusually dark, it might be the right thing. I'd probably magnet swap first, though, as I tend to not like ceramic presence (but the original Custom is on the short list of ceramics that I've heard work in the right guitar without post-EQ to remove ear discomfort).

UOA5 isn't just different in EQ, it's very different in feel from A8.

A8 has a ceramic like bass punch and attack, but a more open midrange. Lends itself well to both ultra-heavy styles and blues. Vintage metal tone that never was.

UOA5 is like a higher output A2 (which is, curiously also an unoriented magnet...) with more treble and bass, but a touch lighter on the midrange. Great for vintage tones, but probably a bit soft for more extreme metal styles. Still strong for hard rock, depending on what you need for the particular song/band.

All great sounds, just a matter of which one works for your guitar/taste.

Thanks. It is indeed a maple fretboard, yes. Your description reinforces my already strong leaning towards the A8.

 

[blueman335]

Re: Ask the experts: Ash body, maple neck Super Strat with TB Custom - A8 or UOA5?

Ash and a maple fretboard (I'm assuming) is likely to be too bright for most people with ceramic. Everyone's tastes (and degree of upper frequency hearing loss) are different!

I'm not sure I'd rule out trying it stock. If your guitar lacks bite for some reason or is unusually dark, it might be the right thing. I'd probably magnet swap first, though, as I tend to not like ceramic presence (but the original Custom is on the short list of ceramics that I've heard work in the right guitar without post-EQ to remove ear discomfort).

UOA5 isn't just different in EQ, it's very different in feel from A8.

A8 has a ceramic like bass punch and attack, but a more open midrange. Lends itself well to both ultra-heavy styles and blues. Vintage metal tone that never was.

UOA5 is like a higher output A2 (which is, curiously also an unoriented magnet...) with more treble and bass, but a touch lighter on the midrange. Great for vintage tones, but probably a bit soft for more extreme metal styles. Still strong for hard rock, depending on what you need for the particular song/band.

All great sounds, just a matter of which one works for your guitar/taste.

+1. Good post.

 

[Shauggy]

Re: Ask the experts: Ash body, maple neck Super Strat with TB Custom - A8 or UOA5?

I have an ash/maple G&L with a TB-11 in it so I'd be interested in hearing the OP's thoughts if he gets to try the A8 and returns to the post. I like the TB-11 in there, but I was wanting something a little bit brighter and was planning to try the A8 next.

 

[jhale667]

It took longer than I thought, but...

It took longer than I thought, but...

I finally got the Strat body back, and assembled the guitar. I played around with the ceramic Custom in it for a few days, which didn't sound nearly as harsh as I thought it would (or compared to my other Ash/Maple/ceramic Custom-equipped beast), but was still a little bit grating on the high end, particularly on open power chords with heavy distortion.

I switched it to the A8 (and now I'm not sure why I was intimidated/procrastinated about it for so long - it was EASY!!), and OH WOW...near sonic Nirvana...it didn't lose enough low end tightness to worry about, but the mids improved, and the top end lost all trace of harshness, and became (while still plenty present) pleasant sounding to my ears. It handles metal and clean sounds easily, and I MUCH prefer the split tone to the ceramic. I can't imagine the UOA5 possibly sounding any better, though I may swap it out to play around with it in a week or two. But definitely add me to the list of Custom 8 converts! :bigok:

 

[blueman335]

Re: It took longer than I thought, but...

Re: It took longer than I thought, but...

I can't imagine the UOA5 possibly sounding any better, though I may swap it out to play around with it in a week or two. But definitely add me to the list of Custom 8 converts!

A Custom with an UOA5 is a little warmer than a C8, has more dynamics and response (like an A2), and is less in-your-face output-wise. Depending on your style and music, you may like one more than the other. Both are very good, and I use both.

 

[jhale667]

It rocks.

It rocks.

A Custom with an UOA5 is a little warmer than a C8, has more dynamics and response (like an A2), and is less in-your-face output-wise. Depending on your style and music, you may like one more than the other. Both are very good, and I use both.

Imagining I'll try the UOA5 in one of my other Custom-loaded guitars somewhere down the line, but I'm really liking the "in your face" aspect of the A8 in this particular Strat...it's simultaneously sweet AND rude, and just enough of both. :friday:

 

[Despair]

Re: Ask the experts: Ash body, maple neck Super Strat with TB Custom - A8 or UOA5?

If the upper mids aren't overbearing, it sounds like A8 nailed what you need in that guitar. Trying a Custom UOA5 in one of the other guitars that was harsher with ceramic sounds like a better bet.

Always fun to tinker, though...

 

[jhale667]

It was fun!

It was fun!

If the upper mids aren't overbearing, it sounds like A8 nailed what you need in that guitar. Trying a Custom UOA5 in one of the other guitars that was harsher with ceramic sounds like a better bet.

Always fun to tinker, though...

Sure is... and like I said, dunno why I doubted myself, or all those here who said it was easy... I was like "No kidding, it really IS that simple...!" It MAY have taken me 10 minutes since I was being careful... LOL I'm always a little over-cautiously superstitious the first time I try a new repair...:foot:

....I'm thinking about trying the UOA5 in my other Ash/Maple Strat... it has a Brass Big-Block (as opposed to the Ti one in this guitar) and with the ceramic Custom it positively BARKS... sounds quite aggro..:lol: great for heavy Drop-D riffing, but could use a bit of subtlety in the upper mids and high-end, perhaps...

 

[Diego]

Re: Ask the experts: Ash body, maple neck Super Strat with TB Custom - A8 or UOA5?

Just me or A8 pickups are way more picky about height than A5?

I've got a JB8 in a Strat that sounded absolutely terrible when set to say 2 mm. from the low E string. Mushy and undefined.
Backed it off to around 4-5 mm. and the tone changed way more dramatically than any other pickup I've had before.

It gained tons of clarity, the mids backed off a fair bit, and it retained all the chunk. The JB8 is a super powerful pickup so it doesn't hurt to keep it low. It's still a monster.

Keep this in mind, so you can keep tweaking your tone further.

 

[blueman335]

Re: It was fun!

Re: It was fun!

Sure is... and like I said, dunno why I doubted myself, or all those here who said it was easy... I was like "No kidding, it really IS that simple...!" It MAY have taken me 10 minutes since I was being careful... LOL I'm always a little over-cautiously superstitious the first time I try a new repair.

We're all extra careful the first time. Glad you've joined the mag-swap club! Now, help us promote the benefits to the hold outs here...:naughty:

 

[jhale667]

You know this!

You know this!

We're all extra careful the first time. Glad you've joined the mag-swap club! Now, help us promote the benefits to the hold outs here...:naughty:

Will do! :friday:

@ Diego - It's not just you. I noticed that as well, this guitar has direct-mounted pickups, it sits way lower than the Custom or CC in my other two guitars and required no height adjustment, nor volume/gain tweaks to the amp. The output and attack are fine with it sitting low in the cavity - very impressive, actually. Imagining adjusting it to be higher would be overkill.

 

[misterwhizzy]

Re: It took longer than I thought, but...

Re: It took longer than I thought, but...

I switched it to the A8 (and now I'm not sure why I was intimidated/procrastinated about it for so long - it was EASY!!), and OH WOW...near sonic Nirvana...it didn't lose enough low end tightness to worry about, but the mids improved, and the top end lost all trace of harshness, and became (while still plenty present) pleasant sounding to my ears. It handles metal and clean sounds easily, and I MUCH prefer the split tone to the ceramic. I can't imagine the UOA5 possibly sounding any better, though I may swap it out to play around with it in a week or two. But definitely add me to the list of Custom 8 converts! :bigok:

Welcome to the club, sir. I'm glad it's sounding so good for you. Once I put a Custom 8 in the bridge of my Les Paul, I stopped worrying about pickups.

 

[Quencho092]

Re: Ask the experts: Ash body, maple neck Super Strat with TB Custom - A8 or UOA5?

very cool.

I agree with everything on this thread except for wood matching. I believe that the player has more to do with whether or not a pickup will feel right, maple/rosewood fretboard isn't going to make a fraction of a difference compared to how your pick hits the strings and what you like to hear. If it feels right, rock the crap out of it period.

Wood speculation is seldom on point IMO.

Congrats on a good match!

 

[blueman335]

Re: Ask the experts: Ash body, maple neck Super Strat with TB Custom - A8 or UOA5?

I agree with everything on this thread except for wood matching. I believe that the player has more to do with whether or not a pickup will feel right

I think wood is important, but also agree that playing style is an important factor. Thing is, we have no way to even begin to measure playing styles.

 

[jhale667]

Re: Ask the experts: Ash body, maple neck Super Strat with TB Custom - A8 or UOA5?

I think wood is important, but also agree that playing style is an important factor. Thing is, we have no way to even begin to measure playing styles.

Wood is extremely important, IMO. I've been experimenting with wood types since I was 18... It's the reason 3 out of 5 of my Strats are made of Ash... but agree whatever wood it is, it will only translate what the player does/gives it. But you can learn what wood works best for your particular style, or puts out the closest to what you're wanting to hear...