Custom 8 or Alternative 8?

[CountFunkula]

I'm looking into bridge humbuckers that can add some thickness to my sound. No surprise, I was led to alnico 8! Anyway, those two seem to be my best options at this point. My question is, which one sounds fatter and thicker? My money would go on the alt 8 due to the windings, but you can never tell with these things! I read this thread:

https://forum.seymourduncan.com/showthread.php?t=141919&highlight=alt+8

... and he mentioned that the custom 8 had a "squishy" attack and the warmest clean. On the other hand, he said the alt 8 was crisper and gave me the impression that it was brighter. And are they really that different, or more similar? I'm looking for the biggest sound possible, as my guitar is mostly hard maple PLUS a Floyd and an ebony fretboard (yikes). Any more insight on this comparison is greatly appreciated. Thanks a lot in advance!

EDIT: More info - I play in a one-guitar rock/multiple genre band and my amp is a Carvin Legacy.

 

[blueman335]

Re: Custom 8 or Alternative 8?

Welcome aboard. I'm a C8 fan, as are many of us here. I don't hear nearly as many positive things about the Alt 8. From what I can tell, the Alt 8 is the brighter of the two, and players looking at A8's are usually wanting mids and warmth. You definitely have a bright guitar. If I was you, I'd try a C8, CC (A2 magnet), an unoriented A5, or a roughcast A4. Same PU, just different magnets and flavors of warmth.

 

[CountFunkula]

Re: Custom 8 or Alternative 8?

How much brighter though? I'm a little reluctant to do a magnet swap believe it or not, and I want to know if the alt 8 will still beef up my sound. Best case scenario is that I can find a custom 8 for sale on here, as I don't want to risk screwing up my brand new pickup.

 

[jake_xms3_punk]

Re: Custom 8 or Alternative 8?

magnet swaps are the easiest thing to do EVER, no reason to worry at all!

 

[blueman335]

Re: Custom 8 or Alternative 8?

How much brighter though? I'm a little reluctant to do a magnet swap believe it or not, and I want to know if the alt 8 will still beef up my sound. Best case scenario is that I can find a custom 8 for sale on here, as I don't want to risk screwing up my brand new pickup.

For what I've heard, the Alt 8 won't 'beef' it up much. I'm sure you can get a C8 here, or someone to swap the magnet for you.

 

[Ascension]

Re: Custom 8 or Alternative 8?

Go Alt 8 and I have several of both pickups currently in my guitars. In my Purple MG 122 for example I had a Custom 8 but wanted more bottom and needed a beefier tapped tone the way I had it wired so I swapped it for an Alt 8. The Alt 8 is noticeably bigger, fatter and hotter than the Custom 8 was + sounds terrific tapped. The Alt has to be set a little low as the mag pull is massive for some reason even for A-8. These are really thick so it really needs to be in a brighter guitar. The Alt is a lot like a JB on steroids, tighter, hotter, fatter and bigger but with that JB clarity in crunch mode and singing solo voice.

 

[Rowan]

Re: Custom 8 or Alternative 8?

Go Alt 8 and I have several of both pickups currently in my guitars. In my Purple MG 122 for example I had a Custom 8 but wanted more bottom and needed a beefier tapped tone the way I had it wired so I swapped it for an Alt 8. The Alt 8 is noticeably bigger, fatter and hotter than the Custom 8 was + sounds terrific tapped. The Alt has to be set a little low as the mag pull is massive for some reason even for A-8. These are really thick so it really needs to be in a brighter guitar. The Alt is a lot like a JB on steroids, tighter, hotter, fatter and bigger but with that JB clarity in crunch mode and singing solo voice.

What this man said. I had an Alt 8 in an Ibanez SZ520 and it was massive.

 

[blueman335]

Re: Custom 8 or Alternative 8?

Go Alt 8 and I have several of both pickups currently in my guitars. In my Purple MG 122 for example I had a Custom 8 but wanted more bottom and needed a beefier tapped tone the way I had it wired so I swapped it for an Alt 8. The Alt 8 is noticeably bigger, fatter and hotter than the Custom 8 was + sounds terrific tapped. The Alt has to be set a little low as the mag pull is massive for some reason even for A-8. These are really thick so it really needs to be in a brighter guitar. The Alt is a lot like a JB on steroids, tighter, hotter, fatter and bigger but with that JB clarity in crunch mode and singing solo voice.

Which one do you think has more high end, the Alt8 or C8?

For a warm high output bridge, I'm liking the JB2 a lot.

 

[CountFunkula]

Re: Custom 8 or Alternative 8?

Gah, conflicting opinions! I wish I could buy both. If I can't decide, I will just buy an alt 8. That way, if I'm not happy, I'll have an a8 magnet handy to put into a custom. But I'm still conflicted :scratchch

 

[metalmachine]

Re: Custom 8 or Alternative 8?

i had a alt8 in my jackson sl1 and it sounded damn thick