Custom 8 paradise!

[supernosher]

Re: Custom 8 paradise!

BloodRose,
Go for the gold! Record some clips. It would be a great day in SDUGF history.

...as long as you don't post them on youtube or myspace!

 

[BloodRose]

Re: Custom 8 paradise!

BloodRose,
Go for the gold! Record some clips. It would be a great day in SDUGF history.

...as long as you don't post them on youtube or myspace!

I dont have any way to record them or I would.. I have a cassette player... haha

 

[Eddie J.]

Re: Custom 8 paradise!

In terms of harmonics, natural and artificial, how do the Custom (ceramic) and Custom 8 compare?

Custom 8 is way more fun to play with. I finally tried it with PG neck in a Dean hardtail. I don`t know if I`m well adapted to alnico 8 now (i`ve been playing Demon8 for a year or so) but i just couldn`t get happy with going back to ceramic custom. I went back on it today, played it for hour or so, and had troubles with getting nice harmonics out of it. Also, after Demon8, custom felt somehow boxy and not dynamic at all. Wall of sound kinda sound, not in the worst kinda way, but really went few steps into that side. Then I stuffed it with A8 and BAM! Immediate happiness. Great harmonics, easily controlable, and the sound is so PUNCHY which i didn`t expected. Reading all this reviews i thought it will be much more mellow and warmer than ceramic custom, but man, this pickup is even more powerfull and in the same time clearer than custom! I am amazed. It is warmer, but in the same time sharper in the very very nice way, hard to describe. The best thing is actually not just a sound, but the way how it behaves under your fingers, so easy and fun to play. As someone said earlier, string separation is great, just a bit worse then SD, but much better than any customs, and I mean MUCH. Ok, both ceramic and C5 do have good string separation, but here you have some presence added to every string in chord which sound just **** right. A8 seems to be the thing, really.
I was delaying this SD8 to C8 swap cause i thought it would sacrifice a top end and great clarity that SD8 has, but that really didn`t happened. It just added more meat and stayed pretty much alive, just great.
I go to play some more, this is really a nice surprise for me :fest6:

 

[BloodRose]

Re: Custom 8 paradise!

Good write up Eddie! Yeah, Ive said it has very similar characteristics and eq curve to the Custom, but with warmth.. I was meaning mellow, I was meaning tone.. Ballz but with singing lead voice.

And I really agree with what you say about how it responds under the fingers. I like these so much that Ive gotten hooked to the response and feel.
And.. In different guitars, they keep the feel, but enhance the guitar. I now have a Custom 8s in a Washburn Salas, Washburn MG104 (with 598n ), Kramer Focus 6000, and my Custom in my Explorer is getting changed in a couple of days..
Combine this with a 598b in my Baretta, Crazy 8 in a Charvel 4, Alternative 8 in my other Charvel 4 and trying a JB8 in my LTD, it looks like 8 is my magic number....
Im so taken by the custom8s anymore, that I dont like some of the other guitars that used to sound good to me..
I have been happy with the Custom in the Explorer for a few years.. Now not quite right and want that warmth..
And the kicker... When I put a Suhr Aldrich in my Les Paul, I thought that was the shizz nizz.. Its almost too harsh for me now..
I just feel alot of control with the Custom8s

 

[Eddie J.]

Re: Custom 8 paradise!

Good write up Eddie! Yeah, Ive said it has very similar characteristics and eq curve to the Custom, but with warmth.. I was meaning mellow, I was meaning tone.. Ballz but with singing lead voice.

Exactly. Somehow I was neglecting the balls factor before trial. I can imagine the balls on ALT8, my next pickup for sure.

And I really agree with what you say about how it responds under the fingers. I like these so much that Ive gotten hooked to the response and feel.

Ain`t it great? It` really does have some active/ceramic feel, very steady signal, very easy to get good tone out of it.

You sure do have a bunch of A8 stuff there, and I can`t blame you

 

[Shinobi]

Re: Custom 8 paradise!

OK so I have a Custom Custom that I was thinking about putting back in my 84 Kramer Baretta (currently has a DD in it). What do I need to do to the CC to make it a Custom8?

 

[super rad stuff]

Re: Custom 8 paradise!

stick an alnico8 magnet in the CC
with alnico8 though, you'll want to be careful not to put it too close to the strings; it's magnet pull is strong enough to kill sustain and harmonics if it's too close. when at the right height though, alnico8 pickups are awesome!!

 

[BloodRose]

Re: Custom 8 paradise!

another entry.. Dropped a custom8 in a swamp ash MG100 and once again, the pickup gave me and eargasm!!!

Next week, my Explorer gets one!! Just the thought of that........

 

[BloodRose]

Re: Custom 8 paradise!

The Explorer has her Custom 8 and it just rips.. Man, I love that pickup!! The note clarity is awesome.. Lows growl, highs sing, and when I chunk a low string and pick higher notes they ring thru.. nice balance

 

[jhale667]

Re: Custom 8 paradise!

I need to stop procrastinating and try one...

 

[BloodRose]

Re: Custom 8 paradise!

I need to stop procrastinating and try one...

Yeah bro.. They really are amazing.. If you arent blown away, change it back to ?? But Me thinks you'll dig it..

Ascension is running them in his 2 (or more) main axes, Im putting them in about all of mine.. (I have little cred as I dont play out, but I have great taste haha) But I love them, there are several others that love them.. I dont know anyone yet that wasnt impressed.

In all the diff guitars i have them in, they have the same feel to the touch and control, but they DONT hide the guitar's sound.. My MG104 has a MAGNIFICENT Airy tone due to the 25.5 scale. My Explorer has a growl as would expect from that big bad mahogany plank.. my MG130 Steve salas has a deep almost lp tone.. Its a mahogany superstrat with a 24.75 scale.

 

[super rad stuff]

Re: Custom 8 paradise!

hey bloodrose have you ever tried a jazzB with a8? i've heard/read that they're similar to the c5 with less output and would like to know what you think, as a jazzb8 would be a cool pickup for me i think.

 

[BloodRose]

Re: Custom 8 paradise!

hey bloodrose have you ever tried a jazzB with a8? i've heard/read that they're similar to the c5 with less output and would like to know what you think, as a jazzb8 would be a cool pickup for me i think.

Sorry bro, never played one of those. Ive never played a Jazz bridge either.. Have a couple of neck ones tho.. Ive tried A 8s in the Customs and 59neck and bridge only so far.. I have a couple bars and am gonna try a JB soon, its just that the JB has a cover, so, that project is gonna take alil longer. (in a LTDEC400ats) If what I hear is true, should sound crushing!! Do let me know if you hear about the jazzb A8 combo!

 

[super rad stuff]

Re: Custom 8 paradise!

i will

 

[Shinobi]

Re: Custom 8 paradise!

i will

So I was looking to order the Alnico 8 mags and they are so cheap. What would my DD sound like with a 8 in it...a DD8? Would it sound like a JB on roids?

Will there be a lot of difference between a CC8 and a DD8?

I also have the original Schaller PAF (Zebra) pup that came in my Baretta.....what it sound like with an 8 in it...would it be like a 598?

Thanks

 

[super rad stuff]

Re: Custom 8 paradise!

the schaller PAF with an a8 will sound like a schaller PAF with a8 the difference between a custom8 and a distortion8 would be the difference between a JB and a C5, just with alnico 8. alnico8 generally sound bigger imo, due to the high output and big mids which is where guitar frequencies should be attuned to anyways.

 

[Shinobi]

Re: Custom 8 paradise!

the schaller PAF with an a8 will sound like a schaller PAF with a8 the difference between a custom8 and a distortion8 would be the difference between a JB and a C5, just with alnico 8. alnico8 generally sound bigger imo, due to the high output and big mids which is where guitar frequencies should be attuned to anyways.

With the JB being like the DD...what would be the difference between a JB8 and a DD8 if the only real difference between a JB and DD is the Alnico V and Ceramic

and the CC being like the C5....CC uses Aln II and C5 uses Aln V.

did i get that right.

 

[super rad stuff]

Re: Custom 8 paradise!

With the JB being like the DD...what would be the difference between a JB8 and a DD8 if the only real difference between a JB and DD is the Alnico V and Ceramic

and the CC being like the C5....CC uses Aln II and C5 uses Aln V.

did i get that right.

yep that sounds about right. now go crazy with the swaps! and don't forget to get a couple of each kind of magnet, and when you do order them enter sdforum for the coupon code.

 

[C8rockin]

Re: Custom 8 paradise!

I love this tread... I only have one Custom 8 (only one guitar right now) but, oooh how sweet it is. I can't imagine life without it now. I need more guitars to put C8s in.

BloodRose, not to change the subject, but have you found a neck pickup you like the C8? I have the hardest time with the neck pup. I was just wondering. Maybe it's my guitar but I've yet to find one that does it for me.

 

[super rad stuff]

Re: Custom 8 paradise!

I love this tread... I only have one Custom 8 (only one guitar right now) but, oooh how sweet it is. I can't imagine life without it now. I need more guitars to put C8s in.

BloodRose, not to change the subject, but have you found a neck pickup you like the C8? I have the hardest time with the neck pup. I was just wondering. Maybe it's my guitar but I've yet to find one that does it for me.

a5/a3 or a5/a4 phat cat works really well with an a8 equipped bridge pickup:fing2: