Custom UOA5

[Xavier]

So I took my Custom 5, which I took out of my Yamaha SG. It had a good tone, but it was too hollow sounding in a band context, it didn't cut through. I installed an SH6B instead, but then it was...too much, The SG is a bright guitar by nature, and the SH6 was way too bright (and it didn't balance well with the Gibson 490R I have at the neck position). I use a nickel cover , as I like the sound of covered humbuckers , a bit more round and mellow.

I ordered several magnets from cermags.co.uk , and installed an UOA5.

I guess I can safely say the Custom UOA5 is like a vintage Custom 5. Not as soft as the CC, kind of an in between. Sounds and feels more A2 than A5 to me. Has a woody tone. enough top end and rather soft bass. Does blues, up to classic metal, no problem.

Definitely different than the C5 and the CC, kind of its own thing. Worth trying imho !

 

[Cdwillis]

Re: Custom UOA5

I've got a Custom I swapped an UOA5 magnet into, but I haven't used it yet. Been waiting to give it to a buddy to swap into his Les Paul. He had a JB in it that he liked, but wanted to switch it up so he swapped in a Distortion I had, but after a couple years he's over the sound of the Distortion. His stuff is kind of a mix between Mastodon and Between the Buried and Me so I'm wondering how he'll dig it.

 

[Aceman]

Re: Custom UOA5

The C5 is a great "One Guitar only" pickup or for a band. Fantastic rhythm sound. Or maybe for an uber mid heavy guitar/amp. But not so much live.

Im surprised UOA5 changes it that much - but obviously right in your seat spot. Rock on!

 

[GuitarDoc]

Re: Custom UOA5

Right on. Yeah, I get what you're saying about the C5 and the UOA5 is a great direction to go. The CC sounds a bit too muffled to me so the UOA5 is a great compromise. One of my favorites, however, is the C8. Especially for an SG type guitar. It fills in all the tones that are missing from that thinner body and gives it a bit more beefy output. Might be worth a try for you.

 

[Xavier]

Re: Custom UOA5

The C5 is a great "One Guitar only" pickup or for a band. Fantastic rhythm sound. Or maybe for an uber mid heavy guitar/amp. But not so much live.

Im surprised UOA5 changes it that much - but obviously right in your seat spot. Rock on!

The change is noticeable, both in sound and feel. The C5 is a great pickup on its own, and it definitely has an A5 character.....bright, scooped, and with strong bass. it's really a 59 on steroids, but unfortunately it gets lost in the mix (for me at least)

The UOA5 gives it more of an A2 character, spongier bass, softer highs, which brings up the mids a little. The change is bigger that I thought. Now it just feels right (for this specific guitar)

Maybe in a darker guitar it doesn't work as well.

I've come to the conclusion that there's no such thing as a "one size fits all" pickup. The same pickup may sound good in one guitar, not as good in another guitar.

 

[BluesIsBlood12]

Re: Custom UOA5

I've come to the conclusion that there's no such thing as a "one size fits all" pickup. The same pickup may sound good in one guitar, not as good in another guitar.

This is some good wisdom that we all learn eventually. It took me a long while to get there.

 

[blueman335]

Re: Custom UOA5

I was one of the first on the forum to order from Addiction FX, when he showed up here and replaced Wymore as the magnet supplier. My first order included some UOA5's, and the first PU I put one in was a Custom 5. I was blown away by the tone quality, rich and warm, with more bite than an A2. For the genres I play, classic rock & blues, it's the best Custom version. 2nd place would be the Custom 8. Ironically, I don't have any desire to use the 3 stock versions of Customs because these other two are so good.

 

[GuitarDoc]

Re: Custom UOA5

John Wymore was great to do business with. I was really sad when he decided to hang it up. But AddictionFX has lots of great stuff and I've never had a problem ordering from them.

 

[Micha]

Re: Custom UOA5

I was one of the first on the forum to order from Addiction FX, when he showed up here and replaced Wymore as the magnet supplier. My first order included some UOA5's, and the first PU I put one in was a Custom 5. I was blown away by the tone quality, rich and warm, with more bite than an A2. For the genres I play, classic rock & blues, it's the best Custom version. 2nd place would be the Custom 8. Ironically, I don't have any desire to use the 3 stock versions of Customs because these other two are so good.

If you compare regular Custom 5 and custom Uoa5, what are the differences in term of rythm, harmonics etc....
I ask because I love the c5 scooped sound. I only miss a very very very little bit more harmonics.

Uoa5 could be a good magnet for rhythms too? Or it's more like a a2 vintage style?
In other words, uoa5 in metal and loud rock could be interesting?

 

[eclecticsynergy]

Re: Custom UOA5

If you compare regular Custom 5 and custom Uoa5, what are the differences in term of rythm, harmonics etc....
I ask because I love the c5 scooped sound. I only miss a very very very little bit more harmonics.

Uoa5 could be a good magnet for rhythms too? Or it's more like a a2 vintage style?
In other words, uoa5 in metal and loud rock could be interesting?

UA5 is less scooped and has a looser feel than regular A5. It's sort of a vintage voice and perhaps not ideal for high gain.
IMO staying with A5 is probably the best fit for you. Any other magnet will change the scooped character you love.
Maybe a treble booster pedal could get you the extra harmonics you want.

 

[Xavier]

Re: Custom UOA5

UA5 is less scooped and has a looser feel than regular A5. It's sort of a vintage voice and perhaps not ideal for high gain.
IMO staying with A5 is probably the best fit for you. Any other magnet will change the scooped character you love.
Maybe a treble booster pedal could get you the extra harmonics you want.

Oh, it does work with high gain !!. Anything in the Schenker territory will work, let's say classic 80's metal. Like it has been said already, it has a bit looser feel, but it still has some oomph to it.

Not so sure for modern djent or slam metal :-D

 

[eclecticsynergy]

Re: Custom UOA5

Oh, it does work with high gain !!. Anything in the Schenker territory will work, let's say classic 80's metal. Like it has been said already, it has a bit looser feel, but it still has some oomph to it.

Not so sure for modern djent or slam metal :-D

I was responding specifically to Micha's post wondering about metal, he wants something scooped like A5 but with more harmonics.

UA5 is my favorite mag swap for bridge position; to my ear it's been an improvement over A5 in every humbucker I've tried so far.
And I first learned about it through Blueman's posts on this forum a few years ago.

I love it and I agree it does fine with gain. It feels more vintage to me though, and a bit looser for palm muting, is all.
Personally I like the looseness but I'm not playing metal. Of course, guys have done metal with PAFs; there's no hard & fast rule.

IMO it just isn't what Micha is looking for in this particular case.

 

[Micha]

Re: Custom UOA5

Oh, it does work with high gain !!. Anything in the Schenker territory will work, let's say classic 80's metal. Like it has been said already, it has a bit looser feel, but it still has some oomph to it.

Not so sure for modern djent or slam metal :-D

Thanks for your answer. It could be interesting.

 

[misterwhizzy]

Re: Custom UOA5

John Wymore was great to do business with. I was really sad when he decided to hang it up. But AddictionFX has lots of great stuff and I've never had a problem ordering from them.

He was definitely one of us and treated us as friends rather than customers. It's a shame that distinction has to be made these days.

 

[GuitarDoc]

Re: Custom UOA5

Agree. It IS a shame, and NOT the way it should be.