Fred A5 Mag Vs UOA5 Strengh

[eclecticsynergy]

Re: Fred A5 Mag Vs UOA5 Strengh

UA5 is my favorite swap for bridge pickups. Still, nothing works in every pickup and every guitar.

If you want more balls (and stronger split tones) from the Fred, you might consider an A8. Louder mag, lots of everything, with highs that are friendlier than ceramic on a 10.7K wind. For a thin sounding trem axe, A8 should fatten it up nicely. And with the Fred's relatively bright wind you should still have plenty of harmonics up top, especially given the extra output.

There are other DiMarzios that do well for adding thickness to a guitar that lacks it. I had good results with the Breed; it turned a cheap anemic-sounding Strelecaster into a raging beast. Big lows that aren't flabby, plenty of sizzle on top, & a good singing lead voice. And it doesn't have those peaky mids characteristic of the JB, which seem to persist whatever mag is tried. (I haven't tried A3 in my JB yet, though. I'm a little concerned that using a very weak mag with such a heavy wind might not be the best combination.)

Jeremy, have you used A3 in a JB? I'd be curious to hear how it worked for you. (I understand that you might just have been brainstorming- yesterday I suggested A3 to somebody whose 59/Custom hybrid was still too fat and too hot for their tastes with a UA5. Hadn't actually tried it in mine but I felt it might be worth mentioning.)

Question for Stratdeluxer: was the magnet in your Fred glued onto the baseplate? I know some DiMarzios are glued together; word is that it's usually the high output ones and the medium output ones aren't. I have an Air Norton I've been thinking about trying a mag swap for, so I'm wondering whether to expect it'll be difficult...

 

[jeremy]

Re: Fred A5 Mag Vs UOA5 Strengh

a3 in the jb will tame the output and mids a bit, itll still be much fatter than the fred, but the jb kinda sounds jb-like no matter what magnet is involved

 

[STRATDELUXER97]

Re: Fred A5 Mag Vs UOA5 Strengh

UA5 is my favorite swap for bridge pickups. Still, nothing works in every pickup and every guitar.

If you want more balls (and stronger split tones) from the Fred, you might consider an A8. Louder mag, lots of everything, with highs that are friendlier than ceramic on a 10.7K wind. For a thin sounding trem axe, A8 should fatten it up nicely. And with the Fred's relatively bright wind you should still have plenty of harmonics up top, especially given the extra output.

There are other DiMarzios that do well for adding thickness to a guitar that lacks it. I had good results with the Breed; it turned a cheap anemic-sounding Strelecaster into a raging beast. Big lows that aren't flabby, plenty of sizzle on top, & a good singing lead voice. And it doesn't have those peaky mids characteristic of the JB, which seem to persist whatever mag is tried. (I haven't tried A3 in my JB yet, though. I'm a little concerned that using a very weak mag with such a heavy wind might not be the best combination.)

Jeremy, have you used A3 in a JB? I'd be curious to hear how it worked for you. (I understand that you might just have been brainstorming- yesterday I suggested A3 to somebody whose 59/Custom hybrid was still too fat and too hot for their tastes with a UA5. Hadn't actually tried it in mine but I felt it might be worth mentioning.)

Question for Stratdeluxer: was the magnet in your Fred glued onto the baseplate? I know some DiMarzios are glued together; word is that it's usually the high output ones and the medium output ones aren't. I have an Air Norton I've been thinking about trying a mag swap for, so I'm wondering whether to expect it'll be difficult...

I had to totally take the plate off because the magnet was wedged really tight,but it wasn't glued..Thank God!

 

[STRATDELUXER97]

Re: Fred A5 Mag Vs UOA5 Strengh

a3 in the jb will tame the output and mids a bit, itll still be much fatter than the fred, but the jb kinda sounds jb-like no matter what magnet is involved

Normally I hate the JB in every case..I'll mess a bit more with the Fred,if not,time to try something else or just park this axe for awhile.

Aceman mentioned the A8 and he's probably onto something? I guess I figured the A8 was for the metal guys(which I'm not):biglaugh:

 

[eclecticsynergy]

Re: Fred A5 Mag Vs UOA5 Strengh

Normally I hate the JB in every case..I'll mess a bit more with the Fred,if not,time to try something else or just park this axe for awhile.

Aceman mentioned the A8 and he's probably onto something? I guess I figured the A8 was for the metal guys(which I'm not):biglaugh:

I've had trouble bonding with the JB too. It's not just the characteristic mids, but also the fact that the JB is very picky about what guitars it like and doesn't. Many say it's especially iffy in mahogany, but IME even in alder superstrats it can be good in one and bad in another. I have two JBs and they're both currently in spare-parts boxes.

As for A8, I've had good results replacing A5s with it in a couple of pickups. It's strong and fairly modern sounding, less squishy than the unoriented alnicos, but big & ballsy sounding. Still has a certain alnico feel to it, less stiff and less harsh than ceramic to which it's sometimes compared because of the high output. Not just for the metal guys, though it does have good low end chunk. Highs are fairly present & immediate but not overwhelming- a bit less prominent than with A5 (many say it's simply because with A8 the mids aren't as scooped). I think with an asymmetrical wind like the Fred the result would still be plenty bright, just with big low end to balance it out. And noticeably more output. For me it certainly made a 59B thicker and more aggressive and A8 is the mag I've been thinking about trying in an Air Norton.

Full disclaimer: I don't have any personal experience with the Fred, but that's my assessment of the A8. Take it however you like.

 

[STRATDELUXER97]

Re: Fred A5 Mag Vs UOA5 Strengh

I've had trouble bonding with the JB too. It's not just the characteristic mids, but also the fact that the JB is very picky about what guitars it like and doesn't. Many say it's especially iffy in mahogany, but IME even in alder superstrats it can be good in one and bad in another. I have two JBs and they're both currently in spare-parts boxes.

As for A8, I've had good results replacing A5s with it in a couple of pickups. It's strong and fairly modern sounding, less squishy than the unoriented alnicos, but big & ballsy sounding. Still has a certain alnico feel to it, less stiff and less harsh than ceramic to which it's sometimes compared because of the high output. Not just for the metal guys, though it does have good low end chunk. Highs are fairly present & immediate but not overwhelming- a bit less prominent than with A5 (many say it's simply because with A8 the mids aren't as scooped). I think with an asymmetrical wind like the Fred the result would still be plenty bright, just with big low end to balance it out. And noticeably more output. For me it certainly made a 59B thicker and more aggressive and A8 is the mag I've been thinking about trying in an Air Norton.

Full disclaimer: I don't have any personal experience with the Fred, but that's my assessment of the A8. Take it however you like.

I wish I had got an A8 when I ordered the UOA5 mags.

 

[STRATDELUXER97]

Re: Fred A5 Mag Vs UOA5 Strengh

I bought a bunch of different strings and will mess with the tone that way..I really do like the UOA5 magnet in the pickup...Thx all.

 

[STLMTLHD79]

Re: Fred A5 Mag Vs UOA5 Strengh

I recently put a FRED into a cheap MIM strat and it sounds amazing! One of very few Dimarzio pickups i actually like.