Help me decide

[Gtrjunior]

I’m going to order a set of Fokin pickups for my Les Paul.
I’m going with the Hot Breeze Bridge.
This pickup in its stock form has an A5 magnet. And from what little info I can gather would be very much in the Duncan “Custom” family.
Now, I already have this pickup in 2 other guitars. It’s great...
BUT, through the Quickrod can sometimes have a high end I’d like to shave just a hair off of.
Ilya Fokin will put whatever magnet you ask for in the pickup, so I’m torn between stock, A2, or UOA5?
I play rock/hard rock in a cover band so it should be versatile but it doesn’t have to cover EVERYTHING. Classic to modern rock.
What are the inherent differences to expect between these magnets?

 

[Gtrjunior]

Re: Help me decide

Scott Splawn has told me that the Duncan CC is his favorite pickup with the Quickrod. He however, builds and plays superstrats ( mahogany venter strip flanked with alder sides.)
So that may or may not work as well with my LP.
FWIW, my LP is tonally neutral sounding. It’s not inherently bright or dark.

 

[Clint 55]

Re: Help me decide

A4 is terrif for attenuating the highs a tad and sweeting things up while keeping it crisp and not changing the overall charcter of the pup.

 

[Gtrjunior]

Help me decide

I’ve read that it falls somewhere in between an A2 and A5?

Is it’s output similar to the A5?

 

[Clint 55]

Re: Help me decide

Yes, the output is close to A5 and it's well defined like A5. But no ice pick and sweeter from top to bot. Not very much like A2.

 

[Gtrjunior]

Re: Help me decide

So what about the uoA5?
Same output, lows and mids but with smoother high end?

 

[Clint 55]

Re: Help me decide

Actually UOA5 has about the same high end maybe a little softer but with spongier lows and mids.

 

[Chistopher]

Re: Help me decide

I’ve read that it falls somewhere in between an A2 and A5?

Is it’s output similar to the A5?

If the Hot Breeze is anything like the Custom I would not use an A4 in it. A tonally neutral wind with a tonally neutral magnet in a tonally neutral guitar is a recipe for blandness, and your combo would not be far from it. I'd say go UOA5 for the bridge, but that is based off the assumption that the Hot Breeze is essentially the same as a Custom.

 

[Gtrjunior]

Re: Help me decide

If the Hot Breeze is anything like the Custom I would not use an A4 in it. A tonally neutral wind with a tonally neutral magnet in a tonally neutral guitar is a recipe for blandness, and your combo would not be far from it. I'd say go UOA5 for the bridge, but that is based off the assumption that the Hot Breeze is essentially the same as a Custom.

I basically only had a DCR reading and BMT charts to go on reguarding how alike it might be to the Custom lineup.
Don’t get me wrong, the stock A5 it comes with is great...but you know....we tinker. Lol

I actually just emailed Ilya and asked his thoughts as well.
I would think a magnet swap would be an easy way for me tinker...I can just get a stock H Breeze and experiment.
I have a set in my Kramer and Strat (HSS) which sound great. But those are alder guitars.
May or may not make a big difference.

 

[Aceman]

Re: Help me decide

A4 is terrif for attenuating the highs

 

[Clint 55]

Re: Help me decide

Haha

 

[Clint 55]

Re: Help me decide

Oh yeah I forgot! Double thick A5 makes the pickup juicier and less ice pick while retaining the qualities of A5... because it is A5! It also adds a bit more output, which is nice for bridge position.

 

[Gtrjunior]

Re: Help me decide

I actually placed my order today. I went with the standard A5. Ilya said this set I ordered was designed with the Les Paul in mind.
I can always mag swap if need be.

 

[Clint 55]

Re: Help me decide

Yep