Help! SD Alt 8 vs Custom Custom vs which A5 mag pickup?

[Brucifer85]

Hi all.

As some of you may know by now I am on a bridge humbucker search.

Reason being for those who don't know is because I am unhappy with the cleans of my current Alternative 8 pickup. However I think it sounds great with distortion.

My local store was kind enough to let me borrow a Musis Man Axis Super Sport this weekend as I was interested ib buying it.

As beautiful and wonderfully playing as it is I still prefer my Fender Jaguar. But the MM has made me realize a few things.

I thought I wanted a 25.5" scale guitar but prefer the 24" of the Jag. I had forgotten even acoustically how much brighter a longer scale guitar is.

Secondly alot of people had said I should try the Custom Custom as it has big mids like the Alt 8 and nicer cleans and sounds good in bright guitars.

However its now made me think that perhaps it would sound too dark in a 24" style guitar.

So I'd please like your thoughts on that and also what would be the inbetween of the Alt 8 and the Custom Custom in terms of A5 magnet pickups with a big midrange that can do cleans fairly well? A JB? A 59/Custom Hybrid?

Other suggestions from other pickup makers is welcome and appreciated as well as I have had an eye on the Dimarzio Norton.

Thanks!

 

[TVFV]

Re: Help! SD Alt 8 vs Custom Custom vs which A5 mag pickup?

For clarification, is this going in the MM or the Jag?

 

[Brucifer85]

Re: Help! SD Alt 8 vs Custom Custom vs which A5 mag pickup?

For clarification, is this going in the MM or the Jag?

Hi mate.

In the Jaguar.

Thanks.

 

[AlexR]

Re: Help! SD Alt 8 vs Custom Custom vs which A5 mag pickup?

PATB 1

 

[Clint 55]

Re: Help! SD Alt 8 vs Custom Custom vs which A5 mag pickup?

I had a C5 in a Jaguar for a while. It sounded pretty bad ass. You'll probably like the Custom family.

 

[Brucifer85]

Re: Help! SD Alt 8 vs Custom Custom vs which A5 mag pickup?

I had a C5 in a Jaguar for a while. It sounded pretty bad ass. You'll probably like the Custom family.

The C5 is supposed to be very scooped though?

 

[darthphineas]

Re: Help! SD Alt 8 vs Custom Custom vs which A5 mag pickup?

Sounds like you've been kicking tires for a while. Maybe it's time to start trying some and hear them for yourself. If you guy new, the company has an exchange program (as does DiMarzio).

 

[Brucifer85]

Re: Help! SD Alt 8 vs Custom Custom vs which A5 mag pickup?

Sounds like you've been kicking tires for a while. Maybe it's time to start trying some and hear them for yourself. If you guy new, the company has an exchange program (as does DiMarzio).

Hey.

I live in South Africa. We only get SD here. And the cost of sending pickups back to the States is an extra cost and hassle and time wasted so I'd rather try get as much info on here before I buy pickups.

Thanks anyway.

 

[GuitarDoc]

Re: Help! SD Alt 8 vs Custom Custom vs which A5 mag pickup?

What specifically about the cleans of the Alt 8 don't you like?

 

[Brucifer85]

Re: Help! SD Alt 8 vs Custom Custom vs which A5 mag pickup?

What specifically about the cleans of the Alt 8 don't you like?

Hello.

I find them to be too bright and harsh sounding. I want something slightly warmer with the highs rolled off a bit.

They just don't sound clean enough at high volumes.

Thanks.

 

[darthphineas]

Re: Help! SD Alt 8 vs Custom Custom vs which A5 mag pickup?

Hey.

I live in South Africa. We only get SD here. And the cost of sending pickups back to the States is an extra cost and hassle and time wasted so I'd rather try get as much info on here before I buy pickups.

Thanks anyway.

If your local guitar stores doesn't have any sort of exchange or return policy, people have been using things like eBay and reverb for these types of situations.

No other pickups companies or online retailers (Amazon) will shop to S Africa?

It remains that in the end, nobody else will have your ear. Take your time as you seek opinions. Everyone will have their own and it may or may not apply to your goals.

 

[Brucifer85]

Re: Help! SD Alt 8 vs Custom Custom vs which A5 mag pickup?

Yes I can and do buy online just trying to narrow it down as much as possible without unnecessarily wasting money on pickups.

Our Rand is very weak compared to the Dollar and Pound.

 

[TVFV]

Re: Help! SD Alt 8 vs Custom Custom vs which A5 mag pickup?

I would get the custom custom . If you don't like it there is always magnet swapping.

 

[Clint 55]

Re: Help! SD Alt 8 vs Custom Custom vs which A5 mag pickup?

The Custom Custom, Custom 5, and Custom are all the same pickup just with either an alnico 2,5, or ceramic respectively. Why not get the CC. You could always try it with a 5, 8, or ceramic if you wanted. You could even make a Custom/Alt hybrid if you wanted. I have a JB/Custom 5 hybrid in my strat now and it's awesome.