Mag swappin, first impressions of A4pro & CC8

lowenzz

lowenzz

New member
after bout an hour of playing and adjust I am getting alot closer to the grail.

A2pro neck- A4, vastly improved, clarity, bass tightness, more clarity through the mids/upper mids. Highs are more present as well. dropped down the poles to just above flush with the plastic bobbins. Had them raised bout 1/16" before for more clarity. I'm on the fence with this pickup, it still is very "smooth", maybe too smooth for me. I may set it free for something else. I'll mess with it and the bridge for a week or two, then some more magnts before deciding.

CC bridge-A8, Wow, night and day difference. Highs are still smooth, Mids seem a touch more refined. low end is tightened up alot and seems to blend in alot better. Output is quite alot it seems. I'm sure it needs some more dialing in and I will see more tone from this. May be too hot for my needs, not sure yet. It still has the roundess somewhat that it had with the A2.

It would be cool to see what an A8 swap into a 10k pickup would be like. I could see this possibly being very cool. A8 brobucker maybe down the road ?
 
Re: Mag swappin, first impressions of A4pro & CC8

Like your approach. Inquisitive, open mind. You'll get some great tones.

+1. If you want a high output bridge, the C8 is pretty good. But if you want something dialed down a bit, it could be overkill.

I think the A4 makes a good neck magnet. It won't improve every PU, but it will improve some.
 
Re: Mag swappin, first impressions of A4pro & CC8

Next time around, give the A4 a try in the CC. It won't likely make up for the fact that you are discovering that wind isn't for you, but I bet you like it more than the others. Then, try a degaussed A5 in it, and it may just save that pickups life. Nice to see you swapping.
 
Re: Mag swappin, first impressions of A4pro & CC8

blueman335 said:
Like your approach. Inquisitive, open mind. You'll get some great tones.

+1. If you want a high output bridge, the C8 is pretty good. But if you want something dialed down a bit, it could be overkill.

I think the A4 makes a good neck magnet. It won't improve every PU, but it will improve some.
Click to expand...

When I was 16 the C8 would have been my dream pickup in my superstrats or destroyer. I would've loved this setup then. It sounds great, and it is extremely dynamic how it reacts to my pick attack.
 
Re: Mag swappin, first impressions of A4pro & CC8

The Usual said:
Next time around, give the A4 a try in the CC. It won't likely make up for the fact that you are discovering that wind isn't for you, but I bet you like it more than the others. Then, try a degaussed A5 in it, and it may just save that pickups life. Nice to see you swapping.
Click to expand...

Don't get me wrong, I think the Custom wind is great, I am just experimenting mostly. I am becoming a tonal explorer of sorts I guess. The thing that amazes me the most at this point is how big a difference magnet changes have made.

I have a pair of new A5 mags to try on both pickups down the road here. I am more than happy with the C8 and could live with it like it is forever, but I think there is more tweaking to be had and I can get it to be even closer for me. If I could keep the same eq and just drop the output a smidge it might just be perfect. Like I said, I need to tweak more and get more time with it.

The A2pro, currently with an A4, is the pickup I am frustrated with, I am having a hard time with the words to decribe what I want to change in it. Simply it needs more character/attitude. Not much just a little. I may order up a 59n as well. The A4 in the neck was a massive improvement as well over the A2.
 
Re: Mag swappin, first impressions of A4pro & CC8

if by attitude/character, you mean grit, you're not going to get too much of that out of the A#pro. a different neck pickup may indeed be in order. as for the bridge.... an a4 in the bridge could be what you're looking for, just like the usual said. it'll have more of a flat EQ though, but still a pretty meaty and even sound. a3 is also a great magnet in the bridge, it's similar to a2 but ever so slightly tighter overall, with more treble responce. in the neck, it adds a bit of airyness; it's known as the "chime" magnet in the neck slot.
 
Re: Mag swappin, first impressions of A4pro & CC8

I had a aph n with a-5 for a while, and found it to have more atitude than a-2, but not as much as say, a 59n. Kinda between jazz and 59, with a bit of smoothness. Even then it was too smooth for my taste. A pgn, however imo, is a great neck p/u.
 
Re: Mag swappin, first impressions of A4pro & CC8

lowenzz said:
If I could keep the same eq and just drop the output a smidge it might just be perfect. Like I said, I need to tweak more and get more time with it.
Click to expand...

It may be a little more than a smidge, but this is pretty much what the A4 will do for you.
 
Re: Mag swappin, first impressions of A4pro & CC8

overwhelming response says A4 with the custom wind. I am surprised. No mention of the A5. I will try it next time I tear it down.

Sounds like I need a 59n as well. I am thinking this is the way I should go as well.
 
Re: Mag swappin, first impressions of A4pro & CC8

Mark Cearlock said:
I had a aph n with a-5 for a while, and found it to have more atitude than a-2, but not as much as say, a 59n. Kinda between jazz and 59, with a bit of smoothness. Even then it was too smooth for my taste. A pgn, however imo, is a great neck p/u.
Click to expand...

I am at this point avoiding A2 based pickups. I havent seen to many good things about mag swaps on the PG pups, unless I just missed them.

59n should be next for me I am thinking.
 
Re: Mag swappin, first impressions of A4pro & CC8

lowenzz said:
I am at this point avoiding A2 based pickups. I havent seen to many good things about mag swaps on the PG pups, unless I just missed them.

59n should be next for me I am thinking.
Click to expand...

+1. The '59N is a very good neck PU, and works well in many things.
 
Re: Mag swappin, first impressions of A4pro & CC8

The Usual said:
Next time around, give the A4 a try in the CC.
Click to expand...
I had all mags (no not all i dont have a A6!) in the Custom. My favs are the C8 and the C3, most dissapointing are the C4 (dull, no character) and the C5 (only for shredding with a full blown marshall - kind of a one trick pony).
Try a C3: it vintagey, woody, reedy and very PAF like, great companion with an Ant Bridge in the neck.
 
Re: Mag swappin, first impressions of A4pro & CC8

blueman335 said:
Like your approach. Inquisitive, open mind. You'll get some great tones.

+1. If you want a high output bridge, the C8 is pretty good. But if you want something dialed down a bit, it could be overkill.

I think the A4 makes a good neck magnet. It won't improve every PU, but it will improve some.
Click to expand...


A4 in a 59 or what?? I my 598b is too much in the neck Im afraid.. need to tone it down, but have too many reg 59n.
 
Re: Mag swappin, first impressions of A4pro & CC8

lowenzz said:
When I was 16 the C8 would have been my dream pickup in my superstrats or destroyer. I would've loved this setup then. It sounds great, and it is extremely dynamic how it reacts to my pick attack.
Click to expand...

this is why I love em
 
Re: Mag swappin, first impressions of A4pro & CC8

Invader09 said:
maybe an A8 screamin demon ? never tried it...
Click to expand...

i dropped a big ceramic in one the other day, wasn't bad but A8 would probably be better. the big ceramic's (from a 500T) cleans weren't as good and it didn't seem to add as much :headbang: as i imagined

it seems to like weaker alnicos though.
 
Re: Mag swappin, first impressions of A4pro & CC8

Well, I put an A5 in the APH1n, **** close to perfect. It matches up with the C8 wonderfully. A5 in the neck does seem excellent for "de-sludging" the tone a bit, with the tighter bass and compressed mids this thing just sings now.

The wierd part is that now the C8 seems cooler as well, or I am just getting used to it abit now. Maybe that 59n can wait awhile, I am not gassin for it as bad now.
 
Re: Mag swappin, first impressions of A4pro & CC8

Sounds like that aph5 did it for you. Good to see you experimenting to find your sound. Btw, custom 5 aint that bad either. Pg n is the only (a-2) neck pup I have tried that I have liked. A lot of woodyness with BITE! I liked it so much in my tele, that I swapped the a-5 out of my custom 5 (a tad bright, and scooped) to a-2 (custom custom) to match the pg n a bit better (more mids and a bit less treble) . Worked like a charm. Sort of a lp in a tele vibe.
 
Last edited:
Re: Mag swappin, first impressions of A4pro & CC8

I would imagine A2 would be very cool in something like an all maple neck-thru super strat. A very dense bright config.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top