Need Some Advise for New Pups: Custom 8 & 59n - A4 or UOA5?

Niloy63

Niloy63

New member
Hi guys,

First of all, thanks for helping choose my Custom/PGn combo for my Les Paul. Extremely happy with the way that turned out!

Now it's time for new pickups for my Schecter C-1 Classic. It came stock with a JB/Jazz set. They're great! However, my mind is pretty set on trying (for the first time) getting a C8/59n combo. Are there any suggestions where to get Alnico mags? From my search, A8's have proven difficult to find as a single mag. The real dilemma I have is figuring out what to do with the 59n. Do I do an A4 or a UOA5 swap? I read that the polished mags are better for the neck and the roughcasts are better for the bridge, but I couldn't find any distinction for the unoriented mags. I read a bunch of posts by LtKojak (who seems to be the go-to guy for mag swaps) saying that the A4 is an amazing swap, giving the pup a more balanced EQ (takes off some highs and adds some mids). But I've read players praising a UOA5 swap for the 59n as well, claiming that it confers a warmer, more dynamic tone. Both those descriptions seem to fit what I'm looking for. Would someone please tell me what each magnet swap would do to a 59n in my guitar? I'd greatly appreciate it! Here's some info on my gear and some of my tonal goals and influences:

Guitar build: Mahogany body, Quilted Maple top, Neck-Through design.
What I Play: Mostly hard rock to metal, with the occasional blues/classic rock
Tonal Goal: A non-scooped, balanced EQ tone overall. An aggressive bridge with a full EQ spectrum, capable of the occasional palm muting (Jerry Cantrell, Adam Jones), and a singing neck tone that will help me with my cleans & blues/classic rock lead tones (Zep, ZZ Top, Bad Company)
Amps: Bugera 333XL, Peavey Vypyr Tube, Fender Princeton Chorus

I know someone will probably tell me to just purchase both mags and find out for myself. I probably will end up doing that, but I'd also like to know what am I supposed to expect. I appreciate everyone's time for reading this. Thank you!
 
Re: Need Some Advise for New Pups: Custom 8 & 59n - A4 or UOA5?

Wish I could tell you based on that guitar. I went through quite a few magnets in the 59n in my Les Paul, and I finally decided on A4. A5 was too boomy, and A2 was really strong, but just not quite enough treble for the bite I wanted. I had an A4 before I tried the A2, and I bought it stock, so after A5, A4, and A2, I'm back with A4 and satisfied. I was happy with the A4 before, but someone came along preaching the praises of the A2 59n, so I gave it a shot. I like it, but I like the A4 better.
 
Re: Need Some Advise for New Pups: Custom 8 & 59n - A4 or UOA5?

I'm gonna say A4 or A3. You might find UOA5 a bit too warm and spongy for the neck position.

A4 is great because in addition to having a balanced EQ like the UOA5, it also has fantastic definition and attack on the notes, both of which I find lacking in the UOA5. As a result, this makes A4 neck pickups very articulate. A3 is very similar. A bit less attack, a bit less bass, and just a hair more treble, from my experience. Also a very articulate magnet compared to UOA5, and because of the trimmed bass response, makes it perfect for the neck position.

Addiction FX can satisfy all your magnet needs.
they are on ebay: http://stores.ebay.ca/Addiction-FX-...58693015&_sid=893066175&_trksid=p4634.c0.m322
and on their website: http://addiction-fx.com/gallery1.htm
 
Re: Need Some Advise for New Pups: Custom 8 & 59n - A4 or UOA5?

You will probably want A4, but also try UOA5 and even A2 (depending on what you want to achieve). I have a Schecter C-1, but I found the 59 too midscooped and a little bright for my taste. The UOA5 was certainly better but still too scooped and bright. I am one of those who found that the A2 fit my personal needs a bit better, but A4 is a very good choice if you want to retain some of that high-end bite and fill in some of those missing mids.
 
Re: Need Some Advise for New Pups: Custom 8 & 59n - A4 or UOA5?

My favorite mags for the '59n neck are the following in that order:

1. A4
2. A3
3. UOA5

The A4 in the best "all-arounder", the A3 the best "vintage-y", the UOA5 the 2nd best "vintage-y", depending on the guitar and also on the model as well.

In a Seth, I'd use first an UOA5, THEN an A3... but the Seth Lover set is the best-sounding STOCK p'up set of the whole Duncan line.

Also, the most articulated p'up set known to mankind IS an A2 modded Jazz set. Or A3n/A2b if the guitar is a full-hollowbody with a resonance peak in the low mids (my particular case).

HTH,
 
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Re: Need Some Advise for New Pups: Custom 8 & 59n - A4 or UOA5?

Thanks so much guys! All great points with good explanations! It looks like the A4 will be the first to make it's way into my guitar first! By the sounds of it, it's exactly what I'm looking for! You guys are awesome... most helpful as always!:yourock:
 
Re: Need Some Advise for New Pups: Custom 8 & 59n - A4 or UOA5?

Sorry to come back guys. I ran into an issue. At Addiction-Fx, I was given 4 options to choose from for the Alnico 4 magnet. I don't know enough about it to choose confidently.
(1) 2.50 x 1.25 x 0.50 POLISHED
(2) 2.50 x 1.25 x 0.50 ROUGHCAST
(3) 2.444 x 1.25 x 0.492 POLISHED
(4) 2.444 x 1.25 x 0.492 ROUGHCAST
What's the difference, and what would do you think would be optimum for an A4 in a 59n?

The other option I'm not sure about is whether I should Magnetize the magnet or not, which I'm confused about. Why would I magnetize a magnet? To an amateur like myself, it seems redundant. But then again, what do I know? That's why I'm here! :) Should both the A8 and A4 be magnetized or not?

Thank you for your patience.
 
Re: Need Some Advise for New Pups: Custom 8 & 59n - A4 or UOA5?

Niloy63 said:
Sorry to come back guys. I ran into an issue. At Addiction-Fx, I was given 4 options to choose from for the Alnico 4 magnet. I don't know enough about it to choose confidently.
(1) 2.50 x 1.25 x 0.50 POLISHED
(2) 2.50 x 1.25 x 0.50 ROUGHCAST
(3) 2.444 x 1.25 x 0.492 POLISHED
(4) 2.444 x 1.25 x 0.492 ROUGHCAST
What's the difference, and what would do you think would be optimum for an A4 in a 59n?

The other option I'm not sure about is whether I should Magnetize the magnet or not, which I'm confused about. Why would I magnetize a magnet? To an amateur like myself, it seems redundant. But then again, what do I know? That's why I'm here! :) Should both the A8 and A4 be magnetized or not?

Thank you for your patience.
Click to expand...

Just get n. 2 choice. Get all your magnets MAGNETIZED.

HTH,
 
Re: Need Some Advise for New Pups: Custom 8 & 59n - A4 or UOA5?

Yep, A4. I'd get one of each, the roughcast will be slightly rounded off sound wise, so a little more vintage sounding.

I like the A2 also.

As for the lengths, the 2.44 are short mags, like in the Gibson patent pickups and T-Tops. Either will work fine, in some pickups the 2.5 makes getting the lead wire connections crammed back in a little difficult without them sticking out. I've not really noticed a difference in tone between the two different lengths, but I wasn't really looking for it either. If there is a difference it's pretty subtle.
 
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Re: Need Some Advise for New Pups: Custom 8 & 59n - A4 or UOA5?

Not too open Pandora's box here but why the Custom for Cantrell/Jones tones, both of those guys are JB users....JB8 and JB2 both work great in Mahogony IMO.....
 
Re: Need Some Advise for New Pups: Custom 8 & 59n - A4 or UOA5?

Niloy63 said:
The other option I'm not sure about is whether I should Magnetize the magnet or not, which I'm confused about. Why would I magnetize a magnet? To an amateur like myself, it seems redundant. But then again, what do I know? That's why I'm here! :) Should both the A8 and A4 be magnetized or not?

Thank you for your patience.
Click to expand...

Get your magnets magnetized/charged, whatever you wanna call it. Otherwise you just paid for a hunk of metal that won't do anything, and you can't charge it yourself without some specialized equipment.

On the topic at hand, I was going back and forth between the Pearly Gates neck and a '59 neck, and someone recommended a UOA5 in the '59 to get a little bit between the two. This was pairing up with a Custom 8 in the bridge, btw.
 
Re: Need Some Advise for New Pups: Custom 8 & 59n - A4 or UOA5?

LatsMcGee said:
Not too open Pandora's box here but why the Custom for Cantrell/Jones tones, both of those guys are JB users....JB8 and JB2 both work great in Mahogony IMO.....
Click to expand...

I've used the JB8 before, and it's very high output (mine read north of 17k) but it's fuller and more balanced than a standard JB.
 
Re: Need Some Advise for New Pups: Custom 8 & 59n - A4 or UOA5?

Thank you very much, guys. I'm rather confident at this point that I'm going to love the C-8/59n-A4 combo!

LatsMcGee said:
Not too open Pandora's box here but why the Custom for Cantrell/Jones tones, both of those guys are JB users....JB8 and JB2 both work great in Mahogony IMO.....
Click to expand...
I have found that I can't control the JB very well. This is not the first guitar I've swapped a JB out of. I feel that a huge part of both Cantrell's and Jones' tones are their amp configurations/combos through which the JB sounds monstrous! I guess my amps don't have enough "cojones" to make a JB sound the way I want it to. Doesn't Jones simultaneously run through 3 different heads for his gain channel (Diezel, Marshall JCM, and Mesa)? There's no pickup in the world that'll be able to produce the power that comes out of those three beasts combined.

By the way, this is a picture of the C-1 Classic that this is all going into. Just got it yesterday! Couldn't pass up on the price tag.
IMG_0497.jpgIMG_0499.jpg
 
Re: Need Some Advise for New Pups: Custom 8 & 59n - A4 or UOA5?

Niloy63 said:
I have found that I can't control the JB very well. This is not the first guitar I've swapped a JB out of.
Click to expand...

A number of players have trouble with JB's. In the stock configuration, I think it's overrated. Not particularly versatile for various genres and very fussy about the woods it's in. Quirky PU.
 
Re: Need Some Advise for New Pups: Custom 8 & 59n - A4 or UOA5?

blueman335 said:
A number of players have trouble with JB's. In the stock configuration, I think it's overrated. Not particularly versatile for various genres and very fussy about the woods it's in. Quirky PU.
Click to expand...

I totally agree with you. It baffles me how some really great established guitarists, who happen to be extremely tone-picky, have used the JB with much success. Yet when I try, it sounds like gargling salt water.
 
Re: Need Some Advise for New Pups: Custom 8 & 59n - A4 or UOA5?

Is this a good representation of what I need to do for a mag swap? Looks easy enough to run through in about 5 minutes! :D




 
Re: Need Some Advise for New Pups: Custom 8 & 59n - A4 or UOA5?

In that video the guy is telling to install the new magnet pointing the side that attract the other one. IT'S EXACTLY THE OPPOSITE.

If you're getting your mags from AddictionFX, threy come with a sharpie mark in one side, telling that side is North.

You should point that side towards the SLUG bobbin, meaning NOT THE SCREW BOBBIN.

That's the de facto standard for humbucking p'ups.

HTH,
 
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Re: Need Some Advise for New Pups: Custom 8 & 59n - A4 or UOA5?

LtKojak said:
In that video the guy is telling to install the new magnet pointing the side that attract the other one. IT'S EXACTLY THE OPPOSITE.

If you're getting your mags from AddictionFX, threy come with a sharpie mark in one side, telling that side is North.

You should point that side towards the SLUG bobbin, meaning NOT THE SCREW BOBBIN.

That's the de facto standard for humbucking p'ups.

HTH,
Click to expand...

Thanks Lt. Kojak! I appreciate all your help in this, my friend!
 
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