Tell me about Alnico 8.

[Rex_Rocker]

I've never really spent significant time with an A8 pickup. I've always been under the impression the Alt 8 would be a bit too fat-sounding for me.

But I wonder how it would sound in a leaner-sounding wind.

I've always loved the EQ curve of A5 and how bold and sparkly the highs are and how firm yet organic the low-end is.

How does A8 compare? Is the high-end open and bitey like A5? Is the low-end firm? Are the mids laid-back or are they more forward like A2?

Thanks!

 

[Clint 55]

It has no organic sound to it at all. It's just aggressive like ceramic but with a different eq. Solid bass and gritty mids with some treble.

If you like A5, try A6. Same bass, same response, little different color, a little bit of A2ish mids, and slightly less treble but can still chime.

 

[Rex_Rocker]

Honestly, that sounds nice.

As long as it not lower-mid-focused, I think I'd like to give it a try.

 

[Rex_Rocker]

If you like A5, try A6. Same bass, same response, little different color, a little bit of A2ish mids, and slightly less treble but can still chime.

I guess I'd like to give it a try, but honestly, the bass is not what I dig the most from A5. It's the bright, sparkly, bitey treble that isn't fizzy or raspy like Ceramic.

 

[Clint 55]

A5 has the most bright and sparkly treble out of all the mags. A6 is similar, but has a little less treble. A8 is harsh and metallic in the mids and there is no nice sparkle to appreciate on the top what so ever lol because of the mid aggression. A9 has crisp treble but upper mids. UOA5 has some crisp treble but is slightly chewified. Everything will be a compromise from A5.

 

[JB_From_Hell]

It's been awhile, but A8 was one of those things I really loved for a minute, then went back to ceramic. Similar to how I thought I loved A5 and A2, then went back to ceramic.

Have you tried any combos? I tore all the active preamp crap out of my Carvin with the Lithiums, and I love the Lithium bridge even more now. It's A5 with ceramic spacers, really gives the best of both.

 

[Rex_Rocker]

It's been awhile, but A8 was one of those things I really loved for a minute, then went back to ceramic. Similar to how I thought I loved A5 and A2, then went back to ceramic.

Have you tried any combos? I tore all the active preamp crap out of my Carvin with the Lithiums, and I love the Lithium bridge even more now. It's A5 with ceramic spacers, really gives the best of both.

I have not tried any combos... but I wouldn't mind trying out one of those pickups that mix A5 and Ceramic. But honestly, I'd be scared all the time to know the Ceramic is constantly degaussing the Alnico, LOL.

A5 has the most bright and sparkly treble out of all the mags. A6 is similar, but has a little less treble. A8 is harsh and metallic in the mids and there is no nice sparkle to appreciate on the top what so ever lol because of the mid aggression. A9 has crisp treble but upper mids. UOA5 has some crisp treble but is slightly chewified. Everything will be a compromise from A5.

I think I'll give A8 a try just to see. I'm not into vintage vibes, and honestly, A5 is the one that gives me the least vintage vibes while still not sounding super tight, modern, and aggressive as Ceramic (I do love Ceramic in the right pickup, though).

 

[Clint 55]

The only one beside A5 that isn't vintage vibes or mega aggressive is A6. It's a different flavor, but it is slightly mellower than A5. A8 and A9 are between A5 and ceramic for the tight/modern/aggressive feel.

 

[Aceman]

Output is hot.

Tonally, I'd say it runs an interesting middle ground between A2 and A5. It cures "What you don't like" about either an A2 or an A5

Highs - sharper than an A2, softer than an A5
Mids - More than an A5, less than an A2
Bass - Tighter than an A2, looser than an A5

So a guitar that is too bright and pushed mids gets highs tamed and mids not so forward. A loose bass and scooped mids gets the bass tightened and the mids pushed a bit.

If dodging Ceramic, it will thicken it, and warm it, while maintaining the heat.

 

[misterwhizzy]

I guess I'd like to give it a try, but honestly, the bass is not what I dig the most from A5. It's the bright, sparkly, bitey treble that isn't fizzy or raspy like Ceramic.

A8 doesn’t have that. Tight mids and bass with an A2 EQ is what my ears tell me it has.

 

[EmiAba]

Output is hot.

Tonally, I'd say it runs an interesting middle ground between A2 and A5. It cures "What you don't like" about either an A2 or an A5

Highs - sharper than an A2, softer than an A5
Mids - More than an A5, less than an A2
Bass - Tighter than an A2, looser than an A5

So a guitar that is too bright and pushed mids gets highs tamed and mids not so forward. A loose bass and scooped mids gets the bass tightened and the mids pushed a bit.

If dodging Ceramic, it will thicken it, and warm it, while maintaining the heat.

+1
One of my Les Paul has a custom 8 in the bridge. Swapped ceramic in favor of A8 and Aceman described well the reason. To my ears it is the best of two worlds (alnico and ceramic).

 

[Aceman]

+1
One of my Les Paul has a custom 8 in the bridge. Swapped ceramic in favor of A8 and Aceman described well the reason. To my ears it is the best of two worlds (alnico and ceramic).

I would guess...

Took the harsh off the highs
Bumped the mids up a touch
Warmed the bass, and lessened, without it disappearing / maintained some thump, kept it tight-ish
Stayed Hot

 

[larryguitar]

For me, A8 is everything I love about ceramics without the things (harshness, lack of dynamics) I don't like about ceramics.

Larry

 

[Rex_Rocker]

OK, so what I can gather is it doesn't sound as dry/raspy/tight as Ceramic, but it doesn't really sound like any other Alnico either?

 

[Ascension]

It has no organic sound to it at all. It's just aggressive like ceramic but with a different eq. Solid bass and gritty mids with some treble.

If you like A5, try A6. Same bass, same response, little different color, a little bit of A2ish mids, and slightly less treble but can still chime.

WRONG!! A8 if set up right can be very open sweet and expressive. I have been running a A8 mag Alt 8 in my KOA Carvin DC 127 for a number of years playing modern worship. I am a player who despises soulless and harsh high output ceramic mag pickups. I lean more to medium output A2 and A5 mostly but also love A8 in right setting.
Here is your supposedly soulless harsh A8 in my 93 DC 127 running mostly with the Sentient neck in that guitar.
A8 sounds much like A2 in some ways but is much tighter less compressed and more articulate . Still has that singing sweet mid though if set up right. The key to running A8 is to find the sweet spot on height as the magnetic field is strong and to close to the strings and they get weird.

 

[Ascension]

For me, A8 is everything I love about ceramics without the things (harshness, lack of dynamics) I don't like about ceramics.

Larry

Spot on here!

 

[Ascension]

OK, so what I can gather is it doesn't sound as dry/raspy/tight as Ceramic, but it doesn't really sound like any other Alnico either?

A8 sounds much like A2 but is much tighter more articulate and less compressed. Has that same singing sweet mid for solos also. Will respond well to touch also if set up right in the right guitar where Ceramic won't.

 

[Ascension]

. A8 is harsh and metallic in the mids and there is no nice sparkle to appreciate on the top what so ever lol because of the mid aggression. A.

Not in my experience it doesn't. This is with the Alt 8 in the bridge with a Sentient neck in my 93 KOA Carvin DC 127 through my little Mesa Subway and running nothing but a little delay and verb in the loop and a wah up front. Running both on at times but is mostly just the Alt 8 in the bridge here.

 

[GuitarDoc]

I also have to disagree with Clint. I've been using A8 in some pups for at least 10 years.
They DO sound less harsh than an A5 but still bright and tight, not nearly as soft as an A2 in either the highs or the lows. More output than either of those...similar to a ceramic but not even close to the harsh/brittle high end of a ceramic.
If you like A5 but want more mids and more output with a tiny bit softer high end, then A8 is your friend.
A6 is closer to an A2 than an A8 (or an A5). If you want more highs than an A6 or A8 then you could try an A9.

 

[EmiAba]

I would guess...

Took the harsh off the highs
Bumped the mids up a touch
Warmed the bass, and lessened, without it disappearing / maintained some thump, kept it tight-ish
Stayed Hot

That is very true. Someone experienced ear fatigue using an A8 loaded pickup. It never happened to me. I have my Custom8 installed since 2014 and still thinking it's the best fit for that guitar.