To all you A8 Custom guys

[noodles]

Holy shit, were you ever right.

[eaeolian]

Hmm. OK, I guess I'll be hearing this on Thursday...

[noodles]

Well, I just changed the strings on the V, so I don't want to play it before the show. Suffice to say the darkness and mud are gone. Like, way gone. Into next ....ing week.

Plus, I'm bringing the Sii-7 Thursday, since I'm having so much damn fun playing it.

[zimbloth]

Is it easy to change a magnet?

[D-EJ915]

how high is the output on it? That's my only reservation about getting the custom and putting he A8 in it...I like my pickups hot

That SII-7 has the X2N in it right? Can you compare the outputs?

[noodles]

Originally Posted by zimbloth

Is it easy to change a magnet?

Piece of cake. I had enough lead on my bridge pickup that I could do it without having to desolder the pickup from the guitar. You just have to pop off the baseplate, pull out the old pickup, and put the new one in. Just make sure that you keep the same polarity.

[noodles]

Originally Posted by D-EJ915

how high is the output on it? That's my only reservation about getting the custom and putting he A8 in it...I like my pickups hot.

The Custom is known for being hot. It may not be as hot with the A8 as the ceramic, but it is still really hot. Not X2N hot, but to me the X2N sacrifices tone for heat.

That SII-7 has the X2N in it right? Can you compare the outputs?

Actually, the Sii-7 has a Wolfetone rewound JB7 in it. Rob shipped it sans pickup, since I knew exactly what I wanted to put into it. The Custom with the A8 is much hotter than the stock JB7, and loads hotter than this.

[D-EJ915]

Ahh alright sounds cool, I might pick one up for my H-207 afterall.

[The Dark Wolf]

Originally Posted by zimbloth

Is it easy to change a magnet?

There's a million threads on it, Nick. We've all posted pics and how easy it is a ton of times.

It's very, very easy.

[ibznorange]

The only thing that could make it hard, is that sometimes the magnet gets really stuck in the was. even then it only takes a few minutes to do from beginning to end

[ibznorange]

Good stuff isnt it? Im yet to install one in a 7 string, but ive done it to 2 6ers now, and everyone who tries it is consistently happy with the results as far as ive seen

[mnemonic]

hahah, i've still got an alnico 8 magnet sitting on my shelf that i've yet to put into my sh5 custom.

reason is because i'm not sure if i want to get blackouts for my seven or not, and if i do i'll want to sell the custom, and i'd rather not tamper with something i'm going to sell anyway

[scott from _actual time_]

Originally Posted by noodles

Suffice to say the darkness and mud are gone. Like, way gone. Into next ....ing week.

awesome! glad it's working so well for you. i haven't tried A8 in a Custom yet, but in all my bridge DiMarzios, it sounds fantastic--the best of both worlds, great edge and output with the thickness of Alnico. it may be a tiny bit less output than the ceramic, but the difference in mine is so small that it's unnoticable, and the extra thickness and richness and character is totally worth it for me.

i don't own a second Custom 7, so i'm thinking about ordering a magnet-swapped one from the Custom Shop....

[darren]

Do it!

I played mine again at rehearsal this week, and i'm still really impressed with it. It's LOUD. Like "i'm gonna have to back it off from the strings more"-loud so it balances better with my JP7 volume-wise. But not so loud that everything just turns to mush. It's still incredibly articulate, and has great definition and punch.

The DC8 is a GREAT pickup.

For me, the only really hair-raising part of the swap was gently prying the coils up in order to get the magnet free from its wax encapsulation. There are fine wires connecting the two coils, and i was VERY nervous about breaking them.

The cool part of the install was seeing the guts of the pickup in a little more detail with the tape wrap removed. I didn't know that they shielded the coils with copper tape. I'm sure my older Duncans don't have this feature. But it's amazing to see the detail and workmanship that go into their products.

[budda]

you sure there was any hair raising, darren?

if it's really easy, i may get some alnico V's for my Blaze if i dont like how it sounds.

or sell it for a Custom.. haha.

[darren]

I'm actually really curious to see what a JB with an Alnico 8 might sound like. Hopefully Leon will get a chance to try it out, since he's getting my JB and '59.

[ohio_eric]

JBroll put an A8 in a JB and seemed to like it.

[eaeolian]

Originally Posted by darren

I'm actually really curious to see what a JB with an Alnico 8 might sound like. Hopefully Leon will get a chance to try it out, since he's getting my JB and '59.

I've been thinking about it, since I have an A8 and a JB sitting around...

[noodles]

I have a second one lying around (I don't even know where I got it ), and I was thinking about putting it in the Dean. The Dean so good as is, though.

[Toxin]

where can i buy a8? =)

[ibznorange]

You can buy normal sized ones on ebay. For a full size magnet though you have to get them specially cut, and weve done it a few times now. maybe someone has a spare? if not, ill be buying a ton this summer hopefully, maybe you could get in on that order. might not be worth it though since your in russia. Try looking around for someone who cuts magnets over there

[noodles]

I'm starting to think that the A8 represents the best compromise for live playing.

I've noticed that pcikups with A5 magenets tend to have a warm, round tone, with lots of singing sustain. On the flip side, everything that makes them great for leads makes them less suitable for rhythm. They're just too muddy and undefined on the low end.

Pickups with ceramics are great for rhythm. They have a very agressive midrange character, with lots of upper midrange bight, delivering a tight bottom end and fierce attack that is perfect for more technical metal rhythm work. Unfortunately, this makes them sound too hard and brittle when playing leads, as the plain strings sound like they are scraping away at your ear drums.

The A8 sits in the middle of this. It still has the clarity of attack and punchy low end, but without the harsh midrange character. I still see merit in A5 and ceramic magnets, but more from a studio stand point. This is defintely going to effect my gear decisions recording, but for live, I think the Custom8-7 is going to work out the best for me.

[budda]

Originally Posted by noodles

I have a second one lying around (I don't even know where I got it ), and I was thinking about putting it in the Dean. The Dean so good as is, though.

another A8? *thinks about his JB and his Blaze.. then his wallet *

[noodles]

I have no clue when I bought it. I think it might have been one of the extras Scott had lying around, but I thought that was where the first one came from.

[ibznorange]

good job on the mystery magnets dave.
Dude, budda, wed need to get another order together on the a8s anyways. ill be ordering enough for that this summer if scotts willing to take it. You have till june to save