Think I feel the urge to swap coming on again...
Since I'm about to have 4 days off for the holiday, if I get bored I still have the UOA5 to try out...might pull the ceramic magnet out of the Duncan Custom in my original 80s Charvel Strat mutt. I also want to find a JB Trembucker on Ebay and try that, and then slap an A8 in it, as I hear the JB8 is nearly as cool as the Custom8. :thumb:
:guitar:
Pickup mods: Magnet-Swaps and the "Half-Air" mod demystified
Mag-swap BUMP :baaa:
I did the A8 swap with the ceramic Duncan Custom in the bomber Charvel, it was EASY - and after playing around with it for a coupla months, I like it better than the ceramic OR the A2! It has nearly if not all the low-end whack of the ceramic (not flubby like an A2), better mids, and the highs aren't jagged or spikey sounding, they're more pleasing like an A2. It cleans up well, the split sound is excellent, and under high gain it's awesome. Great rhythm and lead tones. I still wanna try the UOA5 someday, but I can't imagine it sounding better than the A8!
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Still writing the formal review, but here's some first impressions...
OK, as of today I have to say my two favorite "modded" pickups are the Duncan 59/Custom Hybrid and the Custom 8. The hybrid has the vintage undertone mixed in with the awesome, and the Custom 8 is all awesome all the time. They both clean up well, don't get me wrong - but mid-to-low volume settings are where the Hybrid really shines, due to the complexity of its tone. If the Custom 8 cleans up well, the Hybrid cleans up amazingly well. It really is the best of everything - serious Custom-type wallop with the classic PAF-early VH vibe going too. So if I had to describe the two - the Hybrid is for the guy that wants to cover all the bases, and the Custom 8 for the guy that wants to KILL everyone at all the bases. :baaa:
http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m7...wlb7o1_500.jpg
:guitar:
If only there was some... visual representation of this tone...oh, wait!
Yeah, the more I listen to it in the guitar, it's seriously kinda got this bridge vibe:
http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h2...inish-Shot.jpg
:biggrin: Seriously, in a good "big rock" way. Huge power chord stuff - done. Great lead tone. Bet it sits really well in a band mix too. Excellent for 80s and 90s rock tunes. And if ya think about it, people like Jerry Cantrell have used them (up until he got a MCP sig pickup). But I downloaded "Balls Out" by SP over the weekend (EPIC production btw, get it) , and it's that kinda rhythm tone. No wonder it comes standard in so many guitars, in the right one, it's pretty cool.
Thought about direct-mounting it but it would've required a trip to the Home Depot to get some small wood blocks to build up the mouting leg routs on the Warmoth body...it's like they're routed for taller than standard legs. Even with a mounting ring can't imagine the pickup mounting screw ever needing that much clearance, but oh well. So not happening with that body any time soon, too much of a pain. Really makes it questionable with this stashed Musikraft body. Routs aren't as deep, but what a PITA. :umm:
The JB's totally fine with the stock A5, but if an A8 swap (the JB8) does for it what it does for a Custom, ...and tightened up the lows even a smidge (which it might), it'd pretty much rule alongside the C8.
If the price is reasonable, go for it.
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Seshmeister
Hey more questions.
Found a guitar today I'm toying with getting but it's almost impossible in a busy shop through a practice amp to tell what it sounds like.
It's got
Bridge Pickup: Seymour Duncan Custom Custom
Neck Pickup; Seymour '57 Pickups
Decent options?
It's got a coil tap and plays nice - 70% off the retail price, I'm thinking I'll get it tomorrow.
Uh, yeah...you like the way it plays, sure - or even if maybe there's other parts you can salvage off it and re-sell -hell the pickups are worth dropping minimal $ on the guitar to scavenge 'em...lol
I was using a Custom Custom in my Koa Strat one of my main (pre-"Bomber" at least) guitars until weekend before last when I slapped the JB in for the review. I loved it, still do. Great pickup, unless you're doing down-tuned metal stuff, the A2's low-end seems to be a little loose for serious palm-muting IMO. Great vintage rock sound though, and splits well, so a coil-tap is a bonus. And it's probably a '59 in the neck, also a great, classic pickup. What kind of guitar is it?
You wanna hear a Custom Custom do metal riffage and palm-muting, though? 'Cuz don't get me wrong, it still will... I was gonna post this in "Show Your Work" but whatevs...
http://soundcloud.com/jayhaleguitar/...dess-main-riff