Alt8 with an A5? Alt5?

[Virtual Kevorkian]

I've been back at home the last two consecutive weekends and the only axe I have down here is my Schecter with the Alt8/Jazz set (that Jazz reeeeally needs to come out), but I've been really digging it for the most part.

Unfortunately, I'm not vibing with the top end of the pickup anymore. It's overly harsh and scratchy with my setup for whatever reason (not even the 81 has the same top end harshness), and I'm thinking this could be the more 'ceramic' leaning tendencies of the A8 magnet coming into play.

Has anyone tried the 'Alt5'? In my head it works out, but I'd hate for the pickup to lose all it's tightness and punchyness once I take the A8 out.

[surface54]

id think it would be brighter in the mids, top end might have greater qualitys for leads.
im sure the low end would loose some range but i think it would still be tight.

[super rad stuff]

i tried an alt5 in my SG for a while, and i hated it because it didn't have that brightness to it that i like. it darkens the pickup significantly, you might like it.

[hamerfan]

i tried an alt5 in my SG for a while, and i hated it because it didn't have that brightness to it that i like. it darkens the pickup significantly, you might like it.

Thats funny i tossed out the Alt8, because it was to dark for me.

[Petrovsk Mizinski]

This stuff is always a compromise.
You WILL lose tightness with the swap to A5. You may find it might make it a nice guitar for lead playing, but you're probably gonna resort to the Stinnett far more often for rhythm guitar

[Virtual Kevorkian]

This stuff is always a compromise.
You WILL lose tightness with the swap to A5. You may find it might make it a nice guitar for lead playing, but you're probably gonna resort to the Stinnett far more often for rhythm guitar

Horses for courses on this one, the Schecter isn't getting used for the same stuff the Stinnett is, and that's why I haven't just shoved EMG's in it.


I think I'll give this a try, but it really makes me depressed about Duncan's offerings. I've tried virtually every 'high output' pickup they make and they all have serious shortcomings. The Alt8 is the closest thing I've found to what I want, but even it falls a bit short.

[Franknfilms]

Horses for courses on this one, the Schecter isn't getting used for the same stuff the Stinnett is, and that's why I haven't just shoved EMG's in it.


I think I'll give this a try, but it really makes me depressed about Duncan's offerings. I've tried virtually every 'high output' pickup they make and they all have serious shortcomings. The Alt8 is the closest thing I've found to what I want, but even it falls a bit short.

I have a schecter c1+, didn't end up liking the DD in it, with A8 or ceramic. Also, replacing the Jazz. I'm installing a Custom 5 (then maybe a swap to A8) and Air Norton with Triple Shots. I'll be posting the results in about a week from now, thought you might be interested since our guitars are similar.

http://www.seymourduncan.com/forum/s...d.php?t=161049
http://www.seymourduncan.com/forum/s...d.php?t=187154

[dr. ad]

just curious, have you tried an invader or a 500T?

i'd consider A4 for the alt8.
do you know what you're putting in the neck position yet?

[Virtual Kevorkian]

just curious, have you tried an invader or a 500T?

i'd consider A4 for the alt8.
do you know what you're putting in the neck position yet?

The invader is pure mud with a gross top end, and the 500t lacks character in this particular axe (tried both, this thing has been through hell and back when it comes to pickup swaps)

I'd fear the A4 would make it even looser than the A5?

No clue on neck position yet, I'll get that sorted once I have the bridge pickup set in stone.

[misterwhizzy]

Is the Distortion too bright for you? I haven't played the Alt8, but my understanding is that it's EQed more for the lower mids. I'm not suggesting you use the DD, but I'd like to know what the differences are, to your ears.

[Virtual Kevorkian]

The DD is one of my least favorite pickups .

The DD is WAY too bright to me, but the top end is disgustingly harsh/brittle, and it doesn't have much punch in the low end/low midrange for me.

The Alt8 is killer when it comes to punch, it just tends to have that nutty top end that really brings out the passive 'twang' that it already has in more abundance than something like a Custom or JB.

[surface54]

C8 is regarded as the sweet spot for pickups. i just went through my JB,JB8, ALT8 to get a custom and put a A8 mag in it, now i dont feel i need anything else from a pu. sounds smooth yet aggressive, highs arent bright but there perfect. idk just my opinion.

[B2D]

C8 is regarded as the sweet spot for pickups. i just went through my JB,JB8, ALT8 to get a custom and put a A8 mag in it, now i dont feel i need anything else from a pu. sounds smooth yet aggressive, highs arent bright but there perfect. idk just my opinion.

Out of all the mag swaps I did last year, the C8 definitely was the best. I'd recommend at least giving it a try.

[Franknfilms]

C8 is regarded as the sweet spot for pickups. i just went through my JB,JB8, ALT8 to get a custom and put a A8 mag in it, now i dont feel i need anything else from a pu. sounds smooth yet aggressive, highs arent bright but there perfect. idk just my opinion.

surface54, any clips available yet for the C8? Your other clips are outstanding so I'm hoping you post some for the C8 at some point.

[Franknfilms]

surface54, any clips available yet for the C8? Your other clips are outstanding so I'm hoping you post some for the C8 at some point.

Nevermind, i found your clips of the C8, it sounds like a keeper!

https://home.comcast.net/~musicalsx/sounds/C8DSL100.mp3
https://home.comcast.net/~musicalsx/sounds/C8-2.mp3

[Petrovsk Mizinski]

Not sure about A4, but I do know from first hand experience that the A2 magnet is quite loose (had one in an Alnico II Pro humbucker neck, great for blues rock stuff and cleans as well as this nice smooth quality for shredding, but definitely avoid like the plague for rhythm guitar on high gain) and it seems the lower magnet numbers seem to just offer less and less tightness.
And yeah, not a DD fan here either.
Seems like it would be okay for guys playing djent with an 8 string guitar, but neither of us are really djent players either
Have you considered changing tone pot values? Who knows, maybe switching to a pot with a lower value could darken up the sound a little just enough to remove some of the top end junk

[Virtual Kevorkian]

Tone pots? Volume, straight-up here. Not a fan of 250k pots with humbuckers, it's a different kind of top-end rolloff than I want.

Thinking I'll probably just snag a Custom and an A5 magnet and give the Custom, C5, and Alt5 a shot in the axe. I've had a Custom and C5 in there before but my ears/rig/hands were waaay different back then.

[dominus]

Tone pots? Volume, straight-up here. Not a fan of 250k pots with humbuckers, it's a different kind of top-end rolloff than I want.

Thinking I'll probably just snag a Custom and an A5 magnet and give the Custom, C5, and Alt5 a shot in the axe. I've had a Custom and C5 in there before but my ears/rig/hands were waaay different back then.

Throw the ceramic from the Custom in the Alt 8 too and see what that does.

[BluesGuyJ]

whats the difference between C8 and C5 tonaly?

[B2D]

whats the difference between C8 and C5 tonaly?

The C5 has slightly less output and less mids.