C4, so far my favorite!

[CountFunkula]

I have tried nearly everything in the custom wind to get it to work, and so far I've never been really happy. The magnets I've tried:

A2: Too mellow and middy.
A3: Actually not bad. 2nd favorite, but not enough bass.
UOA5: Same as A2, albeit less.
A5: Too scooped, but not as bad as I thought.
A8: Tied for 2nd. Very even but HOT. Too hot, and a little too middy.
C8 (ceramic): Too hot as well. Stiff sounding, but fatter than I expected.

In comes A4...

Very fat, smooth, chimey, and detailed top end (almost paradoxical!). Decent amount of bass, and flubbiness ceased to exist. Perfect amount of mids. The combination of fatness, clarity, and tightness was what got me. People say that A4 is one-dimensional compared to the other magnets, but I thought this magnet had a 3-D quality to it that the others didn't have. I've wanted to try a PAF in this guitar, and now I want it to be A4! However, I'm really happy with my sound right now, and this pickup is going nowhere.

[dominus]

[CountFunkula]

Played it some more, and I can't stop playing it! It's just so fat and full and has so much bite!! My question is, why does nobody talk about this mod? I like it much better than UOA5 and C8.

[JeffB]

Lindy Fralin uses A4 mags in his high output set (and some of his lower winds too I believe), and they sound sound fantastic.

[marvelous_seven]

My question is, why does nobody talk about this mod? I like it much better than UOA5 and C8.

Because the sheer temptation of A8 goodness still wear on us!
I'm curious to hear JB4 review too!

[cvansickle]

Lindy Fralin uses A4 mags in his high output set (and some of his lower winds too I believe), and they sound sound fantastic.

I have Lindy's high outputs in my LP Custom. Awesome. There to stay.

[uOpt]

C4, so far my favorite!

I know what you mean but I always had a thing for simple conventional dynamite. But the the vintage feel and the glycerin bleeding out.

[Tor]

What guitar is it in?

[P.A.Foholic]

I instantly thought of that when I saw this thread

[Maynardo]

this is a VERY explosive thread

[eviltobz]

I got me a CC for one of my guitars a while back and found it waaaaay too middy - muffled sounding even. I mag-swapped it to A5, UOA5 and A4, and in that guitar heard little between the new magnets IIRC. They all gave it back the missing top end, but differences beyond that were subtle. The sort of thing that you have to listen for, rather than constantly being aware of its particular character compared to something different. That's just my experiences with my guitar though, dunno about anyone else.

[blueman335]

Lindy Fralin uses A4 mags in his high output set (and some of his lower winds too I believe), and they sound sound fantastic.

Fralin's magnet of choice is A4, he uses it in most, if not all, of his HB's and P-90's, unless someone specifies a different mag.

[blueman335]

Interesting. I was waiting for the C4's fans to come out of the closet. I've tried the same magnets you have in Customs, with the exception of A4's. Maybe I should have.

At this point, I'm very happy with UOA5's in many different bridge HB's and P-90's. I like lots of mids (more sustain during bends and vibrato) and am not really looking for any 'chime'. I like raw bite and crunch on top of fat mids. But, you have me thinkng, I may have to try a C4...

[CountFunkula]

^Well the chime isn't really prominent. It has a little bit more chime than the other mags, but it's a very smooth chime if that makes sense. The raw bite and crunch you are talking about actually sounds like a perfect description. It has a "fat bite" to the attack. It may not be present in a Les Paul, though.

What guitar is it in?

It's in a Carvin DC145. Maple neck-thru with alder wings. Ebony fretboard and a Floyd.

[IanBallard]

Well, according to history, some of the most sought-after PAF's had A4's in them. The late 50's (where you get the best "holy grails"), saw the majority of magnet orders being A4... IIRC, somewhere near 70%.

It's definitely a underrated magnet for sure. As was said, Fralin loves the A4 and some other guys like Chris Carter of Sin Pickups prefers them for high-output winds because it helps keep the detail and has a less peaky EQ.

I'd love to try a C4 or a JB-4. Heck, I might throw one in my hybrid if I get sick of the A8.

[CountFunkula]

I'd love to try a C4 or a JB-4. Heck, I might throw one in my hybrid if I get sick of the A8.

Actually, I'm thinking about buying a '59 to hybridize with this pickup. Not that it needs improvement, but just 'cause I can!

[surface54]

counter terrorists win

[blueman335]

I'd love to try a C4 or a JB-4.

JB4? You guys are relentless. Hmm. I wonder what a JB4 would sound like?

[CountFunkula]

Wait, I got it. The perfect description!

Like a higher output '59 Model with a deeper bottom end and expanded output.

It's essentially a fatter '59. Nobody likes the Custom 5, replace it with this!

[blueman335]

It's essentially a fatter '59. Nobody likes the Custom 5, replace it with this!

The C5 still has it's share of fans, it's just that the C8 took away a lot of them.