A8 characteristics - what are they?

[OaklandA]

Ok, so I've been browsing some threads for info and there seems to be a lot of love for putting a pickup with an A8 in the bridge position. Namely the Custom.

Was wondering what the characteristics of the A8 are? It would seem that it would lead to a pretty high output pickup. Are they typically bright? Warm? Smooth? Crunchy? What time worn description applies? Is it best in the Custom or do they work well in others, such as a 59b?

I typically go for a low output PAF type humbucker for clarity and smooth response, but I am intrigued by the A8.

[Chuck_Norris]

An A8 magnet will give you more output, more low mids and a smoother treble response. The bass is big but not as articulate as with ceramics. It also adds a very special character to your leads, especially to your vibrato and bends, kinda like a subtle wah effect but it depends on the pickup and the distance to the strings. The most drastic changes happen in the midrange. Some like it, some don't.

[cheameup]

as Chuck said the biggest difference is in the mids

A8 mags and smooth is not the word I'd put together in my experience with em. aggressive is more the word to me which ciomes down to the mid voicing

I'd say the bottom end is tighter than an A5 but looser than ceramic

[skynyrd]

Bold,, Abusive,, dialed back mellow and articulate. Pretty much take an EQ pedal and put everything about 3/4 of the way up and thats an A8,,at least to me it is.

[FuseG4]

Every time I try A8 I find it adds a certain graininess to the distortion, its like A2 but kicked up in output, and not as spongey with the attack.

If there was a situation where you wanted to use A2 but wanted more output, A8 is the key.

If I would rate the bass/mid/treble on the bridge pickup I currently have, I'd do it like this:

A2 burstbucker2: 5/5/8
A5 burstbucker pro: 4/4/9
A8 burstbucker 2: 6/6/8.5

[King IzzO)))]

These guys have it covered pretty well. A8's have a different feel to them, a lot of pickups will flatten out with harder picking, an A8 pickup just gets louder, and they're already loud to begin with, not the easiest to match up to a neck pickup, Dimarzio's seem to work best. Also, the accentuated midrange is a love/hate thing, and it's pretty impossible to describe. The bottom line is that you have to try it to see if you'll like it. I personally love it.

[Kam]

This thread is a long read, but it should have pretty much everything you'll want or need to know.

[Sun King]

A8 works pretty well in the Duncan Distortion too! I'm loving that combo in my LTD right now.

[lazyfinger]

The real question is which has more chew (in the mids) per dollar?

A8 or UOA5?

I found out that UOA5 is between A2 and A8.

[misterwhizzy]

I typically go for a low output PAF type humbucker for clarity and smooth response, but I am intrigued by the A8.

Not totally sure the Custom 8 is for you, then. It is a beast of a pickup. I think low-output and smooth are about the last terms I would use to describe it. It's big, thick, chunky, and crunchy, all at the same time. I like the harmonics a lot better than the ceramic, but the high-end presence keeps it from being smooth. You can get a pretty good singing lead tone with the tone rolled a bit back, but don't expect it to act like a low-output pickup.

[darthphineas]

has anyone tried an A8 in a PATB-1 Parallel Axis?

[AlexR]

has anyone tried an A8 in a PATB-1 Parallel Axis?

I did - great tones. Reminds me of Tool, with a really thick drive, but somehow not compressed.

[Jolly_Rancher]

in addition to what's already been said, I'd give words to describe A8 such as:

gritty
thick
warm
with tamed highs (at a smooth taper, like A2)

it's not THAT loud, like a thick ceramic high-output 'bucker, but it does have a bit more output.

[oilpit]

I found out that UOA5 is between A2 and A8.

I would have to disagree rather strongly with this...

I think that people are too quick to liken the UOA5 to other Alnicos.
It sounds closest to A5...the EQ is very similar, the constant comparison to A2 is misleading.

Essentially it is a pickup with the EQ of an A5, but with the response and "feel" of an A2. The bass is slightly looser, the highs are much smoother and the mids are less rigid. However both A2 and A8 have far more midrange and "chew" than a UOA5.

[lazyfinger]

I suppose I had different results as well.

I found the A8 to be overbearing, particularly in mahogany, lots of low end and low mids, BIG and FULL sound sound, tons of compression (than all the other mags, including small ceramic). No experience with big ceramic though.

IME, the UOA5 had the chew of A2, but a bit brighter, more cut and in the front.

The A8 didn't have the A2 chew, it was chewy, but different, smooth mids, but it is darker sounding like modern metal sound.

The UOA5 that I have is nothing like the A5. A5 to me was mostly bass and treble. It's also more dynamic than A8. A8 has that attack of ceramic, with UOA5, I could control it better.

If I had to describe the mags as pickups, I would say UOA5 is like smoother JB. While A8 is like a angrier Tone Zone.

[darthphineas]

I did - great tones. Reminds me of Tool, with a really thick drive, but somehow not compressed.

very cool. thanks.

when it came to the A8 in a PATB1, how did it clean up? as if... if I were to run it on a p/p pot in parellel or split, would it be too gritty (something I had happen when I tried to split a DD! lol!)?

[OaklandA]

Not totally sure the Custom 8 is for you, then. It is a beast of a pickup. I think low-output and smooth are about the last terms I would use to describe it. It's big, thick, chunky, and crunchy, all at the same time. I like the harmonics a lot better than the ceramic, but the high-end presence keeps it from being smooth. You can get a pretty good singing lead tone with the tone rolled a bit back, but don't expect it to act like a low-output pickup.

I think you may be right.

I appreciate all the responses but as I read these and browse some other threads I've come to the conclusion that the A8 may not be my thing. Descriptive words like "abusive" and "graininess" plus the output probably would not work for me.

However, the UOA5 might be worth exploring.

Thanks again everyone.

[LtKojak]

I think you may be right.

I appreciate all the responses but as I read these and browse some other threads I've come to the conclusion that the A8 may not be my thing. Descriptive words like "abusive" and "graininess" plus the output probably would not work for me.

However, the UOA5 might be worth exploring.

Thanks again everyone.

You didn't say what kind of music you play or what you're trying to accomplish, so don't write the A8 off based in opinions of young brootalz and metalheads.

I play classic rock, British Blues and Jazz Fusion and my #1 guitar has an A8 Custom / A4 '59n which produces articulated cleans like there's no tomorrow.

BTW, this is an old picture of the guitar:



NOT your metalhead axe, isn't it?

[Bukithed Cux My Chkn]

Sweet. Is that made in Japan? I have similar deco pegs on my hollowbody; they're great. The wide leverage point really helps with fine tuning.

[LtKojak]

Sweet. Is that made in Japan?

Indeed it is.

Made in the Terada factory early '80s with one of Jack Westheimer's brand "Emperador".

It's got Grover Imperial tuners, A4 59n/A8 Custom p'ups (the infamous Lt. Kojak set), 500K CTS pots, Mojotone .022 PIO caps, Switchcaft toggle and jack, 50's wired with vintage braided cable.

This guitar can give any of their CS Gibson counterparts a run for their money and then some.

A similar series of Terada-made guitars can be found with the "El Torres" brand.

HTH.