software

On Saturday i put an Alnico 8 in my mid 80ies SD Custom.
First impression of the A8: dull grey and the biggest pull on the fridge by far. The ceramic (out of the Custom) has a little more magnetic strength on the edge of the fridge than a A5. But the Alnico 8 need about the double strength to pull it off.
Therefore i had a dramatic buzz on the low strings with the former height setting on the guitar. I doubled the distance to the strings.
Most important: The sound is great. The ceramic Custom was great, but had a little too harsh highs and hard to control low E. Both is gone! Softer highs and controllable low strings! Great - this is a keeper!

Glad you like 'em. I'm researching a way of partially de-magnetizing the 8's to make them usable in neck pickups and to allow you to raise the pickup a bit closer to the strings, but tone-wise, you can't beat 8, especially in a bridge pu.

Hmmm. I guess I now know the reason why Seymour hasn't already used them.
If they pull on the strings too hard....that's not a good thing, and you'd need to de-gauss them to a median point for them to be good enough for a production pickup. I think Seymour is of the position that A5, A2, and Ceramic is all you need, and if you want to change the tone, he just adjusts the magnetic charge of the magnet, and uses a different winding.

That said, I just ordered some custom made Tele pickups from Chubtone that are like Antiquities with an A3 under the wound strings, and A5 under the plain strings.

Hi Zhang, i remember a friend who has Demagnetizer for tape machine heads. maybe i can get that. I report back!

Why would a8 have more string pull than ceramic?

A8 string-pull is nothing to worry about with a bridge pu, especially if you don't have the strings almost touching the poles.

Could be an issue with a neck pickup although it may be the case that it will sound great with the neck pickup backed way off. I haven't tried it in a neck pickup yet.

Those uninitiated to the Alnico 8 semi-micro-sort-of craze in here of late, my own interest in A8 is not output because to me A5 has plenty of output. It was Wicked Lester's description of the TONE that gave me the MAS (Magnet Acquisition Syndrome).

He described it as having all the positive tonal aspects of A2, A5, and ceramic with none of the drawbacks. He was dead-on...

I saw these demag tools for tape machine heads on fleebay for just 1 buck. Nobody seems to need them anymore in times of hard-disc-recording. Wonder whether they work of demag a magnet? Strong enough?


Originally Posted by ZhangliqunA8 string-pull is nothing to worry about with a bridge pu, especially if you don't have the strings almost touching the poles.

Could be an issue with a neck pickup although it may be the case that it will sound great with the neck pickup backed way off. I haven't tried it in a neck pickup yet.

Those uninitiated to the Alnico 8 semi-micro-sort-of craze in here of late, my own interest in A8 is not output because to me A5 has plenty of output. It was Wicked Lester's description of the TONE that gave me the MAS (Magnet Acquisition Syndrome).

He described it as having all the positive tonal aspects of A2, A5, and ceramic with none of the drawbacks. He was dead-on...

It's actually MAD...Magnet Acquisition Disorder...medically speaking.

Hey Zhang!

I looked up your email and realized I had met you once. I had come over to your place and you sold me a Phat Cat. I live right near you!

You are a cool guy, with great chops. I remember you played some sweet jazz.

How small a world this is that we live in!


Originally Posted by yetiIt's actually MAD...Magnet Acquisition Disorder...medically speaking.

It's an even more insidious, uh...disorder, than I thought! It makes me describe it by the wrong name!


Originally Posted by OlinMusicHey Zhang!

I looked up your email and realized I had met you once. I had come over to your place and you sold me a Phat Cat. I live right near you!

You are a cool guy, with great chops. I remember you played some sweet jazz.

How small a world this is that we live in!

Thanks for the kind words! I replied to your e-mail moments ago...

When I talked to Robert Paar (All Star Magnetics) today to place my order, he told me that many factors that we aren't even aware of can affect the demagnitizing (my word) of a magnet. Things such as waving the magnet over a hot electrical circuit, PC monitors, hard drives, other magnets (ie. pickups) etc.

Many variances can influence the strnegth of the magnet over time. Interesting as he mentioned most guitar companies are using Ceramic 8 instead on Ceramic 5 since the Ceramic 8 doesn'r degrade much over time as Ceramic 5 does moreso.

I would figure Ceramic 5 would work better for guitar pickups as many would want a little weaker ceramic, which may or may not make a vintagey ceramic tone?

Isn't this why people prefer the tone of SD pickups from the 80's as they hear more mojo? Alnico II is known for this, but wouldn't this also apply to something like a Ceramic 5?


Originally Posted by hamerfanI saw these demag tools for tape machine heads on fleebay for just 1 buck. Nobody seems to need them anymore in times of hard-disc-recording. Wonder whether they work of demag a magnet? Strong enough?

I have a de-gausser at work I could use, but I don't have a gauss meter, so I won't know the measurement before and after de-gaussing. Does anyone know where to find one for cheap? I've looked online but hard to find. If it works well I could possibly de-mag it for ya.

I have a tape demagnetizer, but afraid it will ruin a magnet. Anyone willing to test this that has a meter?

OK, so I went to Zhang's place and he did the C8 mod on my C5 (in a PRS Custom 24)

So far I am messing with it, gonna take it to a gig soon. I haqve to say it's like the most interesting Custom I have ever heard. You have to mess with the height A TAD, and the pole pieces, but there is some tone in there. I am not sure I am in love, but I am amazed. It's something so new, I don't know what to call it or do with it.

C8 reminds me of a whole new type of Custom. Bark and growl without the harsh ceramic highs and stiff feel. (This has been said before, no?) It does sound huge and loud, and works wonder with my Alnico 2 Pro neck. The magnets and tones blend so well! I think it would sound great with my Dimarzio Virtual PAF, as well!

The C8 has balance, but it confuses me because it breaks the Duncan mold. It has almost Dimarzio qualities (IN A GOOD WAY!) It kinda reminds me of a super distortion, great lows, sweet highs, and an ass kicking feel. My Marshall loves this pickup for rhythm. It has a spongy tone like an A2, but balls and attitude to match a ceramic. I can go from neck to bridge easily. I am just unaccustomed to how responsive this pickup is. Like I said, it grinds and bites when spanked, like a Super Distortion (or perhaps an Invader, if that helps). Only- the highs are still sweet. The bite without being rolled off. Reminds me of the APH1 that way (which is in no way Muddy to my ears, through my amps, and it has a sweet bite when dimed). It has mids the C5 was missing, and chunky lows for metal. I will say, it does not clean up or do the sweetness of a C5.

I am unfamilair with the Custom Custom, not sure if I have heard one (might have been in a GMP I played). I want to compare the two!

Either way, this pickup will throw you for loop. I have never played a Duncan like it. I am almost trying to figure out how to use it, because it responds to things I was not able to do on a Custom or C5, such as play chunky rhythm then push up the volume pot for some screaming and biting (not shrill at all) leads. It is quite responsive to pick attack, but not as much as I am used to from say, the Virtual PAFs (very responsive). Once again, it doesn't clean up as well or easily as a C5. It just sounds ballsy all the time - which for hard rock and metal and 70s/80s sounds is a good thing. Not really a classic blues tone.

If it helps any, I am not a huge fan of the 59 model, though I think it works fine as a basic, no brainer in any guitar. I prefer the APH1 a bit more - I see them as close sisters. That shows you where my ear is at.

Hope my rambling helps this thread... lol