Alnico 8 magnets?

[moltenmetalburn]

So who has used Alnico 8 magnets in their pickups?

On paper they sound pretty awesome for metal guys that don't like ceramic like me; higher output tighter lows, smooth highs.

There are a few pickups available but swapping magnets is pretty easy too. available for about ten bux on ebay.

 

[troublehead]

I tried an A8 in a Duncan Custom hoping to get the same effect that you described. However, I HATED the pickup after the swap. It gave a big increase in output and had the grittiest/harshest sounding mids I have ever heard in a pickup. About the only thing it did good to my ears was roll off the highs. But man did it make the mids nasty.

I later tried it in a Custom Custom (essentially the same thing I did before) and had the same results.

Matter of fact........I will send you the A8 if you want to try it out. PM me you mailing address and I will get it out this week sometime.

 

[PsychoholicSlag]

I put one in my Dimarzio Super Distortion and really liked the outcome. It became alot fatter, but still held onto the high end. Threw it in my SG and never looked back.

 

[ericsabbath]

I tried an A8 in a Duncan Custom hoping to get the same effect that you described. However, I HATED the pickup after the swap. It gave a big increase in output and had the grittiest/harshest sounding mids I have ever heard in a pickup. About the only thing it did good to my ears was roll off the highs. But man did it make the mids nasty.

I later tried it in a Custom Custom (essentially the same thing I did before) and had the same results.

Matter of fact........I will send you the A8 if you want to try it out. PM me you mailing address and I will get it out this week sometime.

the custom and custom custom are the same pickup with different magnets, so they are supposed to sound the same with the same mag

I liked it with the duncan custom
sounded very fat and powerful
also tried in a bare knuckle holy diver
the stock diver was awesome in my les pauls, but was too dark in a gibson sg, so I tried the alnico 8
the magnet took a lot of the smoothness
it sounded a lot louder, brighter and tighter with crispy mids, tending to the nailbomb tone, but no near as organic
that magnet can make a lot of difference for the better or the worse, depending on the pickup, the guitar and what you're looking for
the only famous tone I know with A8 is EVH's ibanez explorer with stock super 70 pickups on mostly of the first VH album (Runnin' With the Devil, Jamie's Cryin rhythms, You Really Got Me, Feel Your Love Tonight and On Fire)

 

[Capulin Overdrive]

should do some searching over at the Metro Amp forum. think a few guys have messed with the 8's over there.

 

[stefvorcide]

If I'm correct, A8 magnets are used mostly in speakers... If Tim @BKpups won't do it, I don't waste my time.