'59 With an Alnico 2 mag

[rocknroll1385]

Hi everybody!!! I am new to this forum, and I need some info. I want to put in both the neck and bridge of one of my Les Paul's a '59. But then one day I stumbled across on this forum somebody mentioning that a '59 with an Alnico 2 is "god's own pickup" and I now really want to do this with some 50's wiring, but at the same time would like to hear what it sounds like. Is there a demo or sound clip or Youtube video anywhere out there? I really wanna hear this thing, but worst comes to worst I'll just find out when I do it. Thanks in advance

[blueman335]

Re: '59 With an Alnico 2 mag

Hi everybody!!! I am new to this forum, and I need some info. I want to put in both the neck and bridge of one of my Les Paul's a '59. But then one day I stumbled across on this forum somebody mentioning that a '59 with an Alnico 2 is "god's own pickup" and I now really want to do this with some 50's wiring, but at the same time would like to hear what it sounds like. Is there a demo or sound clip or Youtube video anywhere out there? I really wanna hear this thing, but worst comes to worst I'll just find out when I do it. Thanks in advance

I haven't done it yet, but it would cure the boominess of a '59N. I use UOA5's in my '59B's for the combination of warmth and sharp high end.

[rocknroll1385]

Re: '59 With an Alnico 2 mag

I haven't done it yet, but it would cure the boominess of a '59N. I use UOA5's in my '59B's for the combination of warmth and sharp high end.

Thanks, any input really helps, I think I'll try both and see which one I like best, but I'm almost positive the alnico 2 is going in the neck

[jake_xms3_punk]

Re: '59 With an Alnico 2 mag

I haven't tried an a2 59 bit I have tried an a2 in a jazz hoping that because its natural bright pickup, the a2 would only smooth out the very high end and tame the brightness a bit. The difference was night and day.
it sounded like it did with the a5 but with the tone rolled to 0 with a .47 cap!

a2 mags have a distinct tone, very fluid and smooth. A2 neck pickups are not for everyone, not enough bite, too loose and not sharp enough for me. Also I think they are less versatile than a5 pickups because you can get a similar tone by rolling the tone back with a5 mags but you can't add treble to a2 mags. That's just my opinion and experience though. If you're into that Slash, Santana type of tone then give the a2 59 a try. I can see it being good for that kind of tone.

[rocknroll1385]

Re: '59 With an Alnico 2 mag

Slash is pretty much the reason I started playing guitar, I love his tone and admire it so much, my band covers a few of his songs, but at the same time I want my own distinct tone, so I think this will be a good compromise, thanks!

[the guy who invented fire]

Re: '59 With an Alnico 2 mag

I like the A2 59...did it years ago for a friend looking for an EVH sounding pickup and it's a great pickup.

I am using a set of A3 59's right now myself and quite like them!

[rocknroll1385]

Re: '59 With an Alnico 2 mag

Yah, I've heard nothing but good about em, I'm really pumped to do it now

[Chickenwings]

Re: '59 With an Alnico 2 mag

i have a pair of 59s with a2s. Love them. fat.

[rocknroll1385]

Re: '59 With an Alnico 2 mag

i have a pair of 59s with a2s. Love them. fat.

Awesome, that's pretty much exactly what I want. In a video i saw on magnet swapping, they said that it takes a few days for the magnet to "settle," is this true?

[jake_xms3_punk]

Re: '59 With an Alnico 2 mag

I've never heard that? I've done several mag swaps within a few hours on the same pickup.

[flavorednation]

Re: '59 With an Alnico 2 mag

I haven't done it yet, but it would cure the boominess of a '59N. I use UOA5's in my '59B's for the combination of warmth and sharp high end.

Hey blueman, What about UOA5 in '59 neck?
I still haven't swapped magnets on the '59.One is waiting for guitar.

[rocknroll1385]

Re: '59 With an Alnico 2 mag

I've never heard that? I've done several mag swaps within a few hours on the same pickup.

http://http://youtu.be/jXbzqQZu-Qk here he says it at the end, I have no idea though, I've never swapped magnets before

[rocknroll1385]

Re: '59 With an Alnico 2 mag

God dang stupid link wont work, just search on youtube How to swap a humbucker magnet and the video is by a guy named Convoystonothingness. He says it at the end

[misterwhizzy]

Re: '59 With an Alnico 2 mag

God dang stupid link wont work, just search on youtube How to swap a humbucker magnet and the video is by a guy named Convoystonothingness. He says it at the end

Or you could just send him a private message here. CTN is his current username since the forum upgrade didn't like the long handle, apparently. Great dude.

Anyways, regardless of whether it settles or not, I did try the 59n with A2, and I liked it a lot. It fixed all that I didn't like about the A5, but it added a new problem, mainly that I couldn't get a real distinct high end out of it. I want that high-end clarity, especially on cleans, which I use the neck for a lot, and it never gave it. It was REAL close, but never quite there. I went back to A4--no, that's not a typo--and I'm real happy with the result. I don't think I'll ever change it again.

All that being said, the A2 59n is a really great pickup. It just wasn't QUITE right for that guitar.

[LtKojak]

Re: '59 With an Alnico 2 mag

Hey blueman, What about UOA5 in '59 neck?

I've made quite a few UOA5 '59ns.

Although they sound fine, this particular magnet has a spongy low-end quality that *I* wish it didn't have. Most of my customers like it, some a lot.

It does sound great in the bridge, though.

If *I* would have the last word, my pick would be a nickel-covered, A3neck/UOA5bridge '59 set, if it should sound as "vintage" as possible.

This set sounds specially well in a semi-hollow and even better in a full-hollow.

HTH,