blueman335

Give me an address and I'll send you a couple magnets, no charge.

Hi man, I'd really like to try swapping the magnet in my Custom Custom but I can't find a supplier that will a)reply to my emails or b) post at a reasonable rate. I emailed Addiction FX twice and never got anywhere with them, and their ebay store is totally confusing - they also charge about $14 to ship one magnet to the UK!
I don't suppose you have any ceramic or Alnico 5 magnets I could buy from you? I can pay you with Paypal and would obviously cover shipping (which presumably wouldn't be anything like $14!).
Thanks man.

I'm not a magnet expert, I just like experimenting with them in as many guitars & PU's as I can. The CUOA5 is warmer than a C8; more mids and a little less treble. Much more of an organic sound, and lots more chewy A2-type dynamics. I like the regular C5 but it's a little bright and scooped unless its in a warm, thick wood. C8's are usually an improvement, but to me sound a little stiffer and less responsive. CUOA5 is my favorite of the Customs, and I've tried C5, C8, CC, and Custom. Another great PU is a JB2, where a replacement magnet makes a big difference. Of course, this is all from a classic rock/blues perspective.

Hey, I want to get your opinion on a CUOA5. I know you absolutely love it, and prefer it over the C8. I was just curious if:

A. Is it brighter than a C8? Would it combat the dreaded icepick better?
B. Can it handle high gain? Something like this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sRDY3xHMoKc

I know you are without a doubt the main magnet man. That's why I asked you :D


Thanks a bunch. Cheers!

It has an A5 magnet in it (alnico 5), which is bright and scooped, even more so in a Strat. A warmer magnet should fix that. A4's have a balanced EQ, so you'd get more mids and less treble; a roughcast A4 has a smoother high-end than a polished one. For more warmth, an unoriented A5 is very good (it's much warmer than a typical A5); it has some of the dynamic qualities of an A2, but with more output, tighter bass, and enough treble for bite and crunch. The warmest magnets are A2's, which are heavy on mids with a rounded high-end. They're low output and have a loose low-end, but that's not as evident in bright woods. Roughcast A2's have a smoother high-end than polished ones. It all depends on how much warmth you need. The best plan would be to get one of each from Addiction FX, which would cost a little over $10, then you can see which one works best in your guitar (and only pay shipping one time).

blueman, I need to mellow out a PG+ and was told you could recommend new magnets? The p/u sounds pretty good but a bit spikey and bright with my strat and 18-watt.funkfingers informed that your the man.Honestly, I have never tried or really heard about changing mags as a solution, sounds cost effective certaintly...Regards,crunch !

http://tampa.craigslist.org/hil/msg/1893426480.html Not sure how close to Tampa you are but if you know anyone that is interested I am in Valrico - Its a pretty bad ass guitar but I am a Fender guy. Took me 30 years to figure that one out. - Later!!

I wish Gibson & Epiphone made HSS SG's with 5-way switches, it's a good concept.

What's your budget for an LP? You get more for your money with a used guitar.

Blueman

blueman335,

ganzosrevenge here. I know you're not keen on HSS strats or strats that try to be LP's (even when the intent isn't for the LP-sound...), but if one can split the HB, thereby increasing the strat's stratiness, and the strat is mahogany, does that vindicate it in some way... knowing that mahogany is darker than ash or alder.

Also, in terms of Les Pauls, I'm thinking to buy one. Is there an era / model that has the crossroads of "bang for the buck" to look out for? I'm not a fan of chambered bodies, but other than that I'm open to anything.


Thanks

Jason

Good afternoon. Just wondering if you got my PM from yesterday.

What PU's are in it now? If your 335 (Gibson?) neck PU is boomy, a PGN or JazzN would help tame the low end. For the bridge, a CC would take off some treble and fill in the mids. Another thing, while the PU's are being changed, put in two 250K pots in the bridge (volume and tone), which I do on my bridge PU's to take off the excess treble. Really helps smooth them out.

Blueman335,

Howdy from Eggman!
Would you be kind enough to recommend some replacement P/Us for my "bright" sounding ES-335? She's heavy and sports a 3-piece Maple neck, BTW.
For the last 14 months or so my new Carmen Ghia has become my main amp. I use it 90+ % of the time.
The 335 through my Ghia is a bit shrill with respect to treble and the neck P/U is boomy, as I've posted many times. I'd like a bit more smoothness and perhaps a P/U that isn't all Bass and Treble.
I'm not one to experiment with magnets, so would you be kind enough to recommend a few sets of replacement P/Us for this Beatles / 'Stones disciple? I like clean to slightly mean for tone withe the 335.
I'm considering S. Lovers, DiMarzio Air Classics, DiMarzio 36th Anniv PAFs.

Thanks,
Larry

Hey 'man, ain't it about time you posted up some pics of your Epi's? I'd love to see them. I like a nice strat, but a Les Paul just can't be beat (hence the reason I'm trying to trade a Squier strat for another Epi LP!)

Don't have any experience with Dean PU's. I'd check out eBay & see what they're selling for there. The majority of my PU's are Duncan, DMz, Gibson, and Carvin. You can get those used for about half price, which is what I usually do.

Hey blueman I was wondering what you think a set of Dean USA time capsules pickups are worth? I was kicking around a idea of getting some seymour's what's your take on it?

i sent you a pm, but its not in my sent folder...i dunno whats going on? tourville sent me over to talk with you about a magnet change\/ right there..lol email me at limegreentj@yahoo.com

Bluesman -

I see you're from the Detroit area - I'm a huge Rusty Day Fan.

Met Rusty after the CACTUS concert @ UPAC Ulster Performing Arts Center
in '71.

Had late Diner Dinner with him - smoked up all his Parliament Lights : )

He later called me from Florida to join his new CACTUS band - bassist.

My health then was rough from spine injuries .. couldn't make it..
probably would have been there for the finale.


Been collecting what there is of his on Bootleg & .net

With the right plan he could have had a following like Joplin.

Some incredible pipes -


Brian Tourville

Hi Bluesman!

Sending you a Dicky Betts fan 'sixstringer84' from the Agile Guitar Forum for some schoolinses on magnet swaps.

http://tinyurl.com/yckdqvv

I posted your last note to the 335 Agile owner to prime him - told him you'd speak with him on changing magnets to find his sound - and that magnets were around $6.00 - he's totally psyched:

"cool man! thanks a ton, cheap is great...lol"

"i'm gonna try to get a hold of him now, i take it you mentioned it to him already? thanks again! "

His has an AL-2000 Agile , very popular set neck LP with Ceramic Humbuckers.

Here's the posted pick up stats:

AL-2000 Ceramic pickup specifications:

Magnet : Ceramic D.C Ohm(K) : Neck - 7.60 Bridge - 8.40 Inductance : Neck - 4.66 Bridge - 5.20


Thanks very much for your insights - I've been posting your in formations onto the Agile site - stirred a lot of interest & amazement that this could be done at all.

I'm originally from the Detroit area. Moved down to Florida over 25 years ago to escape the arctic conditions. My first love has always been the British blues/rock bands of the late '60's/early '70's. Peter, Danny, Page, Clapton, Kim Simmonds, Jeff Beck, Mick Abrahams, Mick Taylor, Alvin Lee, Martin Barre, Robin Trower, Andy Powell, Tony Iommi, etc. What a motherload of talent & creativity. I like the second generation players that still carry the torch for that guitar style, like Gary Moore and Angus Young.

Are you a Gator because we may be twin sons of different mothers. I'm originally from Florida, prefer good platform Epi's with Am pups and twin blues guitar attacks (Allman Bros, D and the D's and old Fleetwood Mac).