59 magnet swap A3 for A5

[rickmurphy]

I have a set of 59 pickups and I want to experiment with a magnet swap: swap A3 magnets for A5.

I have a few questions that I hope folks here can answer.

1. Am I correct that I can slide the A5 magnet out and the A3 magnet in without affecting the wax potting?

2. Can I still use the screws and slugs, or do I need to change them too?

3. Is there anything about the coils on the 59s that would make the swap a bad idea?

4. The DC resistance on the neck is 7.42 and the bridge 8.1. Should I expect the resistance to change with the A3s? If so, by how much?

 

[dystrust]

Re: 59 magnet swap A3 for A5

I have a set of 59 pickups and I want to experiment with a magnet swap: swap A3 magnets for A5.

I have a few questions that I hope folks here can answer.

1. Am I correct that I can slide the A5 magnet out and the A3 magnet in without affecting the wax potting?

2. Can I still use the screws and slugs, or do I need to change them too?

3. Is there anything about the coils on the 59s that would make the swap a bad idea?

4. The DC resistance on the neck is 7.42 and the bridge 8.1. Should I expect the resistance to change with the A3s? If so, by how much?

1. If they're uncovered, probably. If the pickups are covered, you can't take the covers off without affecting the potting somewhat.
2. You do not need to swap them.
3. The 59 takes to mag swaps quite well; whether you'd like the result is another matter.
4. Mags have zero affect on DC resistance.

 

[gregory]

Re: 59 magnet swap A3 for A5

To the OP:
Why is #4 important?

 

[rickmurphy]

Re: 59 magnet swap A3 for A5

No more important than 1 - 3. I am just groping at this point.

 

[LtKojak]

Re: 59 magnet swap A3 for A5

An excellent mag combo for a '59 set is an A3/A2.

HTH,

 

[gregory]

Re: 59 magnet swap A3 for A5

The question was why do you believe it is important, rather than how important it is to you.

 

[blueman335]

Re: 59 magnet swap A3 for A5

A3's are relatively bright magnets, but the high-end is softer and rounded, as opposed to an A5's sharpness. A3's also have a lot of mids and therefore sound 'big'; whereas A5's are midscooped. There's a lot of untapped potential with A3's; they've been on the back burner for a long time in HB's, but Duncan used one in the bridge of the Bonamassa set, and Gibson has them in a version of their '57's. That has people thinking.

 

[Demanic]

Re: 59 magnet swap A3 for A5

An excellent mag combo for a '59 set is an A3/A2.

HTH,

I also like A4 and UOA5 as a combo.

Sent from my MotoE2(4G-LTE) using Tapatalk

 

[blueman335]

Re: 59 magnet swap A3 for A5

I also like A4 and UOA5 as a combo.

My preference too.

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: 59 magnet swap A3 for A5

+1 for A4 (neck/Rhythm position) and UOA5 (bridge/Treble) position.

 

[blueman335]

Re: 59 magnet swap A3 for A5

+1 for A4 (neck/Rhythm position) and UOA5 (bridge/Treble) position.

Why isn't that the Vintage Blues Set?

 

[hamerfan]

Re: 59 magnet swap A3 for A5

hi rick, i am in the midst of changing my neck pup from A3 to A4. the a3 tends to make the neck a bit wooly, which is only a good thing with a brite guitar and steel parts in the bridge (e.g. the tailpiece stud of a LP should be steel not brass or zamac).
i come (again) back to an a4 in the neck.

 

[blueman335]

Re: 59 magnet swap A3 for A5

hi rick, i am in the midst of changing my neck pup from A3 to A4. the a3 tends to make the neck a bit wooly, which is only a good thing with a brite guitar and steel parts in the bridge (e.g. the tailpiece stud of a LP should be steel not brass or zamac).
i come (again) back to an a4 in the neck.

I think A4's should be a lot more common in production neck HB's. Have you tried an A3 in a bridge PU yet? I'm going to one of these days. I like the idea of the fat mids and softened highs.

 

[zenmindbeginner]

Re: 59 magnet swap A3 for A5

I think A4's should be a lot more common in production neck HB's. Have you tried an A3 in a bridge PU yet? I'm going to one of these days. I like the idea of the fat mids and softened highs.

Isn't DiMarzio doing some A4 neck pickups? I'm not sure but I think I saw something in their line like that.

That would be a killer strat set too... A4 in the neck and middle with A3 in the bridge... formvar... scatterwound...

Better yet... how about a 4-3 single coil or a Phat Cat with A4/A3.?

 

[blueman335]

Re: 59 magnet swap A3 for A5

Isn't DiMarzio doing some A4 neck pickups? I'm not sure but I think I saw something in their line like that.

I think their new Master PAF has an A4 neck, and an A5 bridge.

 

[JeffB]

Re: 59 magnet swap A3 for A5

I think their new Master PAF has an A4 neck, and an A5 bridge.

The opposite

 

[hamerfan]

Re: 59 magnet swap A3 for A5

yeah, i have low wound set of Barfuss Pickups. its called the Beano Set. 7.0k and 7.8k A5. I dearly love the neck as most mud free neck pup in my collection. Though i couldn't bond with bridge - to brite and a bit hard, more so than my T-Tops. At first David (from Barfuss pickups) reworked the bridge with a different keeper bar, but still...Recently i swapped in a3's into both. The neck is okay, but it was the cure for the bridge. Now i am a happy camper with a A5 neck and a A3 bridge.

 

[TroyBaer]

Re: 59 magnet swap A3 for A5

I think A4's should be a lot more common in production neck HB's.

Same here. BKP Emeralds, PRS McCarties, and Tonerider Alnico 4 Classics are among my favorite pickups, and their common trait is Alnico 4 magnets.

 

[blueman335]

Re: 59 magnet swap A3 for A5

Same here. BKP Emeralds, PRS McCarties, and Tonerider Alnico 4 Classics are among my favorite pickups, and their common trait is Alnico 4 magnets.

Lindy Fralin's a huge A4 fan, he told me it's his magnet of preference in all his HB's and P-90's.

 

[blueman335]

Re: 59 magnet swap A3 for A5

The opposite

I was so close. And I have a set of them too...