A2 for 59 neck but what for the bridge 59 in a Mag Swap?

[tonaholic]

Hey all,

Just ordered my dream Heritage H150 Les Paul style built guitar. It's stock with Duncan 59's.

I'm fairly keen on doing an A2 mag swap in the neck.

What's the best practice for the bridge? UOA5, A2 or RCA5?

I'm looking for it to be full, and slightly higher output with good mids while being open and reactive to pick dynamics. Looking for a sound somewhere between vintage and modern for the bridge (in output, still want it to be PAF voiced) and more vintage for the neck.

I play every kind of music and have an AXE-FX2, so I have no issue getting as much gain as I want from the amp.

Thanks!

 

[blueman335]

Re: A2 for 59 neck but what for the bridge 59 in a Mag Swap?

RC A5's are similar to polished A5's, except they have a slightly smoother, less harsh high end. They're still mid scooped with ample low end. If you want a slight difference in an A5 PU, RC A5's are worth a try.

For a warmer sound with lots of vintage texture and dynamics, you can try an A2 or UOA5. A2's have more mids and a rounded high end. UOA5's have a slightly sharper high end, with a little more output.

 

[tonaholic]

A2 for 59 neck but what for the bridge 59 in a Mag Swap?

Thanks for the clarity! Just ordered up a set of both A2 and UOA5

I get the feeling I might be into the A2's as a pair. Will experiment and report back once it's all here

 

[LtKojak]

Re: A2 for 59 neck but what for the bridge 59 in a Mag Swap?

If I may, I think the best matching mag pair for vintage is A3neck/UOA5bridge.

It works wonders in Seths and Ants, so I just can't imagine being any bad in '59s.

Two UOA5s sound great in a Seth Lover set, in the Ant set is great in the bridge, but I find the neck to have a "spongy" quality *I* wish it didn't have... but I've found out a lot of my customers telling me I'm crazy, that's just what they love the most about it!

I have an A3neck/A2bridge Jazz set in my Gibson L-5 CES copy, which was due to the mid-low resonance this particular instrument has, if this can be of any help.

HTH,

 

[Edgecrusher]

Re: A2 for 59 neck but what for the bridge 59 in a Mag Swap?

Havent even heard the instrument yet you want to swap mags already? Why not try the stock 59's first they might surprise you

 

[tonaholic]

A2 for 59 neck but what for the bridge 59 in a Mag Swap?

If I may, I think the best matching mag pair for vintage is A3neck/UOA5bridge.

It works wonders in Seths and Ants, so I just can't imagine being any bad in '59s.

Two UOA5s sound great in a Seth Lover set, in the Ant set is great in the bridge, but I find the neck to have a "spongy" quality *I* wish it didn't have... but I've found out a lot of my customers telling me I'm crazy, that's just what they love the most about it!

I have an A3neck/A2bridge Jazz set in my Gibson L-5 CES copy, which was due to the mid-low resonance this particular instrument has, if this can be of any help.

HTH,

Thanks! Sounds like they're all PAF winds of one sort or another and I can imagine them having similar success.

I'll grab an extra A3 to play with. I think the Bonamassa set is A2/A3

 

[tonaholic]

A2 for 59 neck but what for the bridge 59 in a Mag Swap?

Havent even heard the instrument yet you want to swap mags already? Why not try the stock 59's first they might surprise you

Tried em.

 

[Edgecrusher]

Re: A2 for 59 neck but what for the bridge 59 in a Mag Swap?

Tried em.

In this particular guitar or another guitar?

 

[tonaholic]

A2 for 59 neck but what for the bridge 59 in a Mag Swap?

Several others but still Les Pauls. I guess I could fall in love? I typically go for Seths and Antiquities in LP style guitars. Also, enjoy the Wolfetone Dr Vs. Since they're A2 based, I figure drop in some A2's in and see if I fall in love. If not, it's probably a pair of the PUPs mentioned. Either way, $12 to customize and tinker with sounds is a drop in the bucket and fun.

 

[Edgecrusher]

Re: A2 for 59 neck but what for the bridge 59 in a Mag Swap?

Several others but still Les Pauls. I guess I could fall in love? I typically go for Seths and Antiquities in LP style guitars. Also, enjoy the Wolfetone Dr Vs. Since they're A2 based, I figure drop in some A2's in and see if I fall in love. If not, it's probably a pair of the PUPs mentioned. Either way, $12 to customize and tinker with sounds is a drop in the bucket and fun.

Not saying not to just saying its worth a listen to the new instrument before deciding which changes need to be made.

 

[Chickenwings]

Re: A2 for 59 neck but what for the bridge 59 in a Mag Swap?

I get the feeling I might be into the A2's as a pair. Will experiment and report back once it's all here

i did that. Winning pickup set.

 

[blueman335]

Re: A2 for 59 neck but what for the bridge 59 in a Mag Swap?

Not saying not to just saying its worth a listen to the new instrument before deciding which changes need to be made.

Well, in an LP you can count on a '59N having a lot of low end. And the bridge will pretty bright and thin. No big surprises there. If he's the A2 PAF fan he says he is, it's a pretty safe bet that he'll like A2's in these '59's more than the stock A5's. I've had enough '59's to know that a mag swap is usually on the horizon.

 

[Edgecrusher]

Re: A2 for 59 neck but what for the bridge 59 in a Mag Swap?

Well, in an LP you can count on a '59N having a lot of low end. And the bridge will pretty bright and thin. No big surprises there. If he's the A2 PAF fan he says he is, it's a pretty safe bet that he'll like A2's in these '59's more than the stock A5's. I've had enough '59's to know that a mag swap is usually on the horizon.

So all Les Pauls are the same? All I was saying was try the damn thing before making hard decisions about it.

We all know you would mag swap a telephone receiver.

 

[LtKojak]

Re: A2 for 59 neck but what for the bridge 59 in a Mag Swap?

Well, in an LP you can count on a '59N having a lot of low end. And the bridge will pretty bright and thin. No big surprises there. If he's the A2 PAF fan he says he is, it's a pretty safe bet that he'll like A2's in these '59's more than the stock A5's. I've had enough '59's to know that a mag swap is usually on the horizon.

+ 1.

I like '59s with A2, A3, A4, UOA5, and A8 mags.

There's nothing WRONG with A5s PER SE, it's that the other mags apply so much better to the different sonic tasks ahead if you mix and match'em than the "one size fits all" or "jack of all trades, master of none" approach of the A5 doesn't sound like a good idea to me anymore.

A2s tone is much more eclectic to me.

HTH,

 

[blueman335]

Re: A2 for 59 neck but what for the bridge 59 in a Mag Swap?

So all Les Pauls are the same? All I was saying was try the damn thing before making hard decisions about it.

We all know you would mag swap a telephone receiver.

Well, how many posts have we had over the years about boomy '59N's in LP's? I don't know how that could come as a surprise to anyone. Since the OP has a strong preference for warm A2 PAF's, the smart money's on him finding a stock '59B bright and thin. And since he's tried '59's in several LP's before, he has a pretty good idea of what to expect. The guy has experience with the guitars, PU's, and magnets; do you really have to get yourself worked up over this?

 

[tonaholic]

A2 for 59 neck but what for the bridge 59 in a Mag Swap?

Well, how many posts have we had over the years about boomy '59N's in LP's? I don't know how that could come as a surprise to anyone. Since the OP has a strong preference for warm A2 PAF's, the smart money's on him finding a stock '59B bright and thin. And since he's tried '59's in several LP's before, he has a pretty good idea of what to expect. The guy has experience with the guitars, PU's, and magnets; do you really have to get yourself worked up over this?

Yeah, isn't the attraction to doing mag swaps that they're not a "hard decision" and only take a screw driver/maybe hair dryer and $6 per set? No reason to get worked up about it.

I can understand advising people to experiment with guitars the way they come, it's how we learn tone. It's generally good advice, but as you recognized... I know guitars enough to hazard a guess at what it would sound like. Though, am new to mag swaps which is why I came asking for mag swap tone advice and thank you for your advice

On a side note:

I noticed there weren't too many clips of the 59 with different mags. Since I just got an AxeFx2, I'll see if I can make some reference clips for the forum