A8 in Antiquity P90. How much more oomph?

[Funkfingers]

Been trawling the forum Search zone for information and opinions on magnet swaps for vintage style P90s. Plenty of words about tone change. Sadly, nothing about how much extra output a pair of A8 magnets would generate.

Any opinions will be welcome.

 

[Aceman]

Re: A8 in Antiquity P90. How much more oomph?

Get a Custom P-90 with ceramic out of the gate.

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: A8 in Antiquity P90. How much more oomph?

Get a Custom P-90 with ceramic out of the gate.

I did. I have an SP90-3n in the bridge position of my Gibson LP Junior Special and an Antiquity P90n in the neck position.

Problem is, I also have a "redundant" bridge position Antiquity P90. I was trying to decide whether to perform a magnet swap or simply sell it on? It is a fine pickup but, as with many vintage Gibson style PU pairings, the neck PU overpowers the bridge position.

 

[blueman335]

Re: A8 in Antiquity P90. How much more oomph?

What's in the Antiquity P-90 now, A2's? A8's will be noticeably louder. I just don't see twin A2's working in any P-90 in any position: weak in the bridge and dark in the neck. If the Antiquity has A5's, A8's won't give much of a boost, but they will add mids. Is more output what you're looking for?

I've got a pair of A8's in a Phat CatB in a LP Std, and am considering swapping them out for a pair of RC A4's or UOA5's, as they're a little brighter and thinner than I want.

I have a pair of SP90-2's in an DC LP Special (thick, flat slab of mahogany), and immediately pulled the ceramics out of them. I put an A8/A4 in the bridge and A5/A5 in the neck, and it sounds great. Raw and powerful, but with enough midrange to make it full.

You can do so much with P-90's and magnets, I hang on to mine for future projects (or future guitars). In a HB, you have a 1/2 magnet to coil ratio; in P-90's it's 2 magnets per coil. So magnets have a large impact on a P-90's EQ. In bridge Phat Cats/P-90's I also have: A8/A5 and A4/A4.

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: A8 in Antiquity P90. How much more oomph?

What's in the Antiquity P-90 now, A2's?

Yup. Totally stock.

A8's will be noticeably louder.

This is what I wanted to know. Thank you.

I just don't see twin A2's working in any P-90 in any position: weak in the bridge and dark in the neck.

You have pretty much nailed how my Gibson LP Junior Special sounded when I tried dual Antiquity P90s.

Actually, "dark in the neck position" is exactly what I desired. (Think Neil Young's Old Black on the song, "Change Your Mind".) I have a history of employing Ceramic bridge, A2 neck PU combinations. e.g. Tokai Love Rock with Custom and Pearly Gates HBs.

Is more output what you're looking for?

Yes, it was.

 

[blueman335]

Re: A8 in Antiquity P90. How much more oomph?

So are you going to swap magnets in your Antiquity? Why not try something different than ceramics on the bridge, like an A8/A4? I've got that in several P-90's. I put the A8 towards the neck so it gets more string vibration and has more influence. Compared to twin A2's, I get more output, more mids, and that raw P-90 tone.

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: A8 in Antiquity P90. How much more oomph?

I might try A8s in the bridge position Antiquity. It may end up sounding better in my PRS SE One than the old Kent Armstrong hot P90 (12k, rough ceramic magnets) that is currently fitted.

 

[dr. ad]

Re: A8 in Antiquity P90. How much more oomph?

A8s may even be more than you'll need; aren't the A2s in antiquity soapbars dun-aged/de-gaussed?
full strength A2s might even be enough?

 

[blueman335]

Re: A8 in Antiquity P90. How much more oomph?

I just put twin UOA5's in a Phat CatB, in an LP Std. Not as dark as I thought, must be due to it being a single coil. Good midrange, and still has some bite on top. Full-sounding. Goes very well with the Phat CatN for both tone and volume. I recommend this pair of magnets.

 

[LtKojak]

Re: A8 in Antiquity P90. How much more oomph?

I just put twin UOA5's in a Phat CatB, in an LP Std. Not as dark as I thought, must be due to it being a single coil. Good midrange, and still has some bite on top. Full-sounding. Goes very well with the Phat CatN for both tone and volume. I recommend this pair of magnets.

I haven't tried this magnet in my P-94B as I'm quite happy with the A5/A8 combo, but for my experience with the UOA5 in Humbuckers, I'd say it'll be an excellent choice to get the oomph you're looking for. The UOA5 sounds like a little bit louder A4, with a slightly brighter top. Mind you, I'm talking subtle changes here.

My next move will certainly be trying the UOA5/A8 into that P-94B. Looks like a winner combo to me!