Alnico II in the bridge, Alnico V in the neck...Be worried?

[Black Bock]

I was thinking of changing out the bridge pickup (Distortion) I had in my SG Standard to a 57 Classic as it seems smoother and more balanced on the ears when I tried a 61 reissue. Plus it took lots of fuzz and dirt really well.

The only problem is I have a P94R already in my SG which is an Alnico V. The 57 Classic is an Alnico II. Should I be worried, especially when the pickup goes in the middle (out of phase)?

Or should I just pony up and shell out for a Classic Plus?

 

[IanBallard]

Re: Alnico II in the bridge, Alnico V in the neck...Be worried?

What does the magnet have to do with whether the pickups are/are not in-phase with each other? Only if one of the pickup mags is backwards, will you have phase issue. The type of Alnico, given both magnets are placed in the same north/south configuration, matters not.

Or...am I not understanding your issue?

 

[CountFunkula]

Re: Alnico II in the bridge, Alnico V in the neck...Be worried?

What does the magnet have to do with whether the pickups are/are not in-phase with each other? Only if one of the pickup mags is backwards, will you have phase issue. The type of Alnico, given both magnets are placed in the same north/south configuration, matters not.

Or...am I not understanding your issue?

I think he's worried about the neck overpowering the bridge. He was just wondering if it affected the phase too.

Don't worry TS, it won't affect phase at all. The neck may overpower the bridge, but you should be able to lower the neck to balance without sounding thin. If you're still worried, then get a '57 classic PLUS, which is a bit hotter.

 

[IanBallard]

Re: Alnico II in the bridge, Alnico V in the neck...Be worried?

I actually had that issue with a 59B in the neck, with a CC in the bridge. With certain amp settings and gain, the neck was noticeably louder than the bridge. Mag strength does matter.

Generally I think you want to go with tone first and loudness second, but if you like an Alnico II tone in the bridge but are worried about balance and want to keep the A5 tone, you COULD swap in an A8 in the bridge, keep the mids and add tighter bass and more output. Just a thought.

 

[TattooedCarrot]

Re: Alnico II in the bridge, Alnico V in the neck...Be worried?

The neck spot always overpowers the bridge, that's why bridge models of the same pickup are hotter than the neck version. The string vibrates more, and in a larger pattern over the neck pickup. If its enough so that you feel its a problem, just raise the bridge closer to the strings, and lower the neck further from the strings.

 

[Black Bock]

Re: Alnico II in the bridge, Alnico V in the neck...Be worried?

Yeah my apologies for not being clear. I was just worried about the neck overpowering the bridge even more.

Now, I am confused though because the SG 61 reissue says 57 classic PU's but then I read online that it is 57+ in the bridge. I think the model was a 2005.

If it is a 57+, then I need to change it I guess.

 

[Black Bock]

Re: Alnico II in the bridge, Alnico V in the neck...Be worried?

Nevermind, the 57 Plus is an alnico II. *facepalm*

I think i'll just put that in the bridge.

 

[TattooedCarrot]

Re: Alnico II in the bridge, Alnico V in the neck...Be worried?

The plus is the same pickup with a few extra winds. IMO the Plus is hotter, but also has a tad more treble bite than the regular 57, both sound great. Yours should be regular 57 but you never know, unscrew the pickup rings and look at the bottom, they often have stickers saying which version, although I don't know if they were doing that back in '05.

 

[sonnyblu]

Re: Alnico II in the bridge, Alnico V in the neck...Be worried?

I flip my neck PU sometimes... it does make a difference. Just in case you need a bit more treble response from your neck to balance with the bridge. FWIW