Bridge pickup quieter after magnet swap

[defspace]

Hey all,
I've got a set of the StewMac Parson Street PAFs in a les paul. They were cool in another guitar, not quite what I wanted here... but close. Magnet swap time!

I had A5s in them. I swapped the neck out for an A4 and the bridge out for a rough OUA5.

The neck sounds great. I need to spend some more time with it, but I think it's right around what I was looking for. However, the bridge pickup seemed really quiet in comparison. To get the bridge in the right volume ballpark, I'd have to raise the bridge pickup to ridiculous heights.

I thought perhaps there was something wrong with that particular OUA5 mag, so I swapped in another A4. Same thing, the bridge seems really quiet. It's quiet, but still sounds like a humbucker. The volume difference between the two is abnormal.

Does anyone have any thoughts?
Did I somehow damage the bridge pickup (seems unlikely, this isn't my first set of swaps)?
Is that neck A4 mag really strong?
Did my other mags somehow get degaussed in transport?

 

[vinnie1971]

Re: Bridge pickup quieter after magnet swap

Maybe the magnet is thinner than the original? A5 is supposed to be stronger. Have you made sure the pickup height is the same as before?
That does seem odd.


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[Demanic]

Re: Bridge pickup quieter after magnet swap

That does seem odd. Even though the UOA5 is a weaker magnet, you shouldn't notice that much of a volume drop. At least I didn't when I swapped one into a JB.

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[jeremy]

Re: Bridge pickup quieter after magnet swap

the rc uoa5 is weaker and has less bottom and top than the stock a5. and its possible the magnets go degaussed some how. do you have the original a5 to put back in and see if that brings the volume back up? do you have a meter to check the bridge and make sure the coils are working?

 

[Mincer]

Re: Bridge pickup quieter after magnet swap

You can test the bridge pickup to see if both coils are working. I can't imagine a magnet swap would cause that, but you can put the old magnet back in, and see if it restores the volume. Also, we hear EQ differently, so if there is some hearing loss at particular frequencies, then it is possible that is causing this.

 

[defspace]

Re: Bridge pickup quieter after magnet swap

Well, I'll play the guitar again tonight. I wonder if things will sound a bit more even with some fresh ears.

Thanks for the input, guys.

 

[beaubrummels]

Re: Bridge pickup quieter after magnet swap

Did you accidentally get the bridge mixed up with the neck when mag swapping or installing? Just a sanity check. Can't think of another reason for those symptoms.