Different magnet or different pickup?

[nopicknick]

I play a 335 style guitar with antiguities. I never use a pick....just the fleshy part of my fingers. Nails are kept short. I do like the antiguities just fine, but struggle with the neck being a tad murky. Wish I could add just a wee bit of top end sparkle. Just a tad more open I guess. Would I benefit from a magnet swap....say to an A4? Or am I describing another pickup altogether? Maybe a Saturday Night Special neck pickup?

 

[Jeff_H]

Re: Different magnet or different pickup?

The Antiquities use a degaussed A2 magnet, so to add just a bit of top end I'd go to a full strength A2 first. This should make it a bit closer to a Seth Lover neck, which has great top end sparkle. It's my favorite PAF style neck pickup and is killer in Semi-Hollow guitars.

An A4 magnet will balance all frequencies more, vs. helping to emphasize the top end; at least in my experience.

 

[Adieu]

Re: Different magnet or different pickup?

P90?

Gibson scale, set neck w/humbuckers ain't really known for sparkle

 

[Discharged]

Re: Different magnet or different pickup?

I play a 335 style guitar with antiguities. I never use a pick....just the fleshy part of my fingers. Nails are kept short. I do like the antiguities just fine, but struggle with the neck being a tad murky. Wish I could add just a wee bit of top end sparkle. Just a tad more open I guess.

This is the most common, yet the most understood/overlooked symptom of a less-than-ideal setup.

Take an screwdriver, fret both the 6th and 1st strings at the last fret and set the bridge p'up height @ 2.4mm from the strings and the neck p'up @ 4.2mm @ 6th string and 3.9mm from the 1st string.

You're welcome.

/Peter

 

[Clint 55]

Re: Different magnet or different pickup?

Yes, a mag change will brighten it up. From dark to bright: fully charged A2, A3, UOA5. I don't care for A4 in the neck.

 

[Adieu]

Re: Different magnet or different pickup?

This is the most common, yet the most understood/overlooked symptom of a less-than-ideal setup.

Take an screwdriver, fret both the 6th and 1st strings at the last fret and set the bridge p'up height @ 2.4mm from the strings and the neck p'up @ 4.2mm @ 6th string and 3.9mm from the 1st string.

You're welcome.

/Peter

2.4 mm??? Like two heavy picks stacked?


Too close run it 3mm

 

[Discharged]

Re: Different magnet or different pickup?

2.4 mm???

Yes.

Like two heavy picks stacked?

Depends on the picks you're taking about...

Too close

No. Just right for that specific p'up.

/Peter

 

[Chistopher]

Re: Different magnet or different pickup?

If you have trouble with too much bass you can just put a cap such as .0022uf (notice the two zeros, that is not a misprint) with the neck pickup.

 

[beaubrummels]

Re: Different magnet or different pickup?

Also if the mag is roughcast, switch to polished in the neck.

 

[Clint 55]

Re: Different magnet or different pickup?

Ants have beat up, smooth, degaussed A2s.

 

[Aceman]

Re: Different magnet or different pickup?

Mags.

 

[blueman335]

Re: Different magnet or different pickup?

A2's are one of the weakest magnets there is when they're fully charged, and degaussing them makes then even weaker. A common solution here is to swap the stock aged A2's for fully charged magnets, either A2's or another alnico. With A4's having a more balanced EQ, they'll add a sharper high end, tighter low end, a little more output, and reduce the mids. That would clean up you neck issues. You may want a fully charged A2 or UOA5 for the bridge.

 

[GuitarDoc]

Re: Different magnet or different pickup?

For finger picking on a 335, I don't think you're going to notice enough difference going to a fully charged A2. Id try an A4 first.

 

[nopicknick]

Re: Different magnet or different pickup?

I think a 4 would probably be a good choice. I do have some pickups laying around with some alnico 5's too. Might see what that does first.

 

[Mincer]

Re: Different magnet or different pickup?

Higher value pots will brighten them up a bit, too.

 

[jeremy]

Re: Different magnet or different pickup?

id try a3 or a4. a3 is smooth like a2 but with less bottom, a4 is sharper on the top end and tighter on the bottom with less mid focus. a full strength a2 would be a move in the right direction but might not be enough.