I was thinking of replacing my distortion neck with a jb in the neck pos. Then it occured to me save your money and put a A5 in the sh-6 N. Can I just take out the oversized mag and the spacers and put in a A5 with no problems? If so has anyone tried it? Is it like the jb or closer to a custom5?
Distortion neck with A5
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King IzzO)))
Ultimate Kitten Puncher
Re: Distortion neck with A5
It's very much like a custom with the ceramic. I did try a normal sized ceramic, but I haven't tried an alnico mag. I think it will need the highs of the ceramic to not sound really dark. You could try the 1/2 air mod on it with the A5 and that might work well.
It's very much like a custom with the ceramic. I did try a normal sized ceramic, but I haven't tried an alnico mag. I think it will need the highs of the ceramic to not sound really dark. You could try the 1/2 air mod on it with the A5 and that might work well.
Re: Distortion neck with A5
You'd still mean spacers, but pretty much yeah. On some pickups like that (can't recall if the SH-6n is one of them), all you have to do is flip the spacers on their side to swap between thick and normal magnets.
Haven't tried it myself, but I've heard it's like a brighter, more open JB (not shriller, the upper mid peak is a bit less extreme and shifted up in frequency).
If it's too bright or needs more mids, you could always try UOA5 or A2.
It wont sound exactly like a JB, that's 4K less resistance even assuming it's the same wire. Only way to know if it does what you want is to try it, given how few have done that particular mod...
You'd still mean spacers, but pretty much yeah. On some pickups like that (can't recall if the SH-6n is one of them), all you have to do is flip the spacers on their side to swap between thick and normal magnets.
Haven't tried it myself, but I've heard it's like a brighter, more open JB (not shriller, the upper mid peak is a bit less extreme and shifted up in frequency).
If it's too bright or needs more mids, you could always try UOA5 or A2.
It wont sound exactly like a JB, that's 4K less resistance even assuming it's the same wire. Only way to know if it does what you want is to try it, given how few have done that particular mod...
misterwhizzy
Well-known member
Re: Distortion neck with A5
I used it for a while, and I actually liked it. It was pretty bright, but with picking technique, it was controllable. It was extraordinarily articulate, so if you want definition it may be perfect. I actually bought additional spacers, but I don't think it's necessary. I think you can rotate the spacers. Certainly give it a shot if you've already got the pickup.
I used it for a while, and I actually liked it. It was pretty bright, but with picking technique, it was controllable. It was extraordinarily articulate, so if you want definition it may be perfect. I actually bought additional spacers, but I don't think it's necessary. I think you can rotate the spacers. Certainly give it a shot if you've already got the pickup.
King IzzO)))
Ultimate Kitten Puncher
Re: Distortion neck with A5
It's bright? Really? My impression after going from the big to small ceramic was the exact opposite.
It's bright? Really? My impression after going from the big to small ceramic was the exact opposite.
Re: Distortion neck with A5
Big ceramic vs small, the big should have higher output, maybe a bit more bass punch and bite, but the thin magnet shouldn't be all that much darker. Puzzling results there, don't really match up with most ceramic magnet swappers.
As far as ceramic vs A5 and brightness, the A5 has less presence, but the mid cut makes the treble stand out more. Less bass, but lower mids don't drop all that much either.
Of course, that's just generalizations, the magnet's interaction with the coils and the guitar (and rest of rig) can make for unexpected results.
Still, dark with A5 is surprising, I'd expect results more comparable to a Screamin' Demon, though with more lower mids (slug poles vs screws).
Big ceramic vs small, the big should have higher output, maybe a bit more bass punch and bite, but the thin magnet shouldn't be all that much darker. Puzzling results there, don't really match up with most ceramic magnet swappers.
As far as ceramic vs A5 and brightness, the A5 has less presence, but the mid cut makes the treble stand out more. Less bass, but lower mids don't drop all that much either.
Of course, that's just generalizations, the magnet's interaction with the coils and the guitar (and rest of rig) can make for unexpected results.
Still, dark with A5 is surprising, I'd expect results more comparable to a Screamin' Demon, though with more lower mids (slug poles vs screws).
misterwhizzy
Well-known member
Re: Distortion neck with A5
I went from big ceramic to Alnico 5. I never tried a small ceramic in the neck.
I went from big ceramic to Alnico 5. I never tried a small ceramic in the neck.
King IzzO)))
Ultimate Kitten Puncher
Re: Distortion neck with A5
I dunno, I decided pretty early on that I didn't like the DDn much, so maybe I wasn't paying enough attention, or maybe I have an extra strong small mag. Either way, the small ceramic seemed more boomy and the pickup more dark, it sounded almost exactly like how I remembered the Custom. That said, I think it would be a great bridge pickup with either mag, and probably any alnico.
I have gone from a A5 to small ceramic on a demon in the neck, though not on the same guitar. The top & mids are great, but it's even more boomy than the A5. The A5 seems more crisp, so maybe you're right.
I dunno, I decided pretty early on that I didn't like the DDn much, so maybe I wasn't paying enough attention, or maybe I have an extra strong small mag. Either way, the small ceramic seemed more boomy and the pickup more dark, it sounded almost exactly like how I remembered the Custom. That said, I think it would be a great bridge pickup with either mag, and probably any alnico.
I have gone from a A5 to small ceramic on a demon in the neck, though not on the same guitar. The top & mids are great, but it's even more boomy than the A5. The A5 seems more crisp, so maybe you're right.
Re: Distortion neck with A5
Tried moving all the hex screws under the wound strings, or is that insufficient to offset the ceramic bass?
King IzzO)))
Ultimate Kitten Puncher
Re: Distortion neck with A5
Nah, me being the dumbass I can be, I took them out with the A5 in hopes of pulling more mids and left it with 2 rows of fillisters. Alas, I've moved on to something else. You're right, that probably contributed to the boom.
Nah, me being the dumbass I can be, I took them out with the A5 in hopes of pulling more mids and left it with 2 rows of fillisters. Alas, I've moved on to something else. You're right, that probably contributed to the boom.
King IzzO)))
Ultimate Kitten Puncher
Re: Distortion neck with A5
Ah-ha, I wanted to bump this thread because I wanted to rehash this small vs large ceramic thing and talk more about the DDn/SEY.
I've tried a couple normal sized ceramics (that I got from blueman), and they seem darker, bassier and more shrill (at the same time) than the oversized duncan mags. I've verifed this in a custom and the seymourizer, back to back. Now I think this was the deal with the demon too, but I haven't tried an oversized ceramic in it yet..
I guess this is weird? Do I have some goofy magnets here, or are small ceramics usually thuddier, darker and more shrill than the big ones? Am I on to something, or just nuts?
Wanna know what's real weird? I put an A2 in the SEY to get an idea what it would sound like, for future hybrid purposes. I expected mush... Surprise! It's actually pretty good sounding. So, the low end farts out a little tuned to B, but so does almost everything I've tried. At C# it holds together OK, and it's not too dark, and not too boomy. I don't think I will use it as is for long, but I see some interesting hybrid potential here. BTW, I've tried the normal Custom as a neck pickup in this same guitar, it's way too dark (hybrids were better, but still dark). Not the A2 SEY. This defies logic to me because they sounded very similar with the aforementioned small ceramic in the SEY. The A2 SEY doesn't sound anything like a CC, it seems plenty bright, fairly even with the Diablo and Ironman (in other guitars), it matches really well with the OD Custom it's paired with right now. Hmmm.
Ah-ha, I wanted to bump this thread because I wanted to rehash this small vs large ceramic thing and talk more about the DDn/SEY.
I've tried a couple normal sized ceramics (that I got from blueman), and they seem darker, bassier and more shrill (at the same time) than the oversized duncan mags. I've verifed this in a custom and the seymourizer, back to back. Now I think this was the deal with the demon too, but I haven't tried an oversized ceramic in it yet..
I guess this is weird? Do I have some goofy magnets here, or are small ceramics usually thuddier, darker and more shrill than the big ones? Am I on to something, or just nuts?
Wanna know what's real weird? I put an A2 in the SEY to get an idea what it would sound like, for future hybrid purposes. I expected mush... Surprise! It's actually pretty good sounding. So, the low end farts out a little tuned to B, but so does almost everything I've tried. At C# it holds together OK, and it's not too dark, and not too boomy. I don't think I will use it as is for long, but I see some interesting hybrid potential here. BTW, I've tried the normal Custom as a neck pickup in this same guitar, it's way too dark (hybrids were better, but still dark). Not the A2 SEY. This defies logic to me because they sounded very similar with the aforementioned small ceramic in the SEY. The A2 SEY doesn't sound anything like a CC, it seems plenty bright, fairly even with the Diablo and Ironman (in other guitars), it matches really well with the OD Custom it's paired with right now. Hmmm.
