Distortion with Different Magnet?

sstanfield

sstanfield

Member
Has anyone tried an SH 6 Distortion with an A5 or A2 magnet?

When I bought the SH6 I had in my MIM Fat Strat three years ago, I went with the recommendation of the kid at Guitar Center. I was new to the SD forum and didn't know what I wanted. Now I have the SH6 and a couple of magnets, and I wonder what I would get if I changed the magnet. What do you think?
 
Re: Distortion with Different Magnet?

I've come close. I built a hybrid using a Distortion neck stud coil and a 59 neck screw coil. I used the 59's A5 mag. It sounded good, but the Distortion coil lost some of its "magic" in the split mode, which was one its best qualities.

If you change the mag on a Distortion, you'll also need to change the spacers. Or, you'll need to shim the new magnet, since the DD ceramic is thicker than most. 5.7mm vs 3.3mm for a standard A2/5.
 
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Re: Distortion with Different Magnet?

the SH6 has exactly the same winding as the JB, it is not overwound, with AWG44 wire 16.6K is a normal value. With Alnico5 magnet it becomes a JB, with Alnico2 magnet it becomes the custom shop Bug-Sey humbucker (the one that Seymour uses himself).

The only problem with the Distortion is that its magnets are bigger than normal (and they are three), so you have to find some spacers to install regular magnets.
 
Re: Distortion with Different Magnet?

^ This man speaks the truth. Although, you can use just about anything for spacers. Also, the Distortion only has one magnet. It's the Invader that has three.
 
Re: Distortion with Different Magnet?

Hey pstarove..."Dimarzio VPAF/VHPAF with mismatched coils and Alnico2 magnets"
Elaborate on that a bit. Did DiMarzio custom wind that for you. Are you basically saying it's an A2 VPAF/VHPAF Hybrid? Curious. Got a few parts like that and I'm thinking of putting them together. have any clips?

thanks
 
Re: Distortion with Different Magnet?

Thanks, guys, for the replies. Now I'm really thinking of trying this in my HSH Tele. It has a CC in the bridge now, but I'm not sure it's going to stay.

When the the DD was in my Strat, I still didn't like or use it until I hooked it up to the second tone control so I could bleed off some of the treble - it was just too biting for my taste. I'm hoping a different magnet will warm it up a little.
 
Re: Distortion with Different Magnet?

Question: What should I use for a spacer? Does it need to be metallic, something that is attracted to the magnet?
 
Re: Distortion with Different Magnet?

sstanfield, as long as I understand, you need a shim under the magnet to prevent it from moving inside the pickup, right? then you may use virtually everything for spacers as JB_From_Hell said (non magnetic material, or it may degauss the magnet if installed in the wrong way). A piece of wood will be perfect.

If you want to make your DD warmer, I especially recommend an Alnico2 magnet.

revolution, those pickups are a long story. Basically, those are Parker Fly PHWP1 and PHWP2 pickups by Dimarzio hand-rewound to my specs by a local winder. DiMarzio don't do custom rewinds. I based my own specs on DiMarzio VPAF neck VHPAF bridge models, but there are 2 differences: unbalanced coils (neck 3.8k+4.2k=8.0k, bridge 4.7k+4.3k=9k) and Alnico 2 magnets. I think that the winder used AWG42 wire for the weaker coils and AWG43 wire for the hotter ones so that they have the same number of turns (DiMarzio Double Resonance patent). The original bobbins had the iron loading into them (Virtual Vintage), and I used plastic spacers on all the coils (Airbuckers).

As you may see, my custom pickups are a little different animals than VPAF/VHPAF, but I believe that they are really close, let's say if VPAFs=Duncan '59s then my custom pickups=PGs. And I'm sure that regular Dimarzio VPAFs are a great product worth recommending to anyone. And yes I do have clips. PM me if you're interested.

P.S. sorry for hijacking your thread, sstanfield
 
Re: Distortion with Different Magnet?

I've heard you can just turn the spacers in the DD on thier side and they will be regular spacers. Haven't tried it myself, but it's worth a look.

FWIW, I use an old slightly overwound JB with an A2 magnet, sounds good, warmer than stock. Strangely enough it specs out about the same as the CS DeMartini pickup.
 
Re: Distortion with Different Magnet?

devastone said:
I've heard you can just turn the spacers in the DD on thier side and they will be regular spacers.
Click to expand...

I've got the DD mag and a regular spacer right here. They're awfully close. 5.7mm vs 5.9mm. But remember, you'll still need the screw-coil spacer. It has the holes drilled in it and can't be turned sideways.

Editted the ceramic spacer thickness. I forgot I had a thin piece of kapton tape on it to protect it.
 
Re: Distortion with Different Magnet?

Thanks for the advice - no problem about hijacking. I have the DD listed for sale right now, but I have an A2 and changing the magnet is starting sound interesting.
 
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