Do pup's tone change with age?

[Dirtyking]

I have 2 Demons, one is about 12 yrs old in my SG X and the other is new in my Gothic SG. They sound different from each other. The older one is real full, open and smooth with awesome harmonics. The new one is full and open but is seems a little weaker in tone and can be harsh at times.

Does a pup's tone improve with age or ?

 

[Distollica]

Re: Do pup's tone change with age?

may be i will say something dumb but i have a DD in the bridge of my new RG and i m certain that the sound changed after some month (6 i think). there is few difference but i hear them! may be it the guitar?...but i think the same thing than you

 

[dr.barlo]

Re: Do pup's tone change with age?

Yes, the tone of the pickup will change with use and age.

BUT, even the same pickup will sound different in different guitars even if those guitars are identical in model and wood type. It is all about the particular wood used, and it is not fair to compare two pickups on two different guitars.

B

 

[Dirtyking]

Re: Do pup's tone change with age?

Is it just the magnet that changes with age or is it the whole pup? In which I could maybe just buy an older alnico 5 magnet.

 

[Inge Malmstein]

Re: Do pup's tone change with age?

I noticed the same effect with the DD. I already owned 2 DD's as i got an used guitar which had already a DD. It has no logo and i think it must be 10-13 years old.
It sounds a bit darker and smoother than the other DD's.

 

[motorhead]

Re: Do pup's tone change with age?

A magnet will not age like most people say (well maybe (1/100)% over 10 years) BUT it might get demagnetized. You might loose 10% of the magnet's power just in the same fasion your ATM card would get demagnetized.

Alnico magnets are easier while ceramic are usually harder to demagnetize due to their more natural composition.

 

[KLINKDETROIT]

Re: Do pup's tone change with age?

I really like the diagram for your pedal setup on this link. Could you direct me to the site that you used to make this? I need an idiot proof diagram of my setup for roadies. LOL. Thanks

 

[Artie]

Re: Do pup's tone change with age?

may be i will say something dumb but i have a DD in the bridge of my new RG and i m certain that the sound changed after some month (6 i think . . .

I wouldn't call that dumb, but I do have a theory about that. I notice that my initial impression of a new pickup tends to change after a week or so. I suspect that "brand-spankin-newness" is as much a reality as "mojo" in describing guitar tone.

 

[RG 2570]

Re: Do pup's tone change with age?

Is it just the magnet that changes with age or is it the whole pup? In which I could maybe just buy an older alnico 5 magnet.

I did some checking on this after hearing about the whole old vs new debate.
I was told that the pup in whole changes due to elements it is exposed to.
so a 25 year old duncan will sound different than a brand new one of the same model.
I know one guy who swears they were made differently in the older days,but in reality it is just the age of the pup not the design or wind

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: Do pup's tone change with age?

I do think pickups change over time, but it's just an opinion I can't prove.

It's not like you could buy two pickups and use one and not use the other and then compare them, because both will still end up being the same age!

And it's not like you could compare one bought 10 years ago to one made today either, because they're not exactly the same either.

Lew

 

[Curly]

Re: Do pup's tone change with age?

well, the strength of the magnets can affect the tone over time, which I answered in another thread:

magnets

so, how you store your guitar, or where you put it, might end up having a noticeable effect over time

 

[Indie P Bass]

Re: Do pup's tone change with age?

Also, no two pickups are exactly alike, no matter what. My SPB-1 in my P-bass sounds really good, a bit modern sounding with a lot of vintage-y punch and thud. My friend's SPB-1 is really more old sounding, with more punch and thud, but it sounds a bit more muffled than mine.

On top of the fact that no two pickups are exactly alike, you gotta factor in caps, pots and wiring. If you run a lot of wiring: your tone'll be dull, if you use differant caps: your tone'll change, if you use differant quality parts: it'll change it just the more. That's why I ALWAYS wire my basses with CTS pots and .022uf Orange drop caps and high gauge clothe wire, to try and keep some consistancy and allow conparisons between the pickups.

 

[midnite_man]

Re: Do pup's tone change with age?

I have a 30 year old JB in the bridge of my Les Paul that definitely has a different tone to it than a newer one. It's warmer and has a vintage PAF sound to it. Tone up the wazzoo. I have a newer JB in the bridge of my Schecter archtop mahogany body guitar, and it sounds quite a bit different....more brittle but still a great pickup none the less.
I'd have to say it's a definite yes when it comes to age making a difference in tone. I'm sure that goes for both humbuckers and single coils.
....Bob

 

[Gearjoneser]

Re: Do pup's tone change with age?

It's older, therefore it must sound better! Is it possible we're just dorks for even giving it any thought?

 

[motorhead]

Re: Do pup's tone change with age?

I have a 30 year old JB in the bridge of my Les Paul that definitely has a different tone to it than a newer one. It's warmer and has a vintage PAF sound to it. Tone up the wazzoo. I have a newer JB in the bridge of my Schecter archtop mahogany body guitar, and it sounds quite a bit different....more brittle but still a great pickup none the less.
I'd have to say it's a definite yes when it comes to age making a difference in tone. I'm sure that goes for both humbuckers and single coils.
....Bob

Chances are it sounds warmer because it's weaker but it's weaker from it's environment and not due to the number of years.

A 30 year old JB that has never left the house and has been protected will sound the same as a new JB.

My DD sound much warmer than me new DDs. Why? Did Duncan change something or is it all the times it went through metal detector in an airport.

 

[midnite_man]

Re: Do pup's tone change with age?

Chances are it sounds warmer because it's weaker but it's weaker from it's environment and not due to the number of years.

A 30 year old JB that has never left the house and has been protected will sound the same as a new JB.

My DD sound much warmer than me new DDs. Why? Did Duncan change something or is it all the times it went through metal detector in an airport.

Weaker, eh? I don't know how you can shoot from the hip like that without having personally tested it with a multimeter....lol....for your information it measures in at a "weak" 16.25k on my digital meter. Go figure,eh? ....lol
This JB wasn't kept in the house, brudda, it was out on the road in a '68 Les Paul for many years before being replaced by a vintage PAF, and eventually sold to lucky-me.
Best regards
....Bob

 

[Chi3f]

Re: Do pup's tone change with age?

i'm not saying either one of you is right or wrong but isn't the 16.25k just the resistance of the wire and really has nothing to do with the magnet being weaker?

 

[motorhead]

Re: Do pup's tone change with age?

i'm not saying either one of you is right or wrong but isn't the 16.25k just the resistance of the wire and really has nothing to do with the magnet being weaker?

Bingo!

Just this week a I put an Alnico II in a JB ... guess what the meter told me?

 

[motorhead]

Re: Do pup's tone change with age?

Weaker, eh? I don't know how you can shoot from the hip like that without having personally tested it with a multimeter....lol....for your information it measures in at a "weak" 16.25k on my digital meter. Go figure,eh? ....lol
This JB wasn't kept in the house, brudda, it was out on the road in a '68 Les Paul for many years before being replaced by a vintage PAF, and eventually sold to lucky-me.
So there goes your theory.
Sorry
....Bob

I think you should stop being so obnoxious and reread my original post because your contadicting yourself and actually supporting my argument that the environment actually helps to demagnetize the magnet. Plus using multimeter to test magnet aging isn't helping to build your credibility.

 

[STRATDELUXER97]

Re: Do pup's tone change with age?

I think you should stop being so obnoxious and reread my original post because your contadicting yourself and actually supporting my argument that the environment actually helps to demagnetize the magnet. Plus using multimeter to test magnet aging isn't helping to build your credibility.

Bobby and Motorhead play nice or I'll send the forum FBI after you both...LOL :wink: