Info for picking a magnet change!

[Mad Raxz]

I really want to know some things about magnets in order to choose the correct one when wanting to fix a Humbucker. I understand the following, but have plenty of questions, please illustrate and correct us ax wielders!

Degrees of power:
A2, A3, A3, A4, A5, UOA5?
Ceramic =A8? Alnico 8 sound fatter (more mids) than an A5, rounder top end than a ceramic but equally powerful.

Degaussed is less powerful, but brighter sounding?
Roughcast magnets push the mids?

Degrees of treble:
A2, A4, A5, A3 omg
A5 is more powerful and warmer than A3, UOA5 mags have more mids than A5.

 

[Mad Raxz]

Re: Info for picking a magnet change!

Do you have a favorite mag switch?
Some users have mentioned
1-fully charged/Polished A4s in Antiquities
2-A4s in 59s
3-Custom 8´s (make nice pair with 59A4)
Have you done this?

 

[blueman335]

Re: Info for picking a magnet change!

Do you have a favorite mag switch?
Some users have mentioned
1-fully charged/Polished A4s in Antiquities
2-A4s in 59s
3-Custom 8´s (make nice pair with 59A4)
Have you done this?

Usually depends on how the PU/guitar/wood interact. For a warm bridge, I usually use a couple of 250K's (sometimes just one, on a rare occasion 500K's are fine). So then a polished A5 might be ideal with them. But if it's still too bright, then I try an UOA5, A8 or RC A4. Depends on how everything comes together. Sometimes a C8 is ideal, sometimes an UO C5 is. Sometimes a PAF is fine with just 250K's; sometimes it still needs a warmer magnet.

For an example of something consistent I do: in Gibson neck A2 neck HB's, I always use A5's, which brings out clarity and definition. Gets rid of the mud.

For the various magnet tone qualities, do a search of old threads. There was a very good thread a couple months ago that Aceman started.

 

[LtKojak]

Re: Info for picking a magnet change!

Do you have a favorite mag switch?
Some users have mentioned
1-fully charged/Polished A4s in Antiquities
2-A4s in 59s
3-Custom 8´s (make nice pair with 59A4)
Have you done this?

Ants: Full-charged Roughcast A2 worked wonders. A3neck/UOA5bridge was a good combo in a jazz box. I've tried the A4n/A8b but they didn't sound "vintage" no more.

'59s: it doesn't matter what magnet you put in, they just REFUSE to sound BAD. These together with the Custom wind are my all-time favorites.

Custom 8: the HOLY GRAIL of bridge p'ups. The absolutely most versatile bridge p'up known to mankind. Goes perticulary well with an A4'59n in the neck, but A2 and UOA5 work great too, just give different flavors to the table,so to speak.

The best-sounding Duncan neck p'up for me is the A4 Seth Lover neck.

For Jimmy Page's guitar tone in Presence the UOA5 Seth Lover set nalis it so close it's scary.

Get a small load of magnets and swap away to your hearts content! That's the best way to fine-tune the guitar to the rig.

What I'm going to say may seem heavy cork-sniffering, but my experience is that every time you swap a magnet, it takes time to the new magnetic structure to PERMEATE the components, so wait at least a couple of days to judge the outcome, as what's what it takes in average to the magnetic field to stabilize.

I can't prove scientifically, and it may just as well be "placebo effect", but I only can say it REALLY happens, as it happens ALL THE TIME; the stronger magnets take less time to stabilize than the weak ones. The last time I've modded a '59n with an A3 took over a week to stabilize.

Back to my meds refill... :werd:

 

[blueman335]

Re: Info for picking a magnet change!

Custom 8: the HOLY GRAIL of bridge p'ups. The absolutely most versatile bridge p'up known to mankind.

+1. It's hard to beat. Works in many guitar designs, and for many genres. And Kojak may be right, it may be the most versatile high-ouput bridge there is. So why isn't it a production model?

 

[LtKojak]

Re: Info for picking a magnet change!

And Kojak may be right

Of course, Rick! Except when I'm wrong, I'm ALWAYS right!

 

[Mad Raxz]

Re: Info for picking a magnet change!

For an example of something consistent I do: in Gibson neck A2 neck HB's, I always use A5's, which brings out clarity and definition. Gets rid of the mud.

:beerchug: Thankyou Blueman!
If the A5 is still too muddy would you try an A3? Or would you go for the rute of an Artie DMud Mod, or change the screws on the bucker?

 

[Mad Raxz]

Re: Info for picking a magnet change!

Ants: Full-charged Roughcast A2 worked wonders. A3neck/UOA5bridge was a good combo in a jazz box. I've tried the A4n/A8b but they didn't sound "vintage" no more.

'59s: it doesn't matter what magnet you put in, they just REFUSE to sound BAD. These together with the Custom wind are my all-time favorites.

Custom 8: the HOLY GRAIL of bridge p'ups. The absolutely most versatile bridge p'up known to mankind. Goes perticulary well with an A4'59n in the neck, but A2 and UOA5 work great too, just give different flavors to the table,so to speak.

The best-sounding Duncan neck p'up for me is the A4 Seth Lover neck.

For Jimmy Page's guitar tone in Presence the UOA5 Seth Lover set nalis it so close it's scary.

Get a small load of magnets and swap away to your hearts content! That's the best way to fine-tune the guitar to the rig.

What I'm going to say may seem heavy cork-sniffering, but my experience is that every time you swap a magnet, it takes time to the new magnetic structure to PERMEATE the components, so wait at least a couple of days to judge the outcome, as what's what it takes in average to the magnetic field to stabilize.

I can't prove scientifically, and it may just as well be "placebo effect", but I only can say it REALLY happens, as it happens ALL THE TIME; the stronger magnets take less time to stabilize than the weak ones. The last time I've modded a '59n with an A3 took over a week to stabilize.

Back to my meds refill... :werd:

:beerchug:
Geesh! That has got to be the best awnser I have gotten on the net, I´m gonna have to re-read that LOTS of times, thanx!

Already asked for some magnets, I have to wait for them to arrive overseas but I will definitely mess with all of them!

 

[blueman335]

Re: Info for picking a magnet change!

:beerchug: Thankyou Blueman!
If the A5 is still too muddy would you try an A3? Or would you go for the rute of an Artie DMud Mod, or change the screws on the bucker?

If an A5 is too bottom-heavy or aggressive, which can happen in some woods, the first thing I'd do is put in an A3, which softens that but keeps the highs and clarity.

 

[blueman335]

Re: Info for picking a magnet change!

Of course, Rick! Except when I'm wrong, I'm ALWAYS right!

Haven't been many times you've been wrong. Can't think of any off the top of my head. You usually think things thru before you hit the 'enter' key. More guys should do that.

 

[Mad Raxz]

Re: Info for picking a magnet change!

If an A5 is too bottom-heavy or aggressive, which can happen in some woods, the first thing I'd do is put in an A3, which softens that but keeps the highs and clarity.

Thanx!
Do you guys consider the A8 too bassy for a neck pup?

 

[blueman335]

Re: Info for picking a magnet change!

Do you guys consider the A8 too bassy for a neck pup?

It's kind of bassy, but the bigger issue is that it's very warm and high output; making it likely to be muffled and muddy, and overpower the bridge PU. But some guys like that.