Jazz/Alnico II Pro Magnet Swaps

[CB434]

I've been back and forth between these two neck pickups and have decided to give the APH-1 a try. A few random things though.. there don't appear to be markings on the APH-1, apologies if this is a dumb question but is there a reason for this? It sucks how they don't match and are often in different colours or fonts, but in this case there's no markings at all. Maybe I'm just overly OCD about that but I think them to match.

So I was thinking about getting a Jazz (I can get this cheaper also), and just manually swap the magnet. But does anyone know a supplier that has the closest magnet to the stock magnet that Seymour Duncan uses? Or will it always be slightly off? Who knows, it could even be better.. it's all taste or preference after all. But the Jazz has the markings that will match the bridge pickup, but I wanted to ask.. is there a size or specific magnet I should be buying?

Is this the size I would need?

2.5" x 0.5" x 0.125

For example is https://www.philadelphialuthiertools.com/bar-magnets/ a good source?

Just basically wondering what you more experienced guys would do, in terms of turning a jazz into a APH-1..

 

[beaubrummels]

I would just buy the magnet and not worry about the looks, but if you need the logo, ok. There's a couple models of Duncan that don't have the logo because they are based on vintage pickups that didn't have logos on the bobbins. The A2Pro and Slash, the 59 and the Antiquity JB/Jazz don't have logos on the bobbins for a start. I believe those measurements are correct, but you could just take the magnet you have out and measure. Duncan magnets aren't unique or unusual dimension-wise. I've use AdditionFX for my mag swaps, but other folks use Philadelphia. I don't think it makes a difference.

 

[Supernautilus]

I've been back and forth between these two neck pickups and have decided to give the APH-1 a try. A few random things though.. there don't appear to be markings on the APH-1, apologies if this is a dumb question but is there a reason for this? It sucks how they don't match and are often in different colours or fonts, but in this case there's no markings at all. Maybe I'm just overly OCD about that but I think them to match.

So I was thinking about getting a Jazz (I can get this cheaper also), and just manually swap the magnet. But does anyone know a supplier that has the closest magnet to the stock magnet that Seymour Duncan uses? Or will it always be slightly off? Who knows, it could even be better.. it's all taste or preference after all. But the Jazz has the markings that will match the bridge pickup, but I wanted to ask.. is there a size or specific magnet I should be buying?

Is this the size I would need?

2.5" x 0.5" x 0.125

For example is https://www.philadelphialuthiertools.com/bar-magnets/ a good source?

Just basically wondering what you more experienced guys would do, in terms of turning a jazz into a APH-1..

If you mean the logo, yeah the APH doesn’t have one. I prefer to have my pickups match too, when it comes to logos. That’s the nice thing about the Jazz/APH, as you can swap mags to easily get the other one.

Also yes, Philly Luthier is a great vendor. I buy from them a lot. As far as I know, that’s the right magnet. That’s the size I buy when I need them. Just throw an A2 in your Jazz and you should be all set.

 

[ehdwuld]

Addiction fx appeared to be closed when I checked lat month

I ordered a pair a A2 magnets from Philadelphia Luther supply

costs almost the same for shipping as the magnets cost

Tried finding A2s on Amazon
A5s are common but not so much A2​​​

 

[freefrog]

But does anyone know a supplier that has the closest magnet to the stock magnet that Seymour Duncan uses? Or will it always be slightly off? Who knows, it could even be better.. it's all taste or preference after all. But the Jazz has the markings that will match the bridge pickup, but I wanted to ask.. is there a size or specific magnet I should be buying?

Test a batch of magnets with a Teslameter/Gaussmeter and you'll realize that objectively, every single magnet is "slighlty off" comparatively to the others when it comes to measured flux... Even two sides of a same magnet or two spots on a same side might exhibit noticeably different readings.
Now, the kind of smooth silvery bars used in modern humbuckers is magnetically more consistent than rough cast magnets and small difference of magnetism won't change the tone drastically, anyway.

The suppliers named above are those that I would have mentioned myself.

Good luck in your tinkering.


Side note: higher Gauss/Tesla readings make the sound slightly harder but it can be compensated to some extent by lower carbon content screw poles or simply, by setting the screw poles flush to the bobbin (which should lower the flux measured on the top of these poles). FWIW.

 

[CB434]

Great info, cheers guys.

 

[Teleplayer]

Stew mac sell A2 and A5, but they are way too expensive. I don’t think matching logo on the neck p/u matters that much. I’d be ok if SD did not put the printed logos on bobbins (which are obviously based on PAFs anyway).

 

[Mincer]

You can, however, order any of the non-logo pickups with a logo through the Shop Floor Custom program. I ordered my APH-1 with a logo.

 

[Supernautilus]

You can, however, order any of the non-logo pickups with a logo through the Shop Floor Custom program. I ordered my APH-1 with a logo.

Do they cost extra for that?

 

[Mincer]

Do they cost extra for that?

Sure, because they make it special, but not as much as a Custom Shop pickup. You order through any SD dealer.