Lil'59 mag replacing?

[Fix_Metal]

Hello there guys. I've never tried this.
I was wondering if any of you already replaced the ceramic mag with an alnico V on one of those mini humbuckers.
I don't really like ceramics but I need a mini humbucker for the neck position. I've tried the Bill Lawrence L45, but it's kinda low output pu, unfortunatly. It'd be better for more classic stuff, which atm I don't play.

 

[Artie]

Re: Lil'59 mag replacing?

I believe the mini's are epoxied. You probably destroy the pup trying to do a mag swap.

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: Lil'59 mag replacing?

I have a damaged Li'l bucker on which the physical contact between the magnet and one of the rail poles is inconsistent. This renders the pickup output "unreliable". One day, I ought to try reglueing and clamping it all back together.

IMO, the whole point of the Li'l 'buckers is that they achieve a reasonable compromise humbucker tone for players who do not wish to excavate enormous holes in their Fender guitars. For anyone THAT fussy about accurate vintage humbucker tone, you need a regular sized 'bucker. Ideally, it should be sitting pretty in a big ol' hunk of mahogany with a stud-mounted bridge.

 

[IanBallard]

Re: Lil'59 mag replacing?

They take considerably smaller-sized magnets and you'd have to A. cut an AlNiCo V precisely to fit the gap and B. You'd have to have the ability to remove the old mag and replace the modded A5 and properly epoxy it back into place. One of the points of the mini-buckers is that they compromise the power of ceramic by the mag itself being smaller, making it less powerful than a typical large ceramic, which is why it can be voiced like a "real" '59 and JB to a decent degree. You'd find, after all that work, you'd get a pretty weak response and, like the Bill Lawrence, you might not like it.

I agree with Funkfingers. Just get a real bucker.