Magnet swap question

[Mikelamury]

I've never done this before but I would like to put the alnico 2 from my 490t into the 498t for more output with the alnico 2 sound. Is this possible to do with these pickups and exactly how do you do it. Any information on this would be appreciated. Thanks.

 

[uOpt]

Do they have covers?

It might be more straightforward to buy a new A2 magnet than ripping the neck pickup apart just to get the magnet.

 

[Mikelamury]

Do they have covers?

It might be more straightforward to buy a new A2 magnet than ripping the neck pickup apart just to get the magnet.

Yes they both have covers, do you have to destroy the pickup to swap the magnets?

 

[jeremy]

no, not at all but you do need to take the covers off and be careful when you slide the magnet out. ive done 498t with a2 and i like it., a5 in the 490 isnt bad either

 

[Mikelamury]

no, not at all but you do need to take the covers off and be careful when you slide the magnet out. ive done 498t with a2 and i like it., a5 in the 490 isnt bad either

So what exactly do I do?
I'm guessing melt the solder holding the cover on, after that what? Just unscrew the four screws on the bottom of the baseplate and swap? How much do you unscrew it? I've never done this before but appreciate the lesson.

 

[jeremy]

i feel like there is a detailed thread about this which would be better than the quick blurb im gonna write.

take the cover off. i remove what solder i can, then carefully use a razor blade to cut through whats left and slide the cover off. gotta be careful with the blade. once the cover is off, loosen the four screws on the bottom a turn or two and gently push the magnet out a bit. if the pup is potted youll need to break that bond then the mag should slide out easily. youll want to know the orientation of the magnet so you can put the other one back in the same way.

 

[eclecticsynergy]

With potted pickups it sometimes helps to heat the back with a hairdryer.
Softens the wax a bit. Not always necessary.

 

[hamerfan]

I think there one or two vids on YT

 

[SweetClyde99]

I followed this guide when I first swapped magnets:
https://www.seymourduncan.com/blog/...ng-with-pickups-102-the-humbucker-magnet-swap

 

[Wound_Up]

Personally, I'm not willing to possibly destroy my pickup to swap magnets. I've read about guys doing the same swap and their pickup not working when they got done. The volume would be 20% of normal and never came back to full volume after that. Or guys have issues with the covers after removing it and trying to reattach it.

I even bought alnico 2 magnets to swap into my pickups and everything. Once I saw how many people had pickups that didn't work once they were done, I decided I wasn't willing to take that chance.

 

[Wound_Up]

Yes they both have covers, do you have to destroy the pickup to swap the magnets?

Just order some alnico 2's https://www.philadelphialuthiertools.com/bar-magnets/

 

[Blille]

Personally, I'm not willing to possibly destroy my pickup to swap magnets. I've read about guys doing the same swap and their pickup not working when they got done. The volume would be 20% of normal and never came back to full volume after that. Or guys have issues with the covers after removing it and trying to reattach it.

I even bought alnico 2 magnets to swap into my pickups and everything. Once I saw how many people had pickups that didn't work once they were done, I decided I wasn't willing to take that chance.

I hear you. I was very concerned the first time I did it. Now I do it in a couple of mins while watching TV. Never had an issue. Most of the time I swap Alnico 5 pickups in the neck for A2 because it’s what I like but with practice you develop a sense of what magnets would help you get a particular change in the tone and it will save you pickup changes.

I encourage you to watch the YouTube tutorials and if you’re still not comfortable (which I get), buy a super cheapo humbucker on Craigslist and do it.

 

[Mikelamury]

Just order some alnico 2's https://www.philadelphialuthiertools.com/bar-magnets/

You wouldn't happen to know which one of those sizes for the bar magnets is correct for a Gibson humbucker, would you?

 

[Blille]

You wouldn't happen to know which one of those sizes for the bar magnets is correct for a Gibson humbucker, would you?

The standard for almost all humbuckers these days is 2.5.

Addiction fx on eBay is a great source too if you want to compare prices

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Alnico-2-B...2349624.m46890.l49286&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0

 

[BenPerkins]

Question: is swapping a magnet on a humbucker essentially the same thing as a swap on a P90? Or is swapping on a humbucker more complicated


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

 

[Blille]

Question: is swapping a magnet on a humbucker essentially the same thing as a swap on a P90? Or is swapping on a humbucker more complicated


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

Fairly similar, just that the humbucker has only one magnet.

 

[eclecticsynergy]

Actually I think swapping a P90 is more complicated, since there are two magnets you pretty much need to detach bobbin from baseplate.
With most humbuckers all you need to do is loosen the screws a bit.
Neither is very difficult, except that some pickups (lookin' at you, DiMarzio) have the magnets glued in place.

 

[GuitarDoc]

Personally, I'm not willing to possibly destroy my pickup to swap magnets. I've read about guys doing the same swap and their pickup not working when they got done. The volume would be 20% of normal and never came back to full volume after that. Or guys have issues with the covers after removing it and trying to reattach it.

I even bought alnico 2 magnets to swap into my pickups and everything. Once I saw how many people had pickups that didn't work once they were done, I decided I wasn't willing to take that chance.

A bull in a China shop can destroy every valuable piece of China just by walking around. But a conscientious and careful shopper will destroy NOTHING. Just because a klutz destroys his pup by exchanging a magnet doesn't mean it has to be so.

There are too many people that shouldn't even look cross-eyed at their guitar wiring until they get a little learning and experience. But they are in too much of a hurry to spend time learning how to do things properly. I'm sorry to say, but they deserve what they get.