Archer_of_Fish
New member
Re: Magnet swapping experiences with SD '59s vs. '57 Classics
I like the 59 with an Alnico II magnet in the neck of an SG.
I like the 59 with an Alnico II magnet in the neck of an SG.
Magnet swapping experiences with SD '59s vs. '57 Classics
- Thread starter haas
- Start date
AR999
New member
Re: Magnet swapping experiences with SD '59s vs. '57 Classics
Hi,
Well I play hard rock, nothing metal, but that old Marshall JCM 800 with the the preamp dimed sound.. I'm a one trick pony, and have been for years. (and by years, I mean too long).. It's funny that in retrospect the 80's metal guys were using the exact same tone as some of the best 80's melodic punk bands I liked.. A Gibson through a cranked Marshall.. I was, and am still in the melodic punk camp,I love that tight crunchy distorted sound, only maybe with the preamp dialed back a little now.. Using my Les Pauls and SGs I'm covered, but I've always wanted a nice 335, and while I don't want it to replicate the SG/LP tones exactly, I want to be in the same ballpark.. Both Les Pauls and the SG have 9K humbuckers in them, with Alnico V's.
So all that being said I'm looking for a warm pickup that's able to shake off the loose bass response and sterile sounding single notes on the high strings when pushed hard and have a little attack to it, I know a lot of that is simply due to the physics of a big semi-hollow body.. But, after reading a lot of you long time member's posts, you finally encouraged me to try the magnet swap instead of my normal of just ripping out and replacement of the pickup immediately.
As far as cleans, I simply just roll off the volume of the bridge pickup, or adjust how hard I hit the strings for them.. I have never used the neck pickup of my guitar since I started playing many decades ago.
Thanks for any suggestions.. I normally don't post on these forums because not many people that understand the bands I would refer to as examples show up here, but instead of just being a casual "lurker" I just thought I'd ask for some advice from some of you with a lot more experience with the '57's and just mag sawps all together.
Hi,
Well I play hard rock, nothing metal, but that old Marshall JCM 800 with the the preamp dimed sound.. I'm a one trick pony, and have been for years. (and by years, I mean too long).. It's funny that in retrospect the 80's metal guys were using the exact same tone as some of the best 80's melodic punk bands I liked.. A Gibson through a cranked Marshall.. I was, and am still in the melodic punk camp,I love that tight crunchy distorted sound, only maybe with the preamp dialed back a little now.. Using my Les Pauls and SGs I'm covered, but I've always wanted a nice 335, and while I don't want it to replicate the SG/LP tones exactly, I want to be in the same ballpark.. Both Les Pauls and the SG have 9K humbuckers in them, with Alnico V's.
So all that being said I'm looking for a warm pickup that's able to shake off the loose bass response and sterile sounding single notes on the high strings when pushed hard and have a little attack to it, I know a lot of that is simply due to the physics of a big semi-hollow body.. But, after reading a lot of you long time member's posts, you finally encouraged me to try the magnet swap instead of my normal of just ripping out and replacement of the pickup immediately.
As far as cleans, I simply just roll off the volume of the bridge pickup, or adjust how hard I hit the strings for them.. I have never used the neck pickup of my guitar since I started playing many decades ago.
Thanks for any suggestions.. I normally don't post on these forums because not many people that understand the bands I would refer to as examples show up here, but instead of just being a casual "lurker" I just thought I'd ask for some advice from some of you with a lot more experience with the '57's and just mag sawps all together.
Last edited:
blueman335
Mojo's Minions
Re: Magnet swapping experiences with SD '59s vs. '57 Classics
^ For what you want, you need to get a pair of WLH's.
^ For what you want, you need to get a pair of WLH's.
Re: Magnet swapping experiences with SD '59s vs. '57 Classics
If you're still not completely happy after the magnet swaps and you're like me, your curiosity won't be satisfied until you've tried some other pickups. Magnet swaps are a great way to tweak the character of a pickup but if you're just not satisfied with your tone, you'll always have a lingering doubt. The good news is that there are plenty of great pickups available on the used market. If you don't like them, you can probably unload them for what you paid and not take the hit that you would if you had bought new.
For what it's worth, I'm still happy with the A4/UOA5 '59s. I was tweaking them every few days up until about a week and a half ago and I finally have them to the point where they're totally dialed. Don't discount the difference that adjustments can make, whether you keep swapping magnets or try new pickups.
Good luck, and have fun!
If you're still not completely happy after the magnet swaps and you're like me, your curiosity won't be satisfied until you've tried some other pickups. Magnet swaps are a great way to tweak the character of a pickup but if you're just not satisfied with your tone, you'll always have a lingering doubt. The good news is that there are plenty of great pickups available on the used market. If you don't like them, you can probably unload them for what you paid and not take the hit that you would if you had bought new.
For what it's worth, I'm still happy with the A4/UOA5 '59s. I was tweaking them every few days up until about a week and a half ago and I finally have them to the point where they're totally dialed. Don't discount the difference that adjustments can make, whether you keep swapping magnets or try new pickups.
Good luck, and have fun!
