Non-Production Pickups Thread

[Whammy]

I thought it would be good having a thread where people shared ideas and results from modding pickups (couldn't find an all encompassing thread like this).

So share you successful/failed experiments, future modding plans, magnet swaps that made or break a pickup or even ceramic/alnico Hybrids

I have yet to mod any pickups but would love to start.
Personally I'd like to know what a 59/Custom sounds like with a ceramic magnet. Probably overbearing and harsh, but I'm still curious.
Or even making a Distortion with an alnico 5 and combining it with a 59.

 

[darthphineas]

Re: Non-Production Pickups Thread

a Distortion with an alnico 5 and combining it with a 59.

That was no Bueno.

 

[Whammy]

Re: Non-Production Pickups Thread

That was no Bueno.

I guessed as much. Did you personally try it?

 

[darthphineas]

Re: Non-Production Pickups Thread

I guessed as much. Did you personally try it?

Yeppers.

Not all recipes work out.

 

[Demanic]

Re: Non-Production Pickups Thread

^^
Too much difference between the coils?

Sent from my MotoE2(4G-LTE) using Tapatalk

 

[frankfalbo]

Re: Non-Production Pickups Thread

JB/Custom Hybrid with Alnico 8, I think the JB coil is the screw coil. That one sounds great.

I made a neck hybrid between a Seth Lover neck coil and Seth Lover bridge coil, and did not like it more than the stock Seth Lover. That doesn't mean PAF mismatches can't/don't sound good, just that for this particular sound, it was not better, probably because the Seth's are already a little on the hot side. A Seth neck with 200-300 turns removed from one of the bobbins would have been better.

 

[darthphineas]

Re: Non-Production Pickups Thread

JB/Custom Hybrid with Alnico 8, I think the JB coil is the screw coil. That one sounds great.

Sounded better with an A5.

Haven't found a mag sap where an A8 didn't lead to too much saturation and ear fatigue. Much better when a pickup is designed around an A8... like Seymour did with the Alternative 8... or the Custom Shop Crazy 8.

 

[Demanic]

Re: Non-Production Pickups Thread

How about JB/Custom with regular ceramic?

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[darthphineas]

Re: Non-Production Pickups Thread

How about JB/Custom with regular ceramic?

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Would sound like a Custom Dokken. Or would it be a Dokken Custom?

 

[Demanic]

Re: Non-Production Pickups Thread

Nothing wrong with that then.

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[Whammy]

Re: Non-Production Pickups Thread

Thought I'd ask this here as it will help me understand pickup architecture a bit better, before going down the modding route.

I've noticed some pickups have very similar specs. Like the Custom 5 & Screamin' Demon and the Distortion & Black Winter.

What are the design differences between these pickups? Is there a different winding technique in place, different wire, different magnet size or strength?
I know the Black Winter uses 3 ceramic magnets rather that 1 in the distortion. But is that the only physical difference. I've read in different places that they are completely different (without actually giving specifics) and others say only the magnet design is different.

Any info would be great guys
Just trying to get my head around the different pickup designs before modding.

 

[leevc5]

Re: Non-Production Pickups Thread

This thread has inspired me to take on a new project. First step is feasibility study and I am hoping this thread will tell me if this plan is feasible.

I have a set of Seth Lovers and a set of Gibson Les Paul pickups both of which I think are great pups. The thought is a marriage between these two.
Bridge 500T screw side with SL screw side using 500T ceramic magnet;
Neck 496R screw side with SL screw side using SL A2 magnet;
Split coil 500t bridge and neck SL.

Is this feasible(i.e. will I get a decent pup or will I end up with garbage)?