P90 magnet questions
- Thread starter Fuhgawz
- Start date
o:duh:
super rad stuff
Skaforlifeologist
Re: P90 magnet questions
it's not a stupid question! in the neck, which magnet is in which spot doesn't matter much. in the bridge though, it matters. i'd say put the a8 towards the neck and the a5 towards the bridge. this way you're getting more output and mids from the a8. if it were the other way around, you'd be getting more brightness and scoop from the a5, but still some extra body form the a8 since it's such a powerful magnet.
it's not a stupid question! in the neck, which magnet is in which spot doesn't matter much. in the bridge though, it matters. i'd say put the a8 towards the neck and the a5 towards the bridge. this way you're getting more output and mids from the a8. if it were the other way around, you'd be getting more brightness and scoop from the a5, but still some extra body form the a8 since it's such a powerful magnet.
super rad stuff
Skaforlifeologist
Re: P90 magnet questions
two a8 mags in the bridge could be cool, but i don't see it as much. imo it'll probably have so much string pull(from the strong a8 magnetic field) that you'll kill off your sustain and harmonics unless you back that sucker down quite a bit. however, i haven't tried it and like i said, it could be cool.
two a8 mags in the bridge could be cool, but i don't see it as much. imo it'll probably have so much string pull(from the strong a8 magnetic field) that you'll kill off your sustain and harmonics unless you back that sucker down quite a bit. however, i haven't tried it and like i said, it could be cool.
blueman335
Mojo's Minions
Re: P90 magnet questions
Another magnet. That'll recharge the old one. You can do this over & over.
Another magnet. That'll recharge the old one. You can do this over & over.
blueman335
Mojo's Minions
Re: P90 magnet questions
Magnets totally changed the way I look at PU's. I used to buy one after another, trying to get one that fit the wood I had, for the tone I wanted. But that gets expensive. Now, I just get a PU that has a resisitence in the range I want (like 7,000 to 8,000 ohms for a neck HB), and if the stock magnet isn't quite what I want in EQ or output, I can swap it in 10 minutes. The magnet the manufacturer puts in is just a suggestion; an HB or P-90 has many other personalities. Never give up on a PU until you've swapped a magnet or two. I'm able to make my existing PU's work with mag swaps. Putting in a replacement magnet creates a new PU.
Quick recap:
A2 - lots of mids, little treble, low output, can have a loose low end. Very popular because it adds lots of character to the tone.
A3 - also low output, but brighter than an A2. Like a weaker A5, without the strong low end.
A4 - balanced EQ, doesn't shift the EQ like other alnicos; to some guys this is bland, but it can be ideal for warming an A5 bridge PU, or brightening an A2 neck PU.
A5 - fairly high output, lots of treble & bass, scooped mids, tigh low end. Great in the bridge or neck slot, which is why it's the most popular alnico. If it's too bright in the bridge, try it with one or two 250K pots.
A6 - lots of mids, not much treble, high output, firm low end. Good for taming an overly bright bridge. Too dark for neck HB's. Hard to find.
A8 - like an A6 but with more treble. Used to add mids & boost output. Players now use this magnet in PAF, medium, and high output bridge PU's. Too dark & powerful for neck HB's.
Listen to your current PU's, and if there's something you don't like, look at the other alnicos and see if there's one that does what you want. Have a A5 or ceramic bridge PU that's too bright? Try an A2, A4, or A8. Neck A2 PU that's too dark & muddy? Try an A3, A4, or A5. Have an A2 bridge PU but need more output and a tighter bottom? Try an A8.
With P-90's, and HB-sized P-90's, you have twin magnets, so you can blend EQ's and output to really dial in what you want. Lots of territory to explore here.
You, my good sir, are a very convincing man.
Magnets totally changed the way I look at PU's. I used to buy one after another, trying to get one that fit the wood I had, for the tone I wanted. But that gets expensive. Now, I just get a PU that has a resisitence in the range I want (like 7,000 to 8,000 ohms for a neck HB), and if the stock magnet isn't quite what I want in EQ or output, I can swap it in 10 minutes. The magnet the manufacturer puts in is just a suggestion; an HB or P-90 has many other personalities. Never give up on a PU until you've swapped a magnet or two. I'm able to make my existing PU's work with mag swaps. Putting in a replacement magnet creates a new PU.
Quick recap:
A2 - lots of mids, little treble, low output, can have a loose low end. Very popular because it adds lots of character to the tone.
A3 - also low output, but brighter than an A2. Like a weaker A5, without the strong low end.
A4 - balanced EQ, doesn't shift the EQ like other alnicos; to some guys this is bland, but it can be ideal for warming an A5 bridge PU, or brightening an A2 neck PU.
A5 - fairly high output, lots of treble & bass, scooped mids, tigh low end. Great in the bridge or neck slot, which is why it's the most popular alnico. If it's too bright in the bridge, try it with one or two 250K pots.
A6 - lots of mids, not much treble, high output, firm low end. Good for taming an overly bright bridge. Too dark for neck HB's. Hard to find.
A8 - like an A6 but with more treble. Used to add mids & boost output. Players now use this magnet in PAF, medium, and high output bridge PU's. Too dark & powerful for neck HB's.
Listen to your current PU's, and if there's something you don't like, look at the other alnicos and see if there's one that does what you want. Have a A5 or ceramic bridge PU that's too bright? Try an A2, A4, or A8. Neck A2 PU that's too dark & muddy? Try an A3, A4, or A5. Have an A2 bridge PU but need more output and a tighter bottom? Try an A8.
With P-90's, and HB-sized P-90's, you have twin magnets, so you can blend EQ's and output to really dial in what you want. Lots of territory to explore here.
sosomething
Seymour Duncan Customer Support
Re: P90 magnet questions
^^ Great recap and a good reference for Alnico mag types.
It really is pretty awesome the kind of very fine-tuning you can do to the sound of a pickup with such a simple, low-risk modification.
^^ Great recap and a good reference for Alnico mag types.
It really is pretty awesome the kind of very fine-tuning you can do to the sound of a pickup with such a simple, low-risk modification.
blueman335
Mojo's Minions
Re: P90 magnet questions
sosomething;2380100It really is pretty awesome the kind of very fine-tuning you can do to the sound of a pickup with such a simple said:
Re: P90 magnet questions
I DID IT!!
I put an A8 in the bridge and an A4 in the neck. So far results are great! The bridge pickup sounds... bigger and bolder and the neck has more mids and is less boomy but best of all: they sound more balanced. This is just from playing a few minutes through a Vox Amplug. I wonder how it will sound through my Orange, but for that I have to wait to next wednesday.
I want to thank all you guys for your advice and John Wymore for the magnets. Thanks!!
I DID IT!!
I put an A8 in the bridge and an A4 in the neck. So far results are great! The bridge pickup sounds... bigger and bolder and the neck has more mids and is less boomy but best of all: they sound more balanced. This is just from playing a few minutes through a Vox Amplug. I wonder how it will sound through my Orange, but for that I have to wait to next wednesday. I want to thank all you guys for your advice and John Wymore for the magnets. Thanks!!
sosomething
Seymour Duncan Customer Support
Re: P90 magnet questions
Congrats! Glad to hear that mag combo is working for you! I absolutely love the results I got from putting them in my SG Classic...
Congrats! Glad to hear that mag combo is working for you! I absolutely love the results I got from putting them in my SG Classic...
blueman335
Mojo's Minions
Re: P90 magnet questions
Another youth put on the path to a brighter tomorrow...
(I believe this quote is from the Batman TV series)
I DID IT!!
I want to thank all you guys for your advice and John Wymore for the magnets. Thanks!!
Another youth put on the path to a brighter tomorrow...
(I believe this quote is from the Batman TV series)
Re: P90 magnet questions
I have had two A8's in a P90 Custom and it has harmonics and sustain. I'm planing on changing it to A5/A8 combo which is why I found this thread.
I have had two A8's in a P90 Custom and it has harmonics and sustain. I'm planing on changing it to A5/A8 combo which is why I found this thread.
