Put Alnico V bars in my Antiquities (pics)

T

TremoloKing

New member
Hi folks,
Months ago I asked about doing this alnico V for II swap in my SD Antiquities. I bought some magnets from Allparts and finally got around to doing it a couple weeks ago. This past weekend I finally had a chance to play a couple gigs with the guitar (PRS Soapbar II converted to HBs) and the pickups sounded great!

The conversion was pretty easy. But I'm an electronics technician so I might find something like this easier than others might.

I took photos made a web page showing the processes. It's here. Just folow the link near the top.

Thanks for the advice, everyone. It really worked out nicely.
 
Re: Put Alnico V bars in my Antiquities (pics)

Awesome, really clear and informative. I hate trying to take covers off and it's really impossible w/out a sucker or the right wick.

How would you describe the tonal difference after the swap?
 
Re: Put Alnico V bars in my Antiquities (pics)

Yeah, Skoora, the covers are a pain but I do love that look.

Regarding the tonal difference... the tone sounds considerably more focused. Tighter and more pronounced low-mids to high-mids. They "sing" better and at higher volumes and/or with some overdrive (I don't use a lot of drive at the pedal) happening I'm thrilled with how they honk and scream.

The alnico II magnets sounded wonderful at lower volumes -- broad spectrum... full lows, transparent highs -- but when I was competing with bass, drums and another guitar the sound would just get washed away.

That's not the case anymore. The tone is very coherent at higher distortion levels and stage volumes.

Friday night I ran through compressor, distortion, overdrive=boost and into my BF Deluxe Reverb with a 2-12 closed back ext cab. The Deluxe is running a SS rectifier and 6L6 power tubes. (Just an Eminence speaker like Fender puts in the HR Deluxe.)

I had it up just past 5 but my OD pedal is modded for high output so the DR input was slammed pretty hard. Unbelievable sound. In the neighborhood of EC or Peter Green during their John Mayall days.

Saturday night we were outdoors so I used the same chain but into my Bassman RI. Got a lot of good comments about that guitar Sat night.

Hope that helps.
 
Re: Put Alnico V bars in my Antiquities (pics)

Putting A5's in the Antiquities is a popular move. I'm surprised Seymour doesn't offer an A5 version...
 
Re: Put Alnico V bars in my Antiquities (pics)

TremoloKing said:
Hi folks,
Months ago I asked about doing this alnico V for II swap in my SD Antiquities. I bought some magnets from Allparts and finally got around to doing it a couple weeks ago. This past weekend I finally had a chance to play a couple gigs with the guitar (PRS Soapbar II converted to HBs) and the pickups sounded great!

The conversion was pretty easy. But I'm an electronics technician so I might find something like this easier than others might.

I took photos made a web page showing the processes. It's here. Just folow the link near the top.

Thanks for the advice, everyone. It really worked out nicely.
Click to expand...

ive gotta ask, how do you like the SE PRS, ive been debating gettin one for a long time now
 
Re: Put Alnico V bars in my Antiquities (pics)

modophoto said:
ive gotta ask, how do you like the SE PRS, ive been debating gettin one for a long time now
Click to expand...

Really not bad considering I paid less than $300 for it with stock pups.

But the first thing I did was replace the pickups and controls. So I can't comment much on the P90s. The controls were typical Asian jobs.

On the plus side, the neck is a nice full C shape and the fretwork was very well done. It's pretty light. Tuners are good. Bridge HW is decent.

On the minus side, the nut was not cut terribly well. At least not for an .011 E, but they probably cut it for a .009 or .010. So...

I'd rather a different color and I prefer 4 controls, two vol, two tone and there's not quite enough room to add two more. I'm using a stacked control solution at the moment but I'm not thrilled having two vol controls on one post. It's been messin me up at gigs. So I'm thinking of adding just a second vol and keeping the toen's on a stacked control.
 
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