Question for Evan about Eric Clapton:

[the guy who invented fire]

Re: Question for Evan about Eric Clapton:

Boy I'm glad I started this thread! Thanks Evan!

One more question:

Is there any inherant diff in tone between a2, a3, a4 & a5? Or is it just a matter of how strong the magnetic field is?

DAMN...that is a great question...I wonder why no body has asked that yet?!?

 

[Evan Skopp]

Re: Question for Evan about Eric Clapton:

The lower the number, the less cobalt in the alloy and the less gauss strength. Less gauss strength translates to softer attack (which sounds "warm" to the human ear) and less string pull, which allows the string to sustain more. Also, many people report that the lower numbered Alnicos distort earlier than their higher numbered counterparts.

 

[Gunner]

Re: Question for Evan about Eric Clapton:

Awesome thread guys! Really getting into the nitty-gritty and I love it!

 

[sanrafael]

Re: Question for Evan about Eric Clapton:

I guess you're right! Maybe we all like weaker magnets and just didn't know it for sure. :laugh2:

Thanks for your input on this and the other thread too. I'm here to learn just like everyone else. When people like you and Bach To Rock start getting scientific I can only sit back and try to learn from you guys.

My brain doesn't really work in a scientific or mathematical way...I'm a hands on, more intuitive sort of guy.

So thanks!

Lew

Thanks to you Lew; I have always been on techinical side, and need to see the intuitive feeling side of guitars, too. Especially from threads like this!
I should be passing through Boulder this January, and I will stop by your business and say hello if that is OK.

 

[sanrafael]

Re: Question for Evan about Eric Clapton:

The lower the number, the less cobalt in the alloy and the less gauss strength. Less gauss strength translates to softer attack (which sounds "warm" to the human ear) and less string pull, which allows the string to sustain more. Also, many people report that the lower numbered Alnicos distort earlier than their higher numbered counterparts.

Evan,

I have been thinking that there really are at least two factors involved in the field strength issue, the string pull, which we know well, and what you are calling "attack". But I cannot really figure out what it is. Lemme thinks that non-linearity due to the funny flux-height relationship is important, but I just do not know. Something to work on!

 

[Jeffrec]

Re: Question for Evan about Eric Clapton:

I don't know if this applied back then, but nowadays with all the international security checking of packages and shipments and such, magnets tend to get degaussed more when they travel overseas.

I agree. Although they didn't have all the high tech security devices back then, with all the traveling Eric and company did, I'm sure equip got propped up against all kinds of things like Andy Summer did on the train (thanks, Lew. I had almost forgotten that story).

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: Question for Evan about Eric Clapton:

Thank you! Wow, I just noticed: 604 hits on this thread. Wonder what the record is?

 

[dr.barlo]

Re: Question for Evan about Eric Clapton:

I am gonna for a couple of days, and I miss that great thread! :banghead:

The general consensus as far as I know is that Beano tone is the result of a5 PAF in the bridge of a thick sounding LP. At least that's what (as far as I know) Florance's voodoo 59 pickup sort of tries to capture. An 8.05-15K a5 PAF clone in the bridge.

BTW again as far as I know in Fralin's and Holmes' research they found out that a4's were very common in PAFs. (For example in Holmes' 45x, I think 4- stands for a4 .)

Anyway here is what Seymour recommends in the Q&A's: (-50/+50 version)

http://catalyst.thirdeyemedia.net/rbannis/viewitems.eye?category=892&item=5778

I think I am gonna get one as soon as possible. I cannot wait to measure the various a2/a5 magnets from duncan pickups, a2/a3/a4/a5's I got from SK, and 4 fralin a4's I got from Lew.

:cool3:

B

 

[Twitch]

Re: Question for Evan about Eric Clapton:

I know that Clapton plays a lot of strats too. Anyone know what kind of pickups he has in his strats?

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: Question for Evan about Eric Clapton:

I know that Clapton plays a lot of strats too. Anyone know what kind of pickups he has in his strats?

Who cares? :laugh2: :laugh2: :laugh2:

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: Question for Evan about Eric Clapton:

I know that Clapton plays a lot of strats too. Anyone know what kind of pickups he has in his strats?

Blackie had vintage Alnico 5 Strat pickups. Think Duncan SSL-1 or Antiquity Surfers.

The Eric Clapton Model Fender Strats had Lace Sensor Golds but now use the new Fender Noiseless pickups I think.

Lew

 

[strat_master]

Re: Question for Evan about Eric Clapton:

thats right lew! Clapton uses his signature strat i think now, but i he sounded wya better in cream with his LP i think. Although i do this blackie is the coolest looking strat i have ever seen.

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: Question for Evan about Eric Clapton:

Just a bump...

I thought this thread was to good to disappear...

 

[LesStrat]

Re: Question for Evan about Eric Clapton:

GREAT thread, Lew. This is vault material...(admins?). Besides, I'm still looking at LP copies, and I'm sure I'll need to upgrades pups...

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: Question for Evan about Eric Clapton:

Thanks! I just got a PM from Jeffrec and he asked Evan which guitar it was that Seymour had a chance to measure the pickups in. Evan said it was Clapton's Les Paul and the '64 SG. But we still don't know for sure which he was refering to when he said the pickups were either alnico 4 or 5 that had been degaussed. I'm going to guess it was a 58 or 59 Les Paul as I don't think Gibson was still mixing alnico 2, 4 and 5 in guitars by '64. I think they were all alnico 5 by then. But I'm not an insider...I'm just guessing. Maybe the alnico 5 humbuckers in Clapton's SG were degaussed a bit, but personally, I don't think an alnico 5 humbucker like the 59 has to be degaussed to sound like those in Clapton's SG. My newish ones sound pretty darn close to that Disraeli Gears and Wheels of Fire tone when I plug them into my Marshall...even in a Strat, which is what I use my 59's in. Lew

 

[Thames]

Re: Question for Evan about Eric Clapton:

Thank you! Wow, I just noticed: 604 hits on this thread. Wonder what the record is?

I think we hit ~1300 on the last.. lets say "naughty thread" :naughty: ... remember ?

 

[Jeffrec]

Re: Question for Evan about Eric Clapton:

I was telling Lew that I'm trying a Seth in the bridge of my '61 reissue SG, and so far (through a Vox Tonelab set to a '68 Plexi and 4X12 V30's), it sounds very close to the Cream era tone. I think Lew is right that a '59 will do it also. My guess is that since the '59 has an A-5 magnet in it, it's probably the closest to what Clapton had.

If anyone continues to experiment with pups and amp combinations, please revive this thread.

Jeff

 

[Simon_F]

Re: Question for Evan about Eric Clapton:

Cool thread guys! :approve:

I was comparing the '57 Classics in my LP Classic with the Seths in my LP Standard the other day. The '57s aren't at all bad, but when you hear them side by side against the Seths they lack complexity and they sound, well, just "plain". Time for a pickup change in that guitar! I have a spare set of '59s so I reckon those may go in the Classic. Its acoustic tone is less bright than the Standard so I reckon A5s will liven it up. Then I'll have an A2 LP and an A5 LP - lucky boy! :dance:

Trouble is I'm getting GAS for a set of Antiquity HBs too, and all this talk of the beauty of weaker magnets isn't helping! :grumble:

 

[Jeffrec]

Re: Question for Evan about Eric Clapton:

Cool thread guys! :approve:

Trouble is I'm getting GAS for a set of Antiquity HBs too, and all this talk of the beauty of weaker magnets isn't helping! :grumble:

Simon,

Get the Antiquities, you won't be sorry. A little GAS never hurt anyone :laugh2:

Jeff

 

[Lee_M.]

Re: Question for Evan about Eric Clapton:

Blackie had vintage Alnico 5 Strat pickups. Think Duncan SSL-1 or Antiquity Surfers.

The Eric Clapton Model Fender Strats had Lace Sensor Golds but now use the new Fender Noiseless pickups I think.

Lew

Agreed. IMO, the Clapton model with the Gold Sensors is rather horrible - not sure why anyone (including me) could ever claim that I was playing a real Strat with those pups in them. The guitar itself is fabulous - the Sensors just leave much to be desired.