Replacing Antiquity humbuckers
- Thread starter Bill Dennis
- Start date
Bill Dennis
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Not really. I have another guitar for that. I want the LP to be a LP. I was asked what I play so I answered, but that's not what I have in mind for this guitar. I want the fat, chimey / chewey "tele esque" vibe for this one. They won't all do that sound. Maybe this one won't and is more of a Super Distortion kind of axe.. I hope not but that ius what I am trying to find out.
Bill Dennis
New member
You know, I have been eyein' the 59's. A 59 may be on option for the bridge. As a very young man I had a LP with a Classic 57 Bridge / SD Jazz neck that I liked well enough at the time. Different Les Paul, different century
Leon Of Late
New member
Just to plug it one more time, if you really want an outstanding 59’, ask MJ to wind you a 59’ like they wound them in the 70’s. Butyrate bobbins, maple spacers, no wax potting, the original 59’ wind on the Lessona; she has it in her book. It’s worth the extra money to have it done that way. The Custom Shop amazes me every single time.
I just put a CS 59’ in a guitar, but I put in an A4 and it’s a neck, but it is hands down the best 59’ I have EVER heard, and one of the best neck pickups I have ever heard. I will likely never take it out of this guitar, EVER.
I just put a CS 59’ in a guitar, but I put in an A4 and it’s a neck, but it is hands down the best 59’ I have EVER heard, and one of the best neck pickups I have ever heard. I will likely never take it out of this guitar, EVER.
Bill Dennis
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I think I am going try a 59 set. Probably find something used to test drive. Don't think a LP week need wider spacing
Lewguitar
New member
There's not much difference in output between the Antiquitys and 59's.
I prefer the Antiquitys.
But if you put roughcast A2 magnets like the Antiquity has in the 59's the 59's start to sound a lot like Antiquitys.
If you put polished A2 magnets like the Seth Lover has in the 59's the 59's start to sound a lot like Seth Lovers.
If you put roughcast A5 magnets in the Antiquitys, they sound better than the 59's which have polished A5 magnets.
Lewguitar
New member
I do think your idea of getting a set of 59's is a good one.
But also get some magnets and do some experimenting.
Try some roughcast A5 magnets in them.
There's SO MUCH you can do to find the tone you're searching for by swapping magnets in 59's.
They're a great pickup set for that.
gsammo79
New member
I agree with Lew here. I've got a double thick A2 I'm gonna stick in an older MJ wound '59b as soon as I can. I like the '59 set, as is, but it's a good set to do magnet swaps with.
Bill Dennis
New member
Wait, is this the one designed by the forum way back when?
Bill Dennis
New member
Did not go with the 59's. I have something else in mind for those. I put the PG in the neck wired in parallel. Went digging through the closet for a bridge option. Found a custom shop box that had a pickup in it. Dated 2006 and MJ wound it. I have no idea what it is but it measured 9.9 so I rolled with it. I need to tweak heights and what have you but I like what I am hearing so far.
AllHailDIO
New member
I love Antiquity humbuckers but they are definitely much different than traditional humbuckers including others w/ A2 magnets
The weaker magnet weakens velocity/attack/punch. It also shaves both the highs and lows IMO So it's a very smooth, soft, mid focused sound.
You may want to change the magnets with a UOA5 in the bridge and a A3 in the neck. This will add magnet strength in the bridge position for more punch and low end, and the A3 in the neck will add some highs (output should be similar though).
If that doesn't help out, sell the Antiquities and try Seth Lovers instead.
Hope this helps!
The weaker magnet weakens velocity/attack/punch. It also shaves both the highs and lows IMO So it's a very smooth, soft, mid focused sound.
You may want to change the magnets with a UOA5 in the bridge and a A3 in the neck. This will add magnet strength in the bridge position for more punch and low end, and the A3 in the neck will add some highs (output should be similar though).
If that doesn't help out, sell the Antiquities and try Seth Lovers instead.
Hope this helps!
AllHailDIO
New member
Also, Antiquities are wound more to compensate for the degaussed magnets. So an Antiquity with A5 will have more lows & less highs than say a 59. It'll be beefier. And an Antiquity with a full strength A2 will be too much mids and compression. IDK if they have similar wind pattern but for lamen terms, an Antiquity is pretty much a slightly overwound Seth Lover but with weaker magnets.
Seth Lover has both chime up top and a nice low-mid thing going on. It's also fairly open/wide sounding unlike the more compressed sounding APH or PG. I would recommend the Seth Lovers before the 59.
With a grain of salt, here's some vague suggestions: Zep = WLH. AC/DC = PG. Slash = APH / APH Slash.
I personally would not recommend the Brobucker in a Les Paul. If Antiquities are too smooth and warm, Brobuckers will be too, and FAT.
Seth Lover has both chime up top and a nice low-mid thing going on. It's also fairly open/wide sounding unlike the more compressed sounding APH or PG. I would recommend the Seth Lovers before the 59.
With a grain of salt, here's some vague suggestions: Zep = WLH. AC/DC = PG. Slash = APH / APH Slash.
I personally would not recommend the Brobucker in a Les Paul. If Antiquities are too smooth and warm, Brobuckers will be too, and FAT.
Lewguitar
New member
I don't love the sound of my Seth Lovers. I have two sets and mine all sound weaker than my Antiquitys even when I put a new roughcast A2 or A4 magnet in them. Just not as ballsy sounding as the Antiquitys.
AllHailDIO
New member
Ahh that sucks. I had a good experience with Seth Lovers; however, I will admit, I no longer own them but I do own a guitar with Antiquities. Also, I find Seth Lovers best with their stock magnets.
But IME, the Seth Lovers had a punchier low-end and quicker attack (at least compared to the Antiquity which I find to have a very shelved low end and very spongy yet "organic" attack). The complex mids and additional compression of the Antiquities definitely crunch well so I can see how that can be interpreted as more aggressive.
The additional winds on the Antiquity makes them great for magnet swaps; they'll be ballsier and beefier than most. An Antiquity with an UOA5 will be the most ballsy IMO. OP should really try it out :bigthumb:
With that all said, I recommend Seth Lovers for their clarity and punch over the stock Antiquity (IF the UOA5 Ant does not work out). How the mids will behave will definitely be different. In fact, there's nothing quite like the Antiquity IMO. It's midrange is truly special though I would not say the pickup is not without its flaws (as with any pickup).
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Lewguitar
New member
The Seths use polished A2. And they have a lower DCR compared to Antiquitys.
Polished magnets sound tighter and brighter compared to their roughcast/sandcast counterparts.
I can easily see that as being experienced as punchier. I prefer the "spongier" feel of Antiquitys with their stock roughcast A2.
Might be an age and maturity thing.
I notice that EVH's tone got spongier and warmer as he got older.
AllHailDIO
New member
The main attribute is Antiquity's magnet is degaussed. The magnet's magnetic field has been intentionally weakened for an aged sound. IMO, this reduces the attack, highs, and even lows.
This is why I mentioned Antiquity has more winds to compensate for their degaussed magnet which would have a lower strength / output.
Lewguitar
New member
I wonder if it is still degaussed.
I have some old Antiquitys that came with polished A2 magnets. And I have some newer Antiquitys that came with roughcast/sandcast A2 magnets like 50's pafs.
They sound very similar. And when I've tried roughcast/sandcast A2 magnets from AddictionFX in Antiquitys they too sound similar.
Makes me wonder if the degaussed thing was an attempt to replicate the sound of a roughcast/sandcast magnet with a polished magnet, and that now that the Antiquity is using the "correct" magnet it's not necessary to degauss them.
Just a thought. Not a fact.
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AllHailDIO
New member
Ahh I see. Well, who knows... Besides forces greater than ourselves. But if that's the case, that's too bad... because my Antiquity sounds quite different than any other A2 pickup. It's very low output (reminds me of an A3) so I assume it was properly degaussed.
And yes, gotta love AddictionFX :bigthumb:
Bill Dennis
New member
Why degauss of you are going compensate by changing the wind? Not sure I buy that. Defeats the whole point and purpose of the Antiquity line
