Replacing Dragon II's with SD Hot Rodded set

A

alexwong

New member
I love the feel of my PRS but have always thought the tone is somewhat sterile.

It may sound a strange thing to do but I tried a standard Hot Rodded set (SH-4 JB Bridge and SH-2n Jazz Neck) on a friends home build and LOVED the tone so I've decided to try swapping out the Dragon II's for those pups. Obviously it's a different axe but the harmonics in the tone were unreal. It just sounded so damned Rock and Roll compared to my PRS.

I've looked up the FAQ section on the SD website and I've worked out the wiring but I can't get my head around flipping the magnet on the bridge pickup. Which plane do you flip it? - lengthways or width-ways?

I've now found posts on the web saying every possible direction is the right one but I assume if one end of the magnet is N and one end is S, the right answer is lengthways or rotating it 180deg without flipping it? I think both achieve the same thing? In other words, any plane but the one this guy says is right http://soft.com.sg/forum/gear-guitar/117145-[pictures-]-flipping-humbucker-out-phase-k-peter-green-mod.html

Could anybody confirm the right plane to flip the magnet in?
 
Re: Replacing Dragon II's with SD Hot Rodded set

One long and thin edge of the magnet is south and the other is north. So, if you have it lying flat on a table and turn it over so that the bottom face is now towards the ceiling then you've reversed its direction.

Why do you want to flip the magnet, anyway? You can get a similar result with a push-pull pot, which means that you can also get a regular middle tone and you won't have to open your pickup (yet).

Here's a diagram that might be useful.

Here's a picture of the magnet poles as well...

images
 
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Re: Replacing Dragon II's with SD Hot Rodded set

Either way you flip it is good.

Ignore the push/pull comment, you need to perform this flip so the wiring scheme of your 5 way rotary will function properly.
 
Re: Replacing Dragon II's with SD Hot Rodded set

I'm probably making a big issue out of a very simple thing....

If I flip it longitudinally, won't N and S still be in the same place?

Sorry to labour the point........
 
Re: Replacing Dragon II's with SD Hot Rodded set

OK thanks. I'm going to flip it like this unless anybody here tells me I've got it wrong.

Thanks :-)

Step4.jpg
 
Re: Replacing Dragon II's with SD Hot Rodded set

That's exactly what you need to do. That part I'm sure of. None of your fancy rotary five way thingummybobs are gonna get the better of me this time.
 
Re: Replacing Dragon II's with SD Hot Rodded set

FLIP IIIIIIITTTTTTTT ....FLIP IIIIIIIIIITTTTTTTTT
noones gonna flip just flip it
gonna sound funky
gonna sound right
just flip it
FLIP IIIIIIITTTTTTTT ....FLIP IIIIIIIIIITTTTTTTTT
 
Re: Replacing Dragon II's with SD Hot Rodded set

First get out your dremel

Next select the right cone shape sanding tool

Then bore out the third hole

Fourth put in the three way

Next flip your magnet

Finally wire it all up!


:laughing::laughing::laughing::laughing:

Had to ditch my rotary switch...it made me nuts.

Luke
 
Re: Replacing Dragon II's with SD Hot Rodded set

Key question: What kind of wood does your friend have his JB in? JB's are very hit or miss in mahogany and often pretty bad (you should hear the colorful descriptions used on this forum) and have a poor reputation in that wood; they were designed for bright woods, and are much more reliable in those.
 
Re: Replacing Dragon II's with SD Hot Rodded set

Apparently it's built from African Mahogany. Sounded great though with the JB!
 
Re: Replacing Dragon II's with SD Hot Rodded set

I replaced the DII's in my PRS Custom 22's with the JB/Jazz and it sounded awesome - good call!
 
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