SH-1 (59) magnet swap options?

9fingers

New member
I was a good boy & did a search before asking.
I would like to warm up an SH-1 (59) a bit. UOA5s have been mentioned. Anyone try an A2 or A4 in a 59?
Care to share recommendations?
 
Re: SH-1 (59) magnet swap options?

A2 59's are cool...I hear them as sort of a 78/EVH on a budget.

Tried an A4 59 too...less low end then a stock 59 but not a huge difference to my ears on top.

I put a set of A3's in my 59's that I have in an old Yamaha SG2000...they are percussive, have a snarly upper midrange smack to the junk and have a real lean low end...not for everybody but very unique!

FWIW, the set I swapped I did use "stock" for a while to get re-familiar with 59's as it had been a while. I was sort of surprised by the bridge pickup...it was still very much a 59 but was slightly warmer than I remembered...I was sort of surprised when I opened it up for the mag swap, the magnet in it was a UOA5!!

If you want pretty much 59 tone but slightly less treble bite on top then maybe UOA5's are the first stop!
 
Re: SH-1 (59) magnet swap options?

Thanks for the reply. I'm sure lots of forumites have swapped mags in 59s (59n in this case). You have run the gamut!
How soft is the attack on the lower strings with an A2 in there? I want to tame some top end a bit, add a few mids, but keep definition on the low strings.
UOA5 sounds good so far. I have some extras of those.
 
Re: SH-1 (59) magnet swap options?

I like UOA5's in '59B's, keeps a little more of the bite to the sound, and still gives the rich textures of an A2.

In '59N's, A4's and A3's have been popular here, both take off some of the bassiness. Lately instead of mag swapping, I've been making my '59's into hybrids to really give some treble and high-end to the neck slot.
 
Re: SH-1 (59) magnet swap options?

I like UOA5's in '59B's, keeps a little more of the bite to the sound, and still gives the rich textures of an A2.

In '59N's, A4's and A3's have been popular here, both take off some of the bassiness. Lately instead of mag swapping, I've been making my '59's into hybrids to really give some treble and high-end to the neck slot.
Will an A4 in a 59n take off highs as well?
 
Re: SH-1 (59) magnet swap options?

For some unknown reason, the '59 set graciously take ANY Alnico magnet. You just can't make'em sound BAD, not even on purpose.

Having said that, it all depends on what tone(s) you're aiming to achieve.

This is a teaser of the line of hand-paired, custom-charged-to-spec, tone-and-output-matched mag combos called the "Whisperer™", that I'm launching in 2014; it can give you an idea of what mag combo is proven to work:

* A3/A3 "Breeze Whisperer™"
* A3/UOA5 "Vintage Whisperer™"
* A3/A2 "Smooth Vintage Whisperer™"
* A2/A2 "Classic Whisperer™"
* UOA5/UOA5 "Shawy Whisperer™"
* A4/A4 "Vintage Crispy Whisperer™"
* A4/A8 "Universal Whisperer™"

I've created those pairings fine-tuning'em using the following p'up sets:

* '59
* Jazz
* APH1
* Seth Lover
* Antiquity
* '59n/Custom
* Jazz/JB
* 490R/490T
* 490R/496R
* BB#1/BB#2
* BB#2/BB#3
* BB#1/BB#3
* BB Pros
* '57 Classic/'57 Classic Plus
* Electric City Pickups RD-59
* Electric City Pickups RD-59 Hybrid
* Duncan Designed HB101
* Duncan Designed HB102
* Duncan Designed HB103
* Tonerider AC4
* Epiphone Pro Buckers

HTH,
 
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Re: SH-1 (59) magnet swap options?

For some unknown reason, the '59 set graciously take ANY Alnico magnet. You just can't make'em sound BAD, not even on purpose.

Having said that, it all depends on what tone(s) you're aiming to achieve.

This is a teaser of the line of hand-paired, custom-charged-to-spec, tone-and-output-matched mag combos called the "Whisperer™", that I'm launching in 2014; it can give you an idea of what mag combo is proven to work:

* A3/A3 "Breeze Whisperer™"
* A3/UOA5 "Vintage Whisperer™"
* A3/A2 "Smooth Vintage Whisperer™"
* A2/A2 "Classic Whisperer™"
* UOA5/UOA5 "Shawy Whisperer™"
* A4/A4 "Vintage Crispy Whisperer™"
* A4/A8 "Universal Whisperer™"

I've created those pairings fine-tuning'em using the following p'up sets:

* '59
* Jazz
* APH1
* Seth Lover
* Antiquity
* '59n/Custom
* Jazz/JB
* 490R/490T
* 490R/496R
* BB#1/BB#2
* BB#2/BB#3
* BB#1/BB#3
* BB Pros
* '57 Classic/'57 Classic Plus
* Electric City Pickups RD-59
* Electric City Pickups RD-59 Hybrid
* Duncan Designed HB101
* Duncan Designed HB102
* Duncan Designed HB103
* Tonerider AC4
* Epiphone Pro Buckers

HTH,

Um, Okay...
 
Re: SH-1 (59) magnet swap options?

Wait...did we overlook the Cork-Sniffer Whisperer?

You certainly did... it was standing just besides the guy who couldn't tell the difference between "Know Tone-" and "No Tone-" Whsperer™. ;)
 
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Re: SH-1 (59) magnet swap options?

For some unknown reason, the '59 set graciously take ANY Alnico magnet. You just can't make'em sound BAD, not even on purpose.

Having said that, it all depends on what tone(s) you're aiming to achieve.

This is a teaser of the line of hand-paired, custom-charged-to-spec, tone-and-output-matched mag combos called the "Whisperer™", that I'm launching in 2014; it can give you an idea of what mag combo is proven to work:

* A3/A3 "Breeze Whisperer™"
* A3/UOA5 "Vintage Whisperer™"
* A3/A2 "Smooth Vintage Whisperer™"
* A2/A2 "Classic Whisperer™"
* UOA5/UOA5 "Shawy Whisperer™"
* A4/A4 "Vintage Crispy Whisperer™"
* A4/A8 "Universal Whisperer™"

I've created those pairings fine-tuning'em using the following p'up sets:

* '59
* Jazz
* APH1
* Seth Lover
* Antiquity
* '59n/Custom
* Jazz/JB
* 490R/490T
* 490R/496R
* BB#1/BB#2
* BB#2/BB#3
* BB#1/BB#3
* BB Pros
* '57 Classic/'57 Classic Plus
* Electric City Pickups RD-59
* Electric City Pickups RD-59 Hybrid
* Duncan Designed HB101
* Duncan Designed HB102
* Duncan Designed HB103
* Tonerider AC4
* Epiphone Pro Buckers

HTH,

Breeze Whisperer sounds cool. How much for that..?
 
Re: SH-1 (59) magnet swap options?

I've used the A2 in several 59s with good results. Think of it as a potted Seth Lover in a way. With that said, the 59 reacts very well to height adjustments. I've found that you can tailor your sound a great deal by simply adjusting the height adjustment screws. I'd recommend that you give that a try before you look into replacing mags.
 
Re: SH-1 (59) magnet swap options?

For the bridge position, I ended up sticking to the stock A5. I never tried an UOA5 but tried A2/3/4. I loved the A2 probably the best as an alternative, the low end was softer than stock but still stronger than most A2 pups, and had an awesome spongy texture. As another poster mentioned, it really evoked an EVH-ish tone, like a po' man's 78.
 
Re: SH-1 (59) magnet swap options?

Hmm, thanks for all the info. It sounds like a UOA5 to start with for what I am looking for. (59n in a small body semi-hollow, "want to tame some top end a bit, add a few mids, but keep definition on the low strings.")
 
Re: SH-1 (59) magnet swap options?

Hmm, thanks for all the info. It sounds like a UOA5 to start with for what I am looking for. (59n in a small body semi-hollow, "want to tame some top end a bit, add a few mids, but keep definition on the low strings.")

I'd agree with that.

also good if you have an A2 pickup that needs the slightest sharpening and tightening. the UOA5 is a nice in-between magnet.
 
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