Stag Mag Experiences?

[skelt101]

Does anyone on the forum have experience with the Stag Mag? How does it compare to something like the Fender Wide Range and/or Nordstrand NDC? It's listed as "High Output" but had lower mV output than a Seth Lover on a chart I saw. I'm thinking of dropping a set in my EBMM Stingray RS for something different from a typical humbucker. Thanks for any help!

 

[beaubrummels]

I have one. Can't compare it to Fender Wide Range as I don't own one. The nearest Duncan that sounds like it is a Custom Custom. There isn't a set, only a bridge model. You'd have to go Custom Shop to get them to wind something that would be like a neck for it. It's a very versatile bridge pickup. Can do hot PAF sounds, Strat sounds, Tele bridge sounds.

 

[freefrog]

How does it compare to something like the Fender Wide Range and/or Nordstrand NDC?

I don't know for the Nordstrand but regarding the (original recipe) Fender Wide Range: CuNiFe screw poles are magnetically weaker than AlNiCo rods, the WR is covered and it includes an inductance plate that I don't think to be present in the Stag Mag (but that Dr Scott Lawing from Zexcoil pickups considers as the most important element of the WR design).
On this basis, I wouldn't expect WR and Stag Mag to sound alike, albeit the neck CuNiFe Wide Range in my Tele gives an excellent underwound single coil tone once split (I've modified it for that and have no regret).

FWIW. HTH.

 

[skelt101]

I have one. Can't compare it to Fender Wide Range as I don't own one. The nearest Duncan that sounds like it is a Custom Custom. There isn't a set, only a bridge model. You'd have to go Custom Shop to get them to wind something that would be like a neck for it. It's a very versatile bridge pickup. Can do hot PAF sounds, Strat sounds, Tele bridge sounds.

When you compare it to the Custom Custom, are you referring to tone, output, feel, all of the above? With regard to the neck position, I'd have to either lower it enough to match with the bridge or wire it in parallel. I'd probably opt for the latter, as that position is usually for my clean sound. Thanks for the help!

 

[skelt101]

I don't know for the Nordstrand but regarding the (original recipe) Fender Wide Range: CuNiFe screw poles are magnetically weaker than AlNiCo rods, the WR is covered and it includes an inductance plate that I don't think to be present in the Stag Mag (but that Dr Scott Lawing from Zexcoil pickups considers as the most important element of the WR design).
On this basis, I wouldn't expect WR and Stag Mag to sound alike, albeit the neck CuNiFe Wide Range in my Tele gives an excellent underwound single coil tone once split (I've modified it for that and have no regret).

FWIW. HTH.

Thanks for the tip on Zexcoil. I believe there is an article about the WR on their website that I'll have to check out.

FWIW, the Nordstrand NDC standard is wound to 13.5k. They couldn't tell me the wire gauge or resonant peak. However, it was described as "hot, but not uncontrollable."

 

[Artie]

Bought one. Loved it. Sold it.
Bought it again. Loved it, sold it.
Bought it again. Loved it, sold it.

Great pup, but we don't seem to get along.

Now, I want another.

 

[skelt101]

Bought one. Loved it. Sold it.
Bought it again. Loved it, sold it.
Bought it again. Loved it, sold it.

Great pup, but we don't seem to get along.

Now, I want another.

You're talking about the Stag Mag, right? (Sorry, I threw a couple of other pickups into the discussion!) What position(s) did you use it in? Did you experiment with different wiring, e.g. coil split, series/parallel?

 

[Artie]

Yup. The Stag Mag set. Who was it that said, to Roger Moore, in a James Bond movie: "This, sir, is a Rolls Royce. There's nothing wrong with it. It simply won't start."

Billie De Wolf?

 

[beaubrummels]

When you compare it to the Custom Custom, are you referring to tone, output, feel, all of the above?

IME It's a little hotter than a Custom Custom, the tone/EQ profile is very similar, the feel is slightly looser/rounded but with the right amp settings and in the right guitar can be about the same tightness.

 

[hamerfan]

I have a The Mag humbucker. I am not too fond of it in Bridge, just not my tone...I am a PAF guy. In the neck I had some trouble with Stratitis.
​​​​​Keep it further away in the neck position from the strings than a average Joe PAF...(No pun intended)