Super distortion to alnico5

bullet_79

New member
anyone ever tried changing Super Distortion (dimarzio) ceramic magnet to Alnico5.. i'v got a JB lying around.. i love my super distortion.. but the gain were too much...
 
Re: Super distortion to alnico5

Probably a tad scooped. I have both an A2 and A5 laying around that I could throw in and find out, but I like my current bridge pup too much.
 
Re: Super distortion to alnico5

wait till my experiment finished... i'm about to swap em' S.Distortion with JB magnets.. (alnico5)
 
Re: Super distortion to alnico5

I`ve tried it in a alder strat and mahogany strat. It was kinda of a dull tone with no character. Not as much sparkle and ballsy roar as a Super D with it`s ceramic mag but It didn`t sound scooped thru my rig. I`m pretty sure forums bro Ed Hunter tried it with a UOA5 so maybe he`ll chime in
 
Re: Super distortion to alnico5

The magnet is glued to the baseplate, but it can be removed. You will need to do some shimming to get it to fit.
 
Re: Super distortion to alnico5

the thing is ;..super distortion never respon to picking dynamic that well... fuzzy...
now i'm using tonezone,.. the dynamic is there... seriously.. but i think it would be much better if the low end are lowered abit... (too much,make my maple strat sound like rosewood )
 
Re: Super distortion to alnico5

the thing is ;..super distortion never respon to picking dynamic that well... fuzzy...
now i'm using tonezone,.. the dynamic is there... seriously.. but i think it would be much better if the low end are lowered abit... (too much,make my maple strat sound like rosewood )

The Tone Zone comes with adjustable pole pieces. Have you tried lowering the bass screws? If that still doesn't work for you, try the Breed.
 
Re: Super distortion to alnico5

using an A5 magnet .you will need a shim , the A5 MAGNET IS .125" thick & the ceramic 8 magnet in the SD is .187" thick
 
Re: Super distortion to alnico5

Lower the bass side of the Tone Zone and raise the screws. That will tighten up the low end a bit.

If a pickup is too much lower it and raise the screws. That will help. It's way easier to try that first. Then if playing with different combinations doesn't work out, try the mag swap. You may want to get ready to try a few different types of magnets while you're there. If the A5 doesn't work out another might.
 
Re: Super distortion to alnico5

The magnet is glued to the baseplate, but it can be removed. You will need to do some shimming to get it to fit.

The removing of the can be done, but there is a chance to break the magnet. Bad thing: if a magnet it broken it cant be fixed.

The ceramic magnet is pushin the highs more than a A5. The result will be duller and, thinner but little more open.

I once got a extra thick A5, which was much stronger than a average A5. It come with a special overwound PAF. Next thing is: the brass baseplate of a DiMarzio is soundsucker. If you get a stainless steel baseplate for it, it would help to concentrate the magentic flux to the polepieces and push the highs.
 
Re: Super distortion to alnico5

since you guys already "influenced" me to open my p/up... i wonder if that 'Airbucker mod' is really worth to try..
 
Re: Super distortion to alnico5

would bring down the magentic strength, is weaking the field: softer atttack and less highs if this is what you want.......
 
Re: Super distortion to alnico5

I`ve tried it in a alder strat and mahogany strat. It was kinda of a dull tone with no character. Not as much sparkle and ballsy roar as a Super D with it`s ceramic mag but It didn`t sound scooped thru my rig. I`m pretty sure forums bro Ed Hunter tried it with a UOA5 so maybe he`ll chime in

yes thanks to you for sending the Super D to try. big thanks again for that 51501984!, anyway i prefered it stock, the 5 did indeed make it sound flat with no real sparkle or magic. some have said that the super D with a alnico 5 sounds like the peavey wolfgang bridge pup? I didnt hear that at all when i tried it.. if you feel it is too hot in it's stock form then try lowering it a good bit from the strings like EVH used his. this makes it much tamer and better IMHO. A classic example of what the super d sounds like set low from the strings with the right guitar/amp is eruption.:headbang:
 
Re: Super distortion to alnico5

+1 SD low away from strings : sounds like Eruption.

when i first tried SD it was okay, but took it out.. then i was telling a fellow metal enthusiast how i found Mick Mars guitar tone(s) on TooFastForLove to be unbeatably dangerous sounding. Hearing myself say this, i thought i should put my money where mouth is and try the SuperDist if thats what Mars used, so i put it in again, it sounded horrible but i knew this isnt the legendary tone others heard, so i fiddled and fiddled, and without really noticing, i felt juiced cuz the strings were getting this familiar chewy-ness, and motorcyclesque purr, couple of 70s flashbacks... when i was done, the bass string side was VERY low, but I LUUUVVVV the SuperDist now!

(im not IN love, i think its ok to play other pickups)
 
Last edited:
Re: Super distortion to alnico5

SuperD is one of my favorite bridge pups. Never tried the A5 thing, don't think I need to because it sounds great as it is. Its the only ceramic I've tried that's dynamic and chewy. The SH5 is good too, but not as thick and chewy as the SD.
 
Back
Top