T-top clone with long A5 ?
- Thread starter jasyr
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Chistopher
malapterurus electricus tonewood instigator
Re: T-top clone with long A5 ?
Short bar magnets make little difference in output and tone. Notice I didn't say no difference. You may prefer a long bar magnet to the short bar, but if the pickup isn't doing much for you, a fraction of a centemeter of metal won't fix it. The difference might be a slight cut in the high, but the voicing of the guitar won't change.
Short bar magnets make little difference in output and tone. Notice I didn't say no difference. You may prefer a long bar magnet to the short bar, but if the pickup isn't doing much for you, a fraction of a centemeter of metal won't fix it. The difference might be a slight cut in the high, but the voicing of the guitar won't change.
Discharged
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Re: T-top clone with long A5 ?
/Peter
The difference is a little bit less mid-lows. The highs remain the same.
/Peter
Lewguitar
New member
Re: T-top clone with long A5 ?
Best neck humbucker I ever owned was a T-Top that someone had used to replace the neck pickup in a 1960 ES-355.
I used that guitar all through the 70’s and 80’s...all during the disco era for R&B and funk and Crusaders style jazz.
That was the only T-Top that I’ve ever owned that sounded better to me than a 50’s PAF.
Others I tried weren’t special like that one.
It was so lively and breathy and made me sound like Larry Carlton!
Best neck humbucker I ever owned was a T-Top that someone had used to replace the neck pickup in a 1960 ES-355.
I used that guitar all through the 70’s and 80’s...all during the disco era for R&B and funk and Crusaders style jazz.
That was the only T-Top that I’ve ever owned that sounded better to me than a 50’s PAF.
Others I tried weren’t special like that one.
It was so lively and breathy and made me sound like Larry Carlton!
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Chistopher
malapterurus electricus tonewood instigator
Re: T-top clone with long A5 ?
That even further proves my point, the potential differences in a particular batch of magnets can be greater than the differences imparted by a different magnet length. But of course, YMMV.
That even further proves my point, the potential differences in a particular batch of magnets can be greater than the differences imparted by a different magnet length. But of course, YMMV.
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Re: T-top clone with long A5 ?
The difference between a short and a long A5 magnet bar, poured by the same foundry to the same recipe is audible, in certain cases some have compared'em to the effect produced by slanting the 6th string p'up side by ca. 2 mm. Which I find to be " a lot", specially what I've myself experienced the effect of a 1/4 of turn of the screw can have in certain p'ups with certain low-powered mags like the A3 in the neck position.
When I put the same alnico grade in both the neck and bridge p'up, I usually use a short mag for the neck and the long for the bridge, but I'll give it to you that we're cruising deep in cork-sniffer territory.
/Peter
With today's technology, the ISO 9000- complaint foundries found all over the world, using mass spectometers and computer controlled annealing process, the difference in batches of the same Alnico grade has become close to inexistent.
The difference between a short and a long A5 magnet bar, poured by the same foundry to the same recipe is audible, in certain cases some have compared'em to the effect produced by slanting the 6th string p'up side by ca. 2 mm. Which I find to be " a lot", specially what I've myself experienced the effect of a 1/4 of turn of the screw can have in certain p'ups with certain low-powered mags like the A3 in the neck position.
When I put the same alnico grade in both the neck and bridge p'up, I usually use a short mag for the neck and the long for the bridge, but I'll give it to you that we're cruising deep in cork-sniffer territory.
/Peter
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Aceman
I am your doctor of love!
Re: T-top clone with long A5 ?
I too have a T-Top in a Les Paul neck spot that is sacred. The rest are are Meh. Agin, playing Maiden and Priest and such, MM may have V'd
I too have a T-Top in a Les Paul neck spot that is sacred. The rest are are Meh. Agin, playing Maiden and Priest and such, MM may have V'd
beaubrummels
Well-known member
Re: T-top clone with long A5 ?
Wonder if that explains why the T-Tops guys like tend to be in the neck position.
With today's technology, the ISO 9000- complaint foundries found all over the world, using mass spectometers and computer controlled annealing process, the difference in batches of the same Alnico grade has become close to inexistent.
The difference between a short and a long A5 magnet bar, poured by the same foundry to the same recipe is audible, in certain cases some have compared'em to the effect produced by slanting the 6th string p'up side by ca. 2 mm. Which I find to be " a lot", specially what I've myself experienced the effect of a 1/4 of turn of the screw can have in certain p'ups with certain low-powered mags like the A3 in the neck position.
When I put the same alnico grade in both the neck and bridge p'up, I usually use a short mag for the neck and the long for the bridge, but I'll give it to you that we're cruising deep in cork-sniffer territory.
/Peter
Wonder if that explains why the T-Tops guys like tend to be in the neck position.
eclecticsynergy
Well-known member
Re: T-top clone with long A5 ?
I love T-tops at the neck too. Not as fond of them at the bridge, though I used to be. Have been spoiled by having so many choices these days.
OP, you might contact Mick at Manlius; he makes a T-top type as well as a hotter version called the Vinyl. He might have some insight he'd be willing to share.
I love T-tops at the neck too. Not as fond of them at the bridge, though I used to be. Have been spoiled by having so many choices these days.
OP, you might contact Mick at Manlius; he makes a T-top type as well as a hotter version called the Vinyl. He might have some insight he'd be willing to share.
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Re: T-top clone with long A5 ?
An A2-modded '59 bridge is a good p'up to match to a T-Top in the neck. Or, a 490R in the bridge position is a good match too.
/Peter
Well, the design itself doesn't really work that well in the bridge position. In average, I find'em shrill and anemic in that position. You need to put'em through an OD pedal to counter the inherent shrilness and anemy. Or, to use an A6 or A8 magnet, at least as a palliative, although the tonefootprint will anyway shine through.
An A2-modded '59 bridge is a good p'up to match to a T-Top in the neck. Or, a 490R in the bridge position is a good match too.
/Peter
Lewguitar
New member
Re: T-top clone with long A5 ?
When I think of T-Tops I think of Larry Carlton and his ‘68 or ‘69 ES-335.
He played all those sessions and played all those solos and rhythm parts for Steely Dan, the Crusaders, Tom Scott, Joni Mitchell and countless other artists with the stock T-Tops in his ES-335.
When I think of T-Tops I think of Larry Carlton and his ‘68 or ‘69 ES-335.
He played all those sessions and played all those solos and rhythm parts for Steely Dan, the Crusaders, Tom Scott, Joni Mitchell and countless other artists with the stock T-Tops in his ES-335.
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Re: T-top clone with long A5 ?
Well, Larry has a #2 '68 335 that a fan gave him as a gift, which hosts an original '50s PAF set, acquired at Gruhn's, and installed by Larry's tech, Rick Wheeler. That guitar has too had really many hit records under its belt as well.
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Discharged
New member
Re: T-top clone with long A5 ?
/Peter
It'll be quite a bit louder, but it'll lose the "vintage" vibe. The strongest mag I'd use in a T-Top for the bridge position is an A6.
/Peter
audiocheck
New member
Re: T-top clone with long A5 ?
Kind of what makes me want to stay away from the Saturday Night Special set. Not sure this set is anything close to T-Tops, but the whole 70's vibe thing scares me because of my experiences in the late 70's. First pickups I pulled out of my guitar were T-Tops. compared to the Tim Shaws I had in another LP, the T-Tops were blah. Once I put a PGb and a 59n in place of the T-Tops, the Shaw's couldn't compare.
Kind of what makes me want to stay away from the Saturday Night Special set. Not sure this set is anything close to T-Tops, but the whole 70's vibe thing scares me because of my experiences in the late 70's. First pickups I pulled out of my guitar were T-Tops. compared to the Tim Shaws I had in another LP, the T-Tops were blah. Once I put a PGb and a 59n in place of the T-Tops, the Shaw's couldn't compare.
audiocheck
New member
Re: T-top clone with long A5 ?
Technically anything from about 65 onward in Gibson humbuckers is a T-top......tonally. The t came with the retooled bobbins in 67.
Technically anything from about 65 onward in Gibson humbuckers is a T-top......tonally. The t came with the retooled bobbins in 67.
hydro
Prayin' to Cheeses
Re: T-top clone with long A5 ?
I have a Manlius t-top clone (bridge) in a '79 custom, which I really like. When I got the guitar it had a burstbucker in the bridge (original t-tops were gone) but the guitar played a little too smooth and I wanted a more aggressive sound, and the Manlius t-top got it there.
I have a Manlius t-top clone (bridge) in a '79 custom, which I really like. When I got the guitar it had a burstbucker in the bridge (original t-tops were gone) but the guitar played a little too smooth and I wanted a more aggressive sound, and the Manlius t-top got it there.
