Thinking of what do with my 59n J Pickup...

[darthphineas]

Re: Thinking of what do with my 59n J Pickup...

Here are some photos of the original Seymour Duncan baseplate...

Darth Phineas, help me out here!
I believe this one should do the trick... http://www.mojotone.com/Pickups_x/P...enter-Hole-Frame-Nickel-Silver-49-2mm?whence=
49.2MM Nickel Silver. Looks very similar to the original Seymour Duncan baseplate too, compared to... http://www.mojotone.com/Pickups_x/PickupParts_x/Humbucker-Short-Leg-Frame-Nickel-Silver-49-2mm

Please let me know if I'm on the right track and that's the baseplate to buy. I really want to replace the brass one installed right now in my pickup. I noticed the sound EQ changed when ''fixed'', played it that way a few years, but now is when I can really feel what is missing. It's getting ''drowned out'', tamed, and muddy compared to the SH-5

Take your info and call Mojotone. They supply pickup parts to more pickup companies than pickup companies want to admit, so they will most likely hear what you are doing and won't even need the specs.

If you do decided to direct mount a pickup, check your local hardware store for some #2 wood screws. Smaller places like Ace will have them. They won't mess with the existing threads.

Or if you want to go really hardcore, seek out some of these:http://assets.rockler.com/media/cat...3525d08d6e5fb8d27136e95/3/3/33191-01-1000.jpg in 3-38 thread to insert into the cavity for direct mount without teaming out the baseplate holes.

 

[GuitarDoc]

Re: Thinking of what do with my 59n J Pickup...

After reading your last post, I second the idea of an A4. You won't lose bass or treble. You will get mids that fit with the bass and treble.

Sent from my MotoE2(4G-LTE) using Tapatalk

Actually, you WILL lose some bass going from an A5 to an A4. You also will gain some mids making it sound like you've lost highs and lows. It certainly is relative, but still, there is indeed some loss of bass with the increased mids when going to an A4. The A4 is a more tonally balanced magnet than the A5.

 

[OsvyRock]

Re: Thinking of what do with my 59n J Pickup...

Actually, you WILL lose some bass going from an A5 to an A4. You also will gain some mids making it sound like you've lost highs and lows. It certainly is relative, but still, there is indeed some loss of bass with the increased mids when going to an A4. The A4 is a more tonally balanced magnet than the A5.

Somehow your description reminds me of what supposedly happens with a Whole Lotta (neck) Humbucker compared to a normal 59'n.

 

[OsvyRock]

Re: Thinking of what do with my 59n J Pickup...

UPDATE: NOV 28 2016

Hello guys! I hope you're doing well!
I'm thinking of finally doing the baseplate change. I was also thinking of re-magnetizing the pickup's magnet.
It's a early 90's 59n J, I purchased used here on the forum. Don't know if due to time-aging or the baseplate change to brass, the pickup really feels very mellow, ''tamed down'', and lower output than the SH-5 in the bridge position. YES! I do know the 59' is a lower output pickup, but it feels kinda ''pushed back'' a little bit. Don't know if that's normal in 59' necks. Never played a brand new one before.

While the pickup sustains like crazy and sounds very smooth/mellow, I was wondering if re-magnetizing it would make it pair better to the SH-5.
Baseplate change + re-magnetizing, Baseplate Change only or should I fix and rewind the whole thing via the Custom Shop?

Would like to hear your opinions!

 

[darthphineas]

Re: Thinking of what do with my 59n J Pickup...

Brass can/will do that.

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: Thinking of what do with my 59n J Pickup...

Nickel silver baseplates are about $10 from Addiction FX. A roughcast A5 magnet is about $4. but I doubt that you need one.

My 90's 59's sound about as strong as my new 59's that I replaced the polished A5 magnets and put new roughcast A5 magnets in.

The complaints about new 59's being bass and treble heavy is almost 100% due to Duncan switching the roughcast A5 magnet to a polished A5 magnet a decade or more ago.

The polished magnet either increases the bass and treble and scoops the mids...or scoops the mids so significantly that it makes it sound like it's increased the bass and treble. I don't know which but the change wasn't for the better.

In any any case, if your 59n already has a roughcast A5 magnet you probably don't need to replace it, especially if you're trying to get back to the original sound...although you sure can give it a try and see what you think.

 

[TRex]

Re: Thinking of what do with my 59n J Pickup...

I was just about to.

Being "bass heavy" is a common complaint about the 59 in the neck. The stock A5 magnet gives the 59 its bright highs and big boomy bass. Putting an A4 magnet in it should lose some of that bass and make it a bit more articulate.

Not always...

A4 in my 59n made it seem..farty.. everything seemed fuzzy, the highs felt unexsistant.

 

[darthphineas]

Re: Thinking of what do with my 59n J Pickup...

49.2 long leg - $4.50

http://www.mojotone.com/Pickups_x/P...Humbucker-Long-Leg-Frame-Nickel-Silver-49-2mm





49.2 short leg - $5.15

http://www.mojotone.com/Pickups_x/PickupParts_x/Humbucker-Short-Leg-Frame-Nickel-Silver-49-2mm

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: Thinking of what do with my 59n J Pickup...

Not always...

A4 in my 59n made it seem..farty.. everything seemed fuzzy, the highs felt unexsistant.

I don't love A4. But to me the mids lack thickness and density with A4 and that makes the guitar sound steely.

I've only owned A4 Tom Holmes pickups though. Never owned an A4 Duncan.

But to me, Clapton's tone with the Bluesbreakers sounds like A4.

And Clapton's tone with Cream sounds more like A2 or Roughcast A5.

 

[OsvyRock]

Re: Thinking of what do with my 59n J Pickup...

Brass can/will do that.

49.2 long leg - $4.50

http://www.mojotone.com/Pickups_x/P...Humbucker-Long-Leg-Frame-Nickel-Silver-49-2mm





49.2 short leg - $5.15

http://www.mojotone.com/Pickups_x/PickupParts_x/Humbucker-Short-Leg-Frame-Nickel-Silver-49-2mm

Nickel silver baseplates are about $10 from Addiction FX. A roughcast A5 magnet is about $4. but I doubt that you need one.

My 90's 59's sound about as strong as my new 59's that I replaced the polished A5 magnets and put new roughcast A5 magnets in.

The complaints about new 59's being bass and treble heavy is almost 100% due to Duncan switching the roughcast A5 magnet to a polished A5 magnet a decade or more ago.

The polished magnet either increases the bass and treble and scoops the mids...or scoops the mids so significantly that it makes it sound like it's increased the bass and treble. I don't know which but the change wasn't for the better.

In any any case, if your 59n already has a roughcast A5 magnet you probably don't need to replace it, especially if you're trying to get back to the original sound...although you sure can give it a try and see what you think.

Thanks for your answer Darth Phineas & Lewguitar. So according to your replies, I should only replace the brass baseplate, install a new silver baseplate, and already will be set! I quite can't remember anything I disliked about the 59nJ, 5 months before the incident (when the humbucker was stock). I asked about the re-magnetizing part because I thought the humbucker could have lose some ''sparkle'' between the 90's and the present date. The pickup may definitely be more than 23 years old!

Since it's a ''J'' humbucker, I plan to leave the stock magnet on. I was just wondering if re-magnetizing could be worth it.

 

[darthphineas]

Re: Thinking of what do with my 59n J Pickup...

start with the baseplate. give it a listen for a week or so before making any other decisions.

 

[OsvyRock]

59nJ UPDATE!

59nJ UPDATE!

High everybody and Happy 2017!
I'm writing to give you all an update on my situation.
I managed to send the pickup to the Seymour Duncan Custom Shop in Santa Barbara.
Excellent help from forum member Mincer, Seymour Duncan's Twitter (Social Media Team) and Arwin at the Seymour Duncan Factory.
You all helped me out along the way! Thanks!
Pickup was sent for remagnetization + baseplate replacement (and I'm kinda sure I got a little extra)...





MJ worked with my 59nJ Humbucker personally. I kept the original baseplate as a souvenir with me here, but I'm sure she inspected it and saw that it truly was a 59nJ (with a cheap brassplate installed). She even wrote my name, signed my pickup, and made it a Custom Shop model!

Really happy for the attention to detail, outstanding Customer Service, and everything. This means much to me, (even the Custom Shop box with my name on).
Thank You MJ! As a Seymour Duncan pickups fan and a a rocker at heart, I understand you have contributed to the guitar tone of many amazing musicians I personally admire.
I appreciate the gesture and won't take it for granted!

PS. Will be reviewing the pickup soon! Let's see what new music and tone I can get out it now!

 

[Rnyannamirab]

cool