what if i put alnico5 magnets in my gibsons?

[Chickenwings]

Hey all - how would alnico 5 magnets affect the sound if I took the original alnico 2's out of my gibson classic 57's.

 

[cream123]

Re: what if i put alnico5 magnets in my gibsons?

everyone else correct me if I'm wrong, but they'd be warmer

 

[fenderiarhs]

Re: what if i put alnico5 magnets in my gibsons?

slightly off topic.......i recently changed tha magnets in my les paul classic pickups (500T, 496R). I used an alnico 5 for the neck pickup and an alnico 2 for the 500T. While there is a big improvement on the 496R the 500T still sounds bad.......even with the A2 is quite trebly, less than with the ceramic magnet but i still do not consider it as a pickup worth keeping.......

 

[blueman335]

Re: what if i put alnico5 magnets in my gibsons?

everyone else correct me if I'm wrong, but they'd be warmer

You're wrong, they'd be brighter. Hey, you had a 50/50 shot of being right....

 

[blueman335]

Re: what if i put alnico5 magnets in my gibsons?

slightly off topic.......i recently changed tha magnets in my les paul classic pickups (500T, 496R). I used an alnico 5 for the neck pickup and an alnico 2 for the 500T. While there is a big improvement on the 496R the 500T still sounds bad.......even with the A2 is quite trebly, less than with the ceramic magnet but i still do not consider it as a pickup worth keeping.......

I have a bunch of Gibson PU's (bought them cheap, used). I've pulled the A2's out of every one of the neck PU's. Too dark, dull, and lifeless for me (although some guys love them). A5's brought mine to life. Major improvement. On certain guitars, an A4 or A3 would also work very well in the neck.

On the Gibson bridge PU's, the 498T varies from "bright" to "very bright." I normally use 250K pots to tame the high end. On some I also use an A4, which gives a nice tone on some, but is too compressed on others (variation in the PU windings). I put an A8 in a 500T (also with 250K's), and that gave it some nice color. On the PAF type Gibson bridge HB's, I prefer A4's & A3's for warmth & a more balanced EQ.

Sometimes just changing one element will do the trick, but other times you need to tinker with more variables.

 

[Chickenwings]

Re: what if i put alnico5 magnets in my gibsons?

would they (the '57s) be louder with a5's?

 

[LtKojak]

Re: what if i put alnico5 magnets in my gibsons?

would they (the '57s) be louder with a5's?

Not likely.

HTH,

Pepe aka Lt. Kojak
Milano, Italy

 

[cream123]

Re: what if i put alnico5 magnets in my gibsons?

You're wrong, they'd be brighter. Hey, you had a 50/50 shot of being right....

poop....i edited to say warmer too....

 

[Empty Pockets]

Re: what if i put alnico5 magnets in my gibsons?

I think the rule of thumb is that A5 has more lows and highs whereas A2 has more mids.

 

[blueman335]

Re: what if i put alnico5 magnets in my gibsons?

I think the rule of thumb is that A5 has more lows and highs whereas A2 has more mids.

Yes. And you can use that to match your wood tones.

 

[Dirtyking]

Re: what if i put alnico5 magnets in my gibsons?

I put an A8 in a 500T (also with 250K's), and that gave it some nice color.

Can you give a little more detail on this magnet switch.

 

[Zhangliqun]

Re: what if i put alnico5 magnets in my gibsons?

would they (the '57s) be louder with a5's?

I disagree with Kojak. They would be just a bit louder and more top and bottom, assuming full or near-full charge.

 

[Chickenwings]

Re: what if i put alnico5 magnets in my gibsons?

Thanks fellas, I will repost when the magnets go in...

 

[fenderiarhs]

Re: what if i put alnico5 magnets in my gibsons?

speaking of magnet swapping, i always used it for my humbuckers but i have never thought of applying it to mini humbuckers. So is it something that can be done the same way as with the full spaced humbuckers?????.....Is the magnet on mini humbuckers the same as on their full sized brothers?????