What magnet to get more midrange out of a 59 in neck position?

[GrabtharsHammer]

Hey folks,

I am considering to buy a new magnet for my Seymour Duncan 59 Neck. I would like the pickup to have a more emphasized midrange, sweetened highs and less boomy bass. I am not a shredder, but I like slow, atmospheric lead guitar playing and want a sound that stays "sweet", defined and singing even with higher gain settings. The guitar is a PRS SE with mahogony body.

The 59 has an Alnico 5 which seems to have scooped mids and I am not sure if I should get an A2 or A4 instead. What are your recommendations? What magnet would be the best option to get more midrange out of the pickup?

From what I've already read, I think the A2 could suit me fine. But I am not so sure if it would exaggerate the 59's boomy low end even more and if it would keep a defined sound even at high gain settings. Perhaps the A4 would result in a more "controlled" and defined sound?!

 

[OsvyRock]

Re: What magnet to get more midrange out of a 59 in neck position?

Alnico V Roughcast Magnet (like/or the Whole Lotta Humbucker pickup).

 

[LtKojak]

Re: What magnet to get more midrange out of a 59 in neck position?

What magnet would be the best option to get more midrange out of the pickup?

A4 is your best bet, followed by UOA5 and A3.

While not being as boomy as with the stock A5, I personally find the A2 a bit too dark in the '59n, but it works great in the bridge with a '59b, specially with an A3 in the neck.

I'm actually using this very mag set in a '59 set in an ES-339 as we speak. Great tone for Smooth Jazz, Fusion, Blues and all-around Pop music.

You didn't say what are you using in the bridge, though. You might need to change that as well, to keep a good "both-on" position.

HTH,

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: What magnet to get more midrange out of a 59 in neck position?

Alnico V Roughcast Magnet.

That would be my favorite. It's what I put in all of my 59's and Seth Lovers, both old and new.

The stock magnet is polished, and going with roughcast will round the treble, thicken and add texture to the mids and soften the bass the little.

But if that doesn't do it, then the OP should try an Unoriented A5 magnet and if that doesn't do it, try an Alnico 2 both in roughcast and polished.

I'd buy 'em all...just in case.

Heck, get an Alnico 4 while you're at it. I wouldn't want it in my only guitar, but some do, and magnets are cheap.

The 59 will lose a little output with A2 but you'll get the smoothest treble, the most manageable bass and the most mids with an A2 magnet.

IMO, of course.

 

[GrabtharsHammer]

Re: What magnet to get more midrange out of a 59 in neck position?

Hmm, I was just thinking, an Alnico 4 roughcast could be an option, too.

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: What magnet to get more midrange out of a 59 in neck position?

Hmm, I was just thinking, an Alnico 4 roughcast could be an option, too.

It's worth a try. Like I said, try them all until you get closest to what you're looking for.

I would not want alnico 4 in my only guitar. But you might.

I'd start with Roughcast A5 tho. Then, if that's close but I wanted to take it further in that same direction, I'd try Unoriented A5.

 

[vinnie1971]

Re: What magnet to get more midrange out of a 59 in neck position?

That would be my favorite. It's what I put in all of my 59's and Seth Lovers, both old and new.

The stock magnet is polished, and going with roughcast will round the treble, thicken and add texture to the mids and soften the bass the little.

But if that doesn't do it, then the OP should try an Unoriented A5 magnet and if that doesn't do it, try an Alnico 2 both in roughcast and polished.

I'd buy 'em all...just in case.

Heck, get an Alnico 4 while you're at it. I wouldn't want it in my only guitar, but some do, and magnets are cheap.

The 59 will lose a little output with A2 but you'll get the smoothest treble, the most manageable bass and the most mids with an A2 magnet.

IMO, of course.

It's expensive but worth trying them all, if even try roughcast A8 in the bridge and polished A8 in the neck - just for fun


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[Demanic]

Re: What magnet to get more midrange out of a 59 in neck position?

A4 all the way.

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[GrabtharsHammer]

Re: What magnet to get more midrange out of a 59 in neck position?

A4 all the way.

Could you explain why you prefer the A4?

I want my 59 to sound as smooth, sweet and singing as possible. From what magnet can I expect a more prominent and rich midrange? A2, A4, A4 RC?

The 59 neck seems to have a quite high output with the stock A5 magnet and I have to set it really, really low to get a good balance with the Custom in the bridge position. So I guess I would prefer a less strong magnet than the A5.

 

[vinnie1971]

Re: What magnet to get more midrange out of a 59 in neck position?

A4 has a flat EQ and is often likened to between A2 and A5. I like it. It's got the warmth and upper mid focus of A2 plus the tight bass of A5. It's strength is more than A2 and less than A5.


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[daenius]

Re: What magnet to get more midrange out of a 59 in neck position?

Keep in mind that if you do go A2, you'll get some output drop. If you don't want that you should take Pepe's advice of A4.

 

[lemonman]

Re: What magnet to get more midrange out of a 59 in neck position?

I would recommend A4 for what the OP wants; A4 59N is a great combo.

 

[AlexR]

Re: What magnet to get more midrange out of a 59 in neck position?

Keep in mind that if you do go A2, you'll get some output drop. If you don't want that you should take Pepe's advice of A4.

Be aware that the eq has a far bigger tonal shift in interacting with your amp. In fact scooped mags like A5 that are stronger are more likely to be lost in a mix than something weaker but with mids. The mids also is where speakers and amp drive lives too.

I've yet to notice huge output changes with swaps of the A2 through 5 range - unless the pickup itself has some form of eq hump.

 

[Mincer]

Re: What magnet to get more midrange out of a 59 in neck position?

I seriously dig roughcast magnets. I use one in a 59/Custom hybrid with double screws. I would also try an A2. Magnets are cheap, so it is always a blast to try different ones.

 

[GrabtharsHammer]

Re: What magnet to get more midrange out of a 59 in neck position?

Thanks for all your suggestions!

I just ordered an A2 and a roughcast A4.

 

[SJ318]

Re: What magnet to get more midrange out of a 59 in neck position?

HI,
Roughcast A4 or roughcast A5 ( unoriented I haven't tried ).
But the RC A5 and the RC A4 I really like. There was a while where I went mag crazy and went through in my Seth as a constant pickup, a polished A2 (disliked) A3 (couldn't hear the difference like Kojak can) RC A4 (really loved that one, thought I was done) polished A5 (a little too sharp on the highs) RC A8 (too much for me all around, but others love it) My WLH I got a couple months ago or so came with a RC A5 and it is beautiful. You can go from Peter Green to BB King, it is very versatile.
Bought some more RC A5's and tried them in a Seth, liked it better than the RC A4 in there so I am really a fan of RC A5's
for now.
I bought a couple mags from addictionFX that said "PAF". When I got them they weren't marked so I called and the guy at FX said they were UO RC A5. I asked about the un-oriented part and got no real answer except the guy said: that is what we think is in all the great PAF's. That was all he knew, couldn't explain the diff from RC A5 to UO RC5.
So maybe someone here can give me a run down on RC A5's and RC UO A5.
I realize this is the horse most beat to death on all of God's green forums.
Thanks,
Steve B. ....ps: 59/Custom is a great pickup, and I would love to hear it with a RC A5 instead of the polished A5 it comes with.

 

[LtKojak]

Re: What magnet to get more midrange out of a 59 in neck position?

maybe someone here can give me a run down on RC A5's and RC UO A5

Start Wikipedia, type "alnico" and look for "isotropic" (UnOriented) and "Anisotropic" (Oriented).

It's all there. Roughcast, sandcast and polished are just the magnets' finishing choices.

For the record: against what's supposed to be all good and Holy and certainly against most people's beliefs, finishing can not really be tied as the source of "tone differencies" in magnets. Depending how the annealing process is performed, talking about the same alnico GRADE, (meaning A2, A3, etc) a Roughcast mag can be made to be sharp enough to cut your teeth in half and a polished one be sweet, round and smooth as a baby's rump.

HTH,

 

[Demanic]

Re: What magnet to get more midrange out of a 59 in neck position?

If you want smooth sweet and singing, then you want A4.

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[EmiAba]

Re: What magnet to get more midrange out of a 59 in neck position?

As already suggested A4 is the best choice for your 59n. I have it (polished) in one of my Les Paul and it is nearly perfect. It lets more of the pickup and guitar tone come thru. Its flat EQ does not push in any direction, and this is its best quality. A4 wipes out the boominess. Great notes separation and great dynamic response.
The best pickup I have ever tried in a les paul.

 

[thebowl]

Re: What magnet to get more midrange out of a 59 in neck position?

Where can these be sourced? I see limited selection on StewMac and Mojo Tone.