What Magnets are in the Epiphone Alnico Classics?

LedSabbath

LedSabbath

New member
What type of alnico magnet is used in the Alnico Classic pickups (like A2, A3, A4, A5, A8, etc.)? I want to switch the magnet in my "57 Classic but i don't have the money to buy new magnets and I need to know if it is a A2 because if it is there is no use in changing it (as it already uses an A2 magnet). Please help and Thank You.
 
Re: What Magnets are in the Epiphone Alnico Classics?

The epi classic pups are all A5 as are the P90s.

Epi doesn't use any A2s (that I know of)

FYI putting an A2 in a Epi pickup would probably result in a muddy mess, unless one removes the block o' wax.
 
Re: What Magnets are in the Epiphone Alnico Classics?

JeffB said:
The epi classic pups are all A5 as are the P90s.

Epi doesn't use any A2s (that I know of)

FYI putting an A2 in a Epi pickup would probably result in a muddy mess, unless one removes the block o' wax.
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dude is that a of pic old uli roth in your avatar?:14:
 
Re: What Magnets are in the Epiphone Alnico Classics?

None other than the snaggle-toothed space child from Germany!
 
Re: What Magnets are in the Epiphone Alnico Classics?

I always thought it was A5. See here:

http://www.epiphone.com/default.asp?ProductID=44&CollectionID=6

I don't know why people talk about A2's in the neck of a Les Paul being muddy, though. The only time I ever get a hint of that is when I use a dirt pedal in front of my Deluxe Reverb RI. No matter how much I boost the mids with EQ or whatever, they just have no structure -- not at the lower pre-breakup volumes I'm playing at, anyway. Use a Marshall, as God intended, and there's no problem.

On the flip-side, I have experienced Mud City from A5 humbuckers in the same guitars, Marshall or not. The stock '59, for sure, and the Alnico Classics, which are burning in Hell as I type this.
 
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Re: What Magnets are in the Epiphone Alnico Classics?

"Muddy" usually has more to do with the wind, than the magnet. An A8 is clear as a bell in a PAF-type wind, it just has tighter bass and fatter mids than an A5.
 
Re: What Magnets are in the Epiphone Alnico Classics?

I was speaking relative to the Epi pickups themselves in combination with the more mid focused and treble light A2. Those epi neck pups are already muddy with A5, waxed or not.

I actually prefer A2 mag pups (Burstbucker 1, PGn) in the neck.
 
Re: What Magnets are in the Epiphone Alnico Classics?

JeffB said:
I was speaking relative to the Epi pickups themselves in combination with the more mid focused and treble light A2. Those epi neck pups are already muddy with A5, waxed or not.

I actually prefer A2 mag pups (Burstbucker 1, PGn) in the neck.
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What i was say was that I was going to put the Alnico classics magnet in th '%7 classic because it was so muddy.
 
Re: What Magnets are in the Epiphone Alnico Classics?

You'd think after all this time I'd start reading the OP once in a while.
 
Re: What Magnets are in the Epiphone Alnico Classics?

LedSabbath said:
What i was say was that I was going to put the Alnico classics magnet in th '%7 classic because it was so muddy.
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I know. I was making comments to other posters.

I answered your question in my first post.
 
Re: What Magnets are in the Epiphone Alnico Classics?

IanBallard said:
"Muddy" usually has more to do with the wind, than the magnet. An A8 is clear as a bell in a PAF-type wind, it just has tighter bass and fatter mids than an A5.
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Yep. An A2pro is not muddy, but a Gibson 490r is muddy mess.
 
Re: What Magnets are in the Epiphone Alnico Classics?

MattPete said:
Yep. An A2pro is not muddy, but a Gibson 490r is muddy mess.
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+1.

Epi uses A5's in almost everything. They have A2's in their new tradiional pro LP Std.

To improve the sound of your Epi '57 Classics, chip off the half pound of wax they're buried in. If it has an A2 mag in the neck, put in an A5 (I have spares). In the bridge use a warmer mag, like an A4, A8, or UOA5.
 
Re: What Magnets are in the Epiphone Alnico Classics?

Considering that Epi neck p'ups measure from 8.25K up to 8.7K, I'd say the only mag acceptable is the A3. In a coverless p'up, those covers are TONEKILLERS!

There are two choices: either using'em in the bridge position or throw'em to the trash bin, where they belong.

I have mod'em changing the magnets, baseplates, screws and slugs, NOTHING can make'em sound GOOD. After the modding were barely decent, but the cost of the mod was bigger than an used '59n. So I'll never do it again. I rather have a Tonerider Classic IV in the neck, if your budget is tight and there aren't any used '59s.

HTH,
 
Re: What Magnets are in the Epiphone Alnico Classics?

LedSab, if you have found an Epiphone electric guitar that plays nicely, feed it some American-made pickups and enjoy it.

IMO, the only thing to be gained in attempting mag swaps on the Epi '57 Classic is practice in decasing and dismantling before you ever attempt the same things on a serious pickup.
 
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