WLH bridge magnet swap

slightly_rude

New member
I installed a WLH set in my '68 LP Custom about two weeks ago and trying to keep an open mind about them, giving it some time. I really like the neck pickup a lot but the bridge is just not doing it for me. I realize that the wind and the rough cast A5 are supposed to accentuate the B & high E and it does.. so much it just grates on my ears...on any amp I plug into. Some of this is this particular guitar. Has anyone tried a different mag in the WLH bridge? I'm thinking A2 or A4. I use rough cast A4's in a few Duncan Customs but in the WLH I'm thinking it would be close to the stock rough cast A5. What say you WLH users?
 
Re: WLH bridge magnet swap

Have not done it, but I agree it can get grating...some days I love it, some days it drives me nuckin futs...next day I love it again...a4 or uoa5 for the bridge would be where I start...

If you have 50s wiring, try going middle position, keep bridge full blast and drop neck volume to 3-4...beefs things up and tames the harsh a bit while still maintaining clarity..

Neck is very good as is, and probably not worth messing with, IMO
 
Re: WLH bridge magnet swap

I know you have probably already tried this, but they are pretty sensitive to height adjustment. I found my usual "slope the bass side down, raise up the treble side" that I typically do with bridge humbuckers gave me a lot more 'kerrrang' than I wanted. I ended up setting it pretty level and its not a problem now.
 
Re: WLH bridge magnet swap

I would not change a thing about that pickup.
Maybe lower the pole pieces, but beyond that, if you don't like it, then perhaps it is just a sound that just does not complement your guitar's natural acoustic resonance.
 
Re: WLH bridge magnet swap

I don't know, a UOA5 will shave a bit off the top and bottom, but not too much, and boost the mids just a bit.
 
Re: WLH bridge magnet swap

Use your tone knob.

There's much troof here.

With 50s wiring, I roll the tone back to about 7 and it kills alot of the spike on the bridge. Roll it back up when needed.

The WLH set is super responsive to controls and 50s wiring. I think people are doing themselves a disservice if they are not using it.
 
Re: WLH bridge magnet swap

I'd say to try everything mentioned here (50s wiring, tone knob, UOA5 magnet) but in the end, it just might not work in a big block of mahogany from almost 50 years ago. Some great pickups don't work in all guitars, so you just might need to use another pickup.
 
Re: WLH bridge magnet swap

I have been known to angle my bridge pickups with the bass side higher than the treble side and opposite for the neck pickup (bass side down and treble side up). I do that if rolling back the tone doesn't work.

I fiddle with the tone knob all of the time these days... I even do it with bass. lolz!

I used to a be a tone up on 10 sort of dude but I've mellowed to desire a darker and more smokey tone as I've aged.

FWIW, I use nickel wrap strings with my WLH, it's a softer slightly darker tone but with a nice crisp attack.
 
Re: WLH bridge magnet swap

Yeah, I think pure nickel will help soften up the midrange and focus the high end a bit. I used classic slinkys on my Les paul for a year but when I switched out the t tops for the wlh I also went to nps to improve longevity on the wounds. I should give them a try again..
 
Re: WLH bridge magnet swap

All good suggestions but I've been there. I use either Gibson VR10 or D'addario EPN110's strings. I've tried 50's wiring on several guitars over the years and always go back to modern. I like the tone to warm up when I roll the volume down and modern does that better than 50's. As for the "tone" control, I'm using 500k log taper CTS's in all positions and on the particular LP, a 0.033uf cap on the bridge tone as the 0.022uf has even less of effect on this LP. I can roll it down to about 5 or 6 but then the tone shift is too much and those exaggerated high mids are still there. I had a WCR Godwood in the bridge of this LP prior to the WLH and it sounded similar, just hotter. It can very well be the guitar itself. It's a beast at 10lbs. I'm going to try a rough cast A4 this weekend. Thanks everyone for the replies and advice.
 
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Re: WLH bridge magnet swap

All good suggestions but I've been there. I use either Gibson VR10 or D'addario EPN110's strings. I've tried 50's wiring on several guitars over the years and always go back to modern. I like the tone to warm up when I roll the volume down and modern does that better than 50's. As for the "tone" control, I'm using 500k log taper CTS's in all positions and on the particular LP, a 0.033uf cap on the bridge tone as the 0.022uf has even less of effect on this LP. I can roll it down to about 5 or 6 but then the tone shift is too much and those exaggerated high mids are still there. I had a WCR Godwood in the bridge of this LP prior to the WLH and it sounded similar, just hotter. It can very well be the guitar itself. It's a beast at 10lbs. I'm going to try a rough cast A4 this weekend. Thanks everyone for the replies and advice.

Yup.could just be a fundamental mismatch with a bright guitar. I'd probably try something a2, based on what you posted above.
 
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