About to open the sonic can of worms that is magnet swapping

[jhale667]

I've been wanting to try magnet swaps in humbuckers for quite some time, and fortunately I just scored a bunch of A8 magnets cheap that will be here in a few days. So the hunt is now on for Trembucker Duncan Custom variant...any one, really - can be regular flavor (ceramic), Custom Custom (A2), or Custom 5 - it just has to be zebra to match the paint job on the Charvel rebuild I'm about to get finished. I was going to go the quickie route and order a Floor Shop Custom directly from Duncan but then stumbled on to the magnet deal. Too good to pass up, and if I like 'em I now have enough to do all the Customs (4 currently, two CCs, two ceramics) in my guitars, and still have enough to fool around with say a JB8, a '598 etc...this could be fun.

Wants. Non-logo'ed? Even better.

Whatever flavor I end up with is getting it's original magnet yanked and becoming a Custom 8... Also going to drop one in the main ceramic-equipped one I'm using right now - though I like the ceramic Custom (don't get me wrong), it can be a little snarly, and the A8 should calm that down. They're going to be the initial two test subjects.

There's a few tutorials out there that show how it's done, but here's a cool one from Project Guitar. com...

http://www.projectguitar.com/tut/barmagswap.htm

Anybody else here already tried it?

 

[troublehead]

I love magnet swapping for different flavors. That being said, I'm not a fan of the A8. I tried it in a Custom variant and it made it way too gritty in the mids. It did make the low end fuller if you are looking for that.

 

[jhale667]

I love magnet swapping for different flavors. That being said, I'm not a fan of the A8. I tried it in a Custom variant and it made it way too gritty in the mids. It did make the low end fuller if you are looking for that.

That's particularly what I'm looking for in the low end department as compared to say a CC, but not sure if I'll be into "too gritty" mids, though...guess I'll find out.

 

[jhale667]

I have never tried the A8, but I am a big fan of magnet swapping

The A8 may sound nice in the neck humbucker...for someone looking for a little more grit without getting too hot of a wind.

Cool~!

Interesting you should mention the neck position, that's the one place I've heard you should be careful w/A8s because apparently the string-pull from them in that slot can be a bit much. Actually I've heard (especially with the Custom 8) they're verrrry height-sensitive in the bridge position too; you may not need to have it as close to the strings as you're used to for the "sweet spot". I'm definitely excited to try it...

I have a Trembucker Jazz Neck I can try one in later, though...

And holy crap, that Ebay dude ships fast...! I got an email saying shipping info had been received Thursday afternoon, figured I'd get them maybe Monday or Tuesday at best...didn't realize he was only in AZ, but still - opened the mailbox today (well after starting this thread, my mailman is early if he shows up by 5pm...lol) and there they were...

 

[JohnnyC]

zebra = win.
my 1990 alder w/ maple topCE24 has zebras...

SD jazz in neck and what started of as a Custom in the bridge, but ive been down this magnet swapping path.
didnt like the A8, liked the A2 (actually owned/used a Custom Custom in another guitar) but loved the A5 which is what i currently have...so custom 5 (which on the SD site basically does what hte Custom says its supposed to)
the brittle highs are gone and sweet singing top end with the warmth and chunkyness

have fun experimenting.

 

[jhale667]

zebra = win.
my 1990 alder w/ maple topCE24 has zebras...
SD jazz in neck and what started of as a Custom in the bridge, but ive been down this magnet swapping path.
didnt like the A8, liked the A2 (actually owned/used a Custom Custom in another guitar) but loved the A5 which is what i currently have...so custom 5 (which on the SD site basically does what hte Custom says its supposed to)
the brittle highs are gone and sweet singing top end with the warmth and chunkyness

have fun experimenting.

Nice PRS. I think I'm going to. What didn't you like about the A8? Most reviews of the C5 I've read tend to suggest it'd be more scooped than I'd want (less mids than a CC, boomy not tight bass, etc). I have a couple of A5s floating around already, just had little interest in trying that combo first...in fact, you may be the first person I've seen on the boards refer to the C5's highs as "sweet". Interesting.

But if I don't like the A8 will try that next...

I actually like the Custom Custom - the highs aren't too harsh and there's a nice mid-thwack going on; if only the bass was a little tighter it'd probably be my ideal pickup of all I've tried thus far. Great lead voicing too.
I like the ceramic Custom too it's just a wee bit shrill IMO (at least in the main guitar I have it in). Seems I like the wind, just not sure I've found the "magic" magnet as far as it doing everything I want.

Oh, also funny - that Zebra TB pic I posted for reference (only, originally) was from an Ebay auction...put in what I thought was a low bid, won the thing... schweet!

 

[JohnnyC]

i found the A8 had too much characteristics of ceramic...but magnified/on steroids. Everything too hot in a bad way and i found it hard to get clarity with high gain.

i dont find hte Custom 5 too mid scooped at all. i my amp is mid heavy and so are my speakers so i like em.
the sweet highs i was refering to was in comparision to the Custom (ceramic) which was harsh and brittle in comparision.

to throw something else in...i found the
JB had the best lead tone...but not as good for rhythm chunk
Custom had the chunkiest rhythm but not soo good for lead
the custom 5...best inbetween
Custom Custom ...liked it in bright guitars (eg Ash w/maple cap + Ebony fretboard)

all...IMO of course.