Help Me Pick the Right Magnets for a Swap

[Junk Yard Dog]

Need help trying different magnets in the pups I have before spending a lot more money on pups. I am just now learning about through the forums about the differences magnets can make for some humbuckers. I would assistance from those of you with experience swapping mags, and who know the nuances each type plays, especially if you know the pickups I have below.

I realize this will not CHANGE the pickup entirely, but it maybe do just enough to make me happy before I purchase all new pups.

I play an EVH 5153 and Modded JCM800. Hard rock ala GNR, COC, Crowes, Kravitz, AC/DC, Zep, Metallica, Weezer, etc.

Here goes...Please help me fill in the blanks.

Les Paul Trad Pro - All 500K Pots
Neck: Classic 57 (has A2) - currently too muddy, bassy, boomy. Would like a bit more clarity and treble.
Replace with _____________, because ________________
Bridge: Burstbucker 3 (has A2) - this pup kills me. SOO shrill with my amps, and I don't dig using tone knob. I'd like a bit less treble, the mids and bass are fine to me. It's a middy pup.
Replace with _____________, because ___________________

Schecter PT Standard - All 500K Pots
Neck: SD Alnico Pro II (has A2) - currently somewhat muddy, bassy, boomy. Would like a bit more clarity and treble.
Replace with _____________, because ________________
Bridge: Super Rock II (not sure what mag is in there now) - this is a pretty good pickup. Seems to have good, crisp highs, decent mids, not so great bass, so I'd like to keep the highs and mids, but get a bit more bass and power overall. Maybe an A8?
Replace with _____________, because ___________________

I do not know anything about "roughcast" or some of these other nuances. Hopefully this thread can also be another notch in the magnet swap educational belt for others, too.

Also, what size do I need? I see different sizes and options for ROUGH or POLISHED, and also MAGNETIZED or no. What are differences between these? What about ORIENTED and UNORIENTED? What's the difference?

Is there a definitive list out there that has the characteristics of each like the one below, which is just one dude's experience?

A2 - warm, rounded high end, lots of mids, not much treble, loose low end, lots of vintage dynamics, low output.

A3 - like an A2 but with more treble and less bass.

A4 - flat EQ, medium output. no big EQ push, which lets the PU's and wood's tones come thru.

A5 - bright, sharp high end, scooped mids, lots of bass. firm low end, relatively high output.

UOA5 - unoriented A5 - will sound like the middle ground between an A2 and A5, warm but with a little more treble than an A2, lots of dynamics, medium output.

A8 - warm, lots of mids, some treble but not an excess, firm low end, high output.

Cheers!

 

[moltenmetalburn]

Whoa, hard to digest this all.

Well I could give specifics but I'll say 2 has dark highs and lean lows so you won't darken any more by changing those.


The best advice I can give you is to buy one of each you don't have and do some swapping.

This is what I do. I keep one of each magnet I like around . When I get a new pickup if I don't like it at first I try all the mags before letting it go.

All magnets have a different flux and metallurgy they will all sound different

from each other. You just have to try them out.

I get mine from here:
https://www.ebay.com/usr/addiction-fx

 

[flimz]

Also remember when swapping mags, to give each one a couple days to charge fully. Dont judge it within the first 10 minutes.

 

[Junk Yard Dog]

Also remember when swapping mags, to give each one a couple days to charge fully. Dont judge it within the first 10 minutes.

Thanks!

 

[Junk Yard Dog]

Damn...OK, so it looks like I'm gonna get a

Duncan Custom for my LP Bridge. I'll get a Magnetized A3 for the LP Neck's Classic 57, but also a UOA5 roughcast to play with. I'll get two A8's, since I have a Custom 5 in my Strat, and I want a bit less bass from it and more mids.

I'll get another Duncan Custom for my Schecter PT and I'll try another A3 in the APH-2 neck of the PT.

...and I just read someone tried an A4 with a Classic 57 neck with successful results. They tried the A4, but did not care for it:

57 classic: This has been living in the neck of my LP for years and I've never been satisfied with it. Its too thick sounding in my LP, and I think the weaker A2 isn't helping things here. If the vol. and tone aren't on 10, it just sounds woofy, soft and undefined.

The first magnet I tried was the A3, thinking the weaker magnet and weaker bass response would help. That was not the case at all. It sounded like a weaker A2, and I quickly removed it.

Next was an A4. This is supposed to be stronger than an A2, more articulate, and neutral in response (which I was hoping would help with the bass and treble). This one REALLY brought out the best of the 57 classic. The sweet sound of the 57 is still there; its just noticeably more articulate. The highs are more present, but still rounded off. The low end is also there but there's much better string definition. I'm very happy with this one.

 

[university81]

just out of interest a side question, have you tried messing with the pole pieces height and pickup height ?

try raising the pole pieces and lowering the pickup
might be something to try before swapping magnets/pickups , recently did that on some of my guitars, made a nice difference in the mids and clarity

 

[Anonymous]

Also remember when swapping mags, to give each one a couple days to charge fully. Dont judge it within the first 10 minutes.

Thanks!

sorry. magnets dont "charge".

more like give your ears a few days to get used to the difference you're used to hearing.

 

[Junk Yard Dog]

just out of interest a side question, have you tried messing with the pole pieces height and pickup height ?

try raising the pole pieces and lowering the pickup
might be something to try before swapping magnets/pickups , recently did that on some of my guitars, made a nice difference in the mids and clarity

Yeah, what's the go with this. Do I lower the pup flush? Then, what pole pieces should I raise and how high?

Thx!

 

[flimz]

Also remember when swapping mags, to give each one a couple days to charge fully. Dont judge it within the first 10 minutes.

Thanks!

sorry. magnets dont "charge".

more like give your ears a few days to get used to the difference you're used to hearing.

Perhaps "charge" wasnt the correct word, but the new magnets WILL settle in to their new field strength over a day or so. Im sure I read that....somewhere.

 

[Anonymous]

Also remember when swapping mags, to give each one a couple days to charge fully. Dont judge it within the first 10 minutes.

Thanks!

sorry. magnets dont "charge".

more like give your ears a few days to get used to the difference you're used to hearing.

Perhaps "charge" wasnt the correct word, but the new magnets WILL settle in to their new field strength over a day or so. Im sure I read that....somewhere.

i'll kill you....


















with kindness...!