software

I'm just curious what mag swaps might sound good.

Dr. Barlo has tried an A3 PGn...there are clips on the forum somewhere...he mated it with an A3 CCb...small difference in the PG, huge difference IMO, in the CC...there are clips on the forum.

A3 would probably make it sound even a little thinner and brighter. A4 would warm it up some. A8 would solve any and all problems with top-heaviness.

I've done the A2,A3,A4,and A5 magnet thing quite a bit...

In my 59N pickup...The A5 is powerful in output,lows are tight but boomy,and the highs are as prominent as the lows...
With the A4....The pickup has slightly less volume,less boom,just as tight and jangly and acts like the A5 magnet has aged over several years...

59 with an A2.... Slightly Less lows because of the overall eq shift,looser feel,softer note attack(spongier)more mids,less overall pickup output...I wouldn't ever say this pickup is muddy,but it isn't as direct,tight,and powerful like the A5 version...The A2 is sweet and round...The A5 is more direct,powerful and tight in the lows with prominent highs...

A2...Reminds me of what a tube rectifier does
A5...Reminds me of a SS rectifier amp.....Both examples explain the same amp.

A4 acts closer overall in character to an A5....
The A3 acts like an A2 magnet with slightly more output....Doc Barlo's clips could better explain the A2/A3 magnets,but I felt they were pretty close...I've used the A3 in cases where I didn't have an A2 magnet and nothing strikes me as being alot different between A2 and A3 that I can describe...

I do hear differences between the A4 and A5 and since I just did this swap,it's all very new and vivid to me...

Here's a tutorial I did a few years ago on the topic minus the A4 magnet...
from : localhost/www.projectguitar.com/tut/barmagswap.htm

Great tutorial, man. I need all the visual aids I can get!

gt;gt;With the A4....The pickup has slightly less volume,less boom,just as tight and jangly and acts like the A5 magnet has aged over several years...lt;lt;

I changed a A5 of a 1979 DiMarzio PAF with a A4. This DiMarzio A5 had much less pull on the fridge test than a brand new A5 from Allstar. The highs and the mids of the A4 are comparable to the aged A5, but the A4 had much more tighter bottom - just like it should be!! So, A4 more are much tighter than a aged A5 in my book. I would recommend an A4 to everyone who likes the cut of an A5 but with less boom.


Originally Posted by hamerfangt;gt;With the A4....The pickup has slightly less volume,less boom,just as tight and jangly and acts like the A5 magnet has aged over several years...lt;lt;

I changed a A5 of a 1979 DiMarzio PAF with a A4. This DiMarzio A5 had much less pull on the fridge test than a brand new A5 from Allstar. The highs and the mids of the A4 are comparable to the aged A5, but the A4 had much more tighter bottom - just like it should be!! So, A4 more are much tighter than a aged A5 in my book. I would recommend an A4 to everyone who likes the cut of an A5 but with less boom.

Your finding is different from mine..I didn't find the tone any tighter...Normally the tightness factor lessens as you drop lower on the Alnico numbers...Lower Alnico numbers means weaker magnets...

Please keep in mind it was 26 years old A5 magnet compared with a brand new Fralin A4. My brand new A5 is probably different form the old one, judging from the findings of the fridge test.


Originally Posted by hamerfanPlease keep in mind it was 26 years old A5 magnet compared with a brand new Fralin A4. My brand new A5 is probably different form the old one, judging from the findings of the fridge test.

It's all good....

Magnet mods are cool!

Recently, I swapped the a5 of a Jazz bridge with an a4! Guess what. Loved the results. The problem is that I don't have any guitars I can employ all the pickups I like.

B


Originally Posted by dr.barloMagnet mods are cool!

Recently, I swapped the a5 of a Jazz bridge with an a4! Guess what. Loved the results. The problem is that I don't have any guitars I can employ all the pickups I like.

B

Doc....The A4 magnet(thanks to you)is a great mod. I know what you mean about having alot more pickups than guitars also!


Originally Posted by dr.barloMagnet mods are cool!

Recently, I swapped the a5 of a Jazz bridge with an a4! Guess what. Loved the results. The problem is that I don't have any guitars I can employ all the pickups I like.

B

I've been wondering about an a4 Jazz! I wonder how it would compare to my a4 7.5 Fralin...

Magnets don't quot;agequot; unless they are exposed to other magnetic fields. Otherwise, a magnet from some quot;golden agequot; pickup should be the same strength and tone as it was 50 years ago.

What i'm thinking of doing is switching the Custom in my 3 HB to a C 8, and trying an A4 in the middle PGb. Not touching the APH-1n, I love that thing.
I'm really happy with the sounds i'm getting now, but always willing to enrich 'em a little if i can.