Changing a ceramic magnet out to an Alnico 2 in a humbucker

[Dave N.]

Has any one tried changing a ceramic magnet to an Alnico 2 in a humbucker and if they have, did it improve the HB sound?

Thanks

Dave

[David Schwab]

It would depend on the pickup. If it's a very hot pickup it could get dark sounding.

[Dave N.]

Thanks for the reply David, its not a real hot wound humbucker, about 11k, its a GHS humbucker. I'm just trying to get an idea of how to improve the sound of a pup by changing magnets, never done this before.

I am also considering getting one of those golden age humbuckers from stew mac and trying the swap of an alnico 5 to a alnico 2 to get close to the seymour duncan EVH pup. I read somewhere some one did this and got really close to the SD EVH sound without the hi price tag.

I have been reading that Eddie used a pup around 8 or 9k with an alnico 2 magnet to get his sound on the first album so I'm wanting to see how well this would work on one of my strats.

Thanks

[LtKojak]

I have been reading that Eddie used a pup around 8 or 9k with an alnico 2 magnet to get his sound on the first album so I'm wanting to see how well this would work on one of my strats.

There's more than certain specs to get a perticular tone from a p'up.

Your start point is NOT the gear. It's the fingers, the touch and the feeling.

Then you can start to talk gear.

Keep in mind that Eddie would sound like Eddie even through YOUR own rig, whatever that may be, and chances are that you won't remotely sound like him even through HIS OWN rig, so I'd say use all that trial-and-error to get the best tone you can get sounding just like you.

I admire Robben Ford, but I couldn't afford a Dumble and/or a Sakashta in three lives put together, anyway I can get very close to his sound with gear anybody can afford.

I still can't play like him, but I don't intend to either.

HTH,

[David Schwab]

Thanks for the reply David, its not a real hot wound humbucker, about 11k, its a GHS humbucker. I'm just trying to get an idea of how to improve the sound of a pup by changing magnets, never done this before.

Yeah, give it a try. I have a DiMarzio Al Di Meola which is around 11k has an alnico magnet. I think it's an alnico V, but I forget.

It's a great sounding pickup.

[LtKojak]

Yeah, give it a try. I have a DiMarzio Al Di Meola which is around 11k has an alnico magnet. I think it's an alnico V, but I forget.

It's a great sounding pickup.

Is that p'up wired with AWG 42 or 43?

Inquiring minds would like to know...

[David Schwab]

Is that p'up wired with AWG 42 or 43?

Inquiring minds would like to know...

I don't know, but I'm guessing 43 since the bobbins aren't any larger than normal.

It's a nice looking pickup. Mat black with gold cap head screws and gold baseplate.

[Dave N.]

Hey Kojak,

I have been trying to cop the sound of EVH for years. I can some what mimic the style, used to do lots of Van Halen in the clubs back in the 80's.

I always thought the sound on the first album was the ultimate guitar tone and haven't tried the pickups that are lower impedance as opposed to using Seymour Duncan JB or pups like that. The lowest impedance pup I used was the SD 59er. Good pickup.

This is just some thing new trying to mod pickups other than building amps and guitars. I just built a few strats with different body wood, one being basswood and the other alder. Haven't done one in ash in years though and that’s what VH's main guitar was made of, he uses basswood now.

The SD EVH pup goes for around $160.00 and darn expensive so I figure I can mod a pup close to what the EVH pup is made of. After all its just wire, magnets and plastic. Just variables of this composition.

[LtKojak]

Hey Kojak,

The SD EVH pup goes for around $160.00 and darn expensive so I figure I can mod a pup close to what the EVH pup is made of. After all its just wire, magnets and plastic. Just variables of this composition.

The Mona Lisa is also all just different colors, brushes and canvas.

If I was to get that particular sound, I'd take any good quality 9K humbucker wound with AWG 42 PE and put an A8 magnet.

Rest of the equation should be EQ and good use of gain in your amp.

It's nowhere near Eddie's original, but it WILL get you in the ballpark. The rest is up to you. Remember that they made that album with next to nothing. No producer tricks, most tracks were one takes with very little overdubbing. IIRC, they invested only fifty grand, all included.

Talking about good ole elbow grease!

[David Schwab]

The lowest impedance pup I used was the SD 59er. Good pickup.

That's one of the pickups EVH was using back then.

[SteikBacon]

And much of the first album was the Ibanez Destroyer.. with Mighty Mite....
not sure, he used many different im that guitar.