New Hum-Hum setup - Alnico Magnets

[ezas]

So I have an Ibanez AM73B and I'm replacing the stock pickups. I've already decided on some GFS Vintage output unpotted HB pickups. But i'm considering mixing the magnets. I was watching the video on the Stewmac Vintage HB's and the guy said he likes a Alnico II in the Bridge and an Alinco V in the bridge. Last night I found a winder who offers a set in that configuration with a II in the bridge and a V in the neck.

I want a neck that cleans up really nicely but don't want a neck that is too 'jazzy' when I roll off the volume, and that makes me think the V in the neck might be a good choice. I also think the V in the neck and the II in the bridge might sound really good when played in the middle position which I tend to do a lot on this guitar. My guitar tastes run from Santana to Jeff Beck to Gilmour as far as how I like to play and lead tone. If it was in the budget I'd get BK Mules (which are an Alnico IV). I also really like the sound of this PAF Alnico V (degaussed) neck: http://sheptone.com/Media/Still%20Got%20Blues-straight.mp3

My budget keeps me in the 'import' pickup range so I won't be getting any sheptones or BK or any other 'good' pickup makers. I really like my Strat 63' Pro pickups from GFS so that is why i'm leaning towards GFS again.

I know its what I want and prefer, etc, but I'm curious what people think of a Alnico II/V combo and which they would put where and why.

 

[Cagey]

Who's advertising "degaussed" pickups as a Good Thing? I wanna make fun of them.

 

[AutoBat]

 

[ezas]

Who's advertising "degaussed" pickups as a Good Thing? I wanna make fun of them.

That would be Sheptone

 

[Cagey]

Ok, I found where he talks about that, and I'm guessing what he means is he's weakening store-bought pole magnets, not degaussing them...

I have duplicated winding patterns based on the documentation I have from the old PAF's, and degauss the new magnets to average 50's PAF levels so that they work together to produce the most accurate PAF tone possible.

...which sorta makes sense. PAF-era pickups weren't particularly hot/sensitive, so modern methods wouldn't necessarily return the same sort of results.

But, judging by the rest of the site, he's sensitive to language (and clearly loves to use it) and knows "weakening" would be a bad word to use, while "degaussing" would fly over most user's heads. But, if you're a picky technical type you know that degaussing means removing all magnetic fields, which would be a no-no with a magnetic pickup and why it raised my eyebrow in the first place.

He does make the valid point that you can't reproduce PAFs because they were as inconsistent as a child's moods and palate, but then goes on to describe how he makes PAFs that sound right. Not sure what kind of magic that is - either you can do it or you can't (hint: you can't) - but that's his business. For what he charges for the things, they oughta come with free hookers.

 

[Dan025]

bill lawrence. they're cheaper than duncans and are boutique quality. but gfs is much cheaper and lets be honest, there isnt much to a pickup, gfs is bound to have something that sounds decent based on luck alone.

 

[ezas]

I'm already set on GFS after much listening to a lot of sound clips because I was also shopping for a new bridge PU for my friends SSS Strat (we went Li'l Scremin Demon, its going in tonight).

I just decided rather arbitrarily to mix magnet types between bridge and neck so I was looking for what people thought of the two combinations. But Bill Lawrence had fallen off my radar for the future, so thank for reminding me of his work. There are so many winders it's hard to keep track.

 

[JCizzle]

How does that Li'l Demon sound in the S-S-S config?

 

[ezas]

Still working on getting it wired up. Just posted a question getting clarification on how to do that. I'm really looking forward to trying it.

 

[Patrick from Davis]

Troubled Treble on this board makes pickups as well.  He also goes by Ken at Roadhouse Pickups.  While you can't beat the prices of GFS pickups, you can talk to Ken.  If you know of a sound you are after, he will build the thing to sound like the example.  His prices are quite affordable as well.  While it sounds like you are already on your way with this guitar, Roadhouse Pickups are an option to keep in mind for any other pickup needs.  Several of us on this board have them as well, and out of personal experience I can say that unless I want a pickup that has a less than common form factor (Wide Range Humbucker for instance), I am a devotee of Ken's work.  They are really nice pickups with some secret mojo in them.  It is cool to be able to give him an idea and get something that sounds like you were hoping.
Patrick

 

[ezas]

Thanks for the info. Ken's work is well respected, i've seen mention of Roadhouse on more than one site. I haven't been giving the hum-hum decision much thought since I've been working on installing the new mini-hum in my friends strat which I got finished and into his hands tonight.

 

[ezas]

Update on my pickup upgrade on my semi-solid ibanez.

To refresh memories, I decided to get an alnico II bridge and alnico V neck in unpotted vintage output HB's from GFS (Pro series).

This is one winder who sells such a combo: http://www.skatterbrane.com/pickups/quiescence-branes-pickups.php

I was not happy with the result. Everything i read said Alnico II was sweeter, and that Alnico V would brighten up the bridge, well not not to my ear. The bridge sounded thin/brittle/sterile to my ears.  The A-V in the neck was better but I found myself jacking up the treble side and adjusting the pole pieces up to try to get some note separation. I spent a LOT of time playing with adjusting the pickups to come up with something I liked, and the final result still sounded like a compromise to me.

I had also changed out the controls to master tone/volume so that did not help what I was hearing.

Well I finally got motivated and changed the warmer neck to the bridge position and the thin brittle bridge to the neck. In browsing on the topic I came across a fair number of LP players who like that combo and since the neck was too warm and the bridge to thin it made sense to try it.

INSTANT improvement for how I play and what I was going for. The bridge is still plenty bright on the treble strings and the neck  has plenty of note separation now. It took me very little time to dial in the PU height to something I liked. Like 30 minutes vs 2hrs.

I think I'm going to keep this combo and add back the 2nd tone control, even though it's not as needed as much as when the pickups were the other way around.

Next up for this guitar, a strat top jack.