Replacing a Gibson 498T magnet - Alnico 8 vs Unorientated A5?

skinfreak

Hello people. Seeing @Rox ;miss-sold me a Gibson 500T (drat and double drat! ;-) ) I am seeing this as a blessing in disguise and looking to mod the pickup. I have read on the web that either an Alnico 8 or an unorientated Alnico 5 will go well. I am fitting this to a PRS Tremonti SE and then adding an raw nickel cover to it. 

Anyone modded a Gibson T pickup with either of those magnets?

Rox

Ah c'mon I was only 2 out...

Who knew a 498 measured the same as a 500?  Not me, obvs...  

WezV

I have a modded 500T, but didn't do it myself.  I have done magnet swaps on other humbuckers though.   

skinfreak

WezV said:

I have a modded 500T, but didn't do it myself.  I have done magnet swaps on other humbuckers though.   

What is it modded with?

Alegree

Test the pickup and decide how you want to change it before taking someone's word for what works. Plenty of resources comparing how different magnets affect a wind.

For what it's worth I detest Seymour Duncan JBs despite them being so popular - I'd swap them to a ceramic magnet in a heart beat (and I have done to a much preferable result). Many, many people would disagree with that.

That's more or less the process that I follow as I design pickups.

skinfreak

Alegree said:

Test the pickup and decide how you want to change it before taking someone's word for what works. Plenty of resources comparing how different magnets affect a wind.

I intend to. Just gathering info here. The literature seems to point to the A8 but I might buy one of each to experiment! How are your stocks ;-)

Alegree

skinfreak said:

Alegree said:

Test the pickup and decide how you want to change it before taking someone's word for what works. Plenty of resources comparing how different magnets affect a wind.

I intend to. Just gathering info here. The literature seems to point to the A8 but I might buy one of each to experiment! How are your stocks ;-)

Alnico 8 currently out of stock (both standard and roughcast). expecting it to come in in a few more days.

Personally I find alnico 8 to be like a hotrodded alnico 2, which makes it very hard to work with. It's got piles of output, but EQed to suit low output in my opinion with it's soft treble and overbearing mids. I think it's best home is in a hot PAF - like a EVH '78 or Slash style wind. But that's speculation - I haven't actually tried it to a huge amount of length yet.

skinfreak

Alegree said:

skinfreak said:

Alegree said:

Test the pickup and decide how you want to change it before taking someone's word for what works. Plenty of resources comparing how different magnets affect a wind.

I intend to. Just gathering info here. The literature seems to point to the A8 but I might buy one of each to experiment! How are your stocks ;-)

Alnico 8 currently out of stock (both standard and roughcast). expecting it to come in in a few more days.

Personally I find alnico 8 to be like a hotrodded alnico 2, which makes it very hard to work with. It's got piles of output, but EQed to suit low output in my opinion with it's soft treble and overbearing mids. I think it's best home is in a hot PAF - like a EVH '78 or Slash style wind. But that's speculation - I haven't actually tried it to a huge amount of length yet.

Well I am going to try it. Got a couple of magnets no the way and we shall see. I need to research how the 498T is wound but thinking of just fitting it and recording samples with different magnets swapped in and out. 

skinfreak

Righty ho. I have an Alnico 2, UnOrientated Alnico 5 and an Alnico 8. I was planning on hooking my Blackstar HT-1R up to my PC and just recording some samples and putting them on soundcloud. I am by no means a good guitarist so tips on how to best demonstrate the difference in tones is welcomed out side of 1. Play it clean and 2. Play it dirty.