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Alnico 5 in 57 classic

Old School

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Jul 6, 2017
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48
Has anyone put an alnico 5 magnet in a 57 classic pickup, I am hoping to get a Burstbucker Pro sound without buying new pickups.
 

Big Al

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Apr 24, 2002
Messages
14,537
The Burstbucker has a different wind. The tone isn't the magnet. Buy a Burstbucker Pro and sell the Classic.
 

tommersjay

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Jun 11, 2015
Messages
134
I have swapped an A3 and an A5 magnet in a 57 classic neck pup. Also currently have an A4 in a burstbucker pro bridge pup. The A5 definitely made it more aggressive. Since 57's are wound evenly it had a nice smooth bite to it. My preference is though is the A3 in the 57 classic. I cant believe Gibson doesnt do that more often. So smooth and yet so booming as well. You have to do the change yourself to appreciate the difference in tone.

The A4 in the burstbucker pro turned a pickup I hated into a pickup I love and want to replicate with other guitars. Takes that harshness off that many people dont like in burstbucker pro's.

There are tons of sellers on ebay for pickup magnets and they are relatively cheap. If you are a tinkerer, buy some, and tinker. You will love the results.
 

tommersjay

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Jun 11, 2015
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but no it wont sound like like a burstbucker pro, it will sound like an aggressive 57 classic.....which is awesome
 

Old School

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Jul 6, 2017
Messages
48
but no it wont sound like like a burstbucker pro, it will sound like an aggressive 57 classic.....which is awesome


That would be an awesome sounding pickup, I do like the 57 but I just want a bit more definition and slightly more crunch, I love playing 70s style but with late 80s early 90s twist, loved the HB-R and HB-L pickups but hard to get.
 

Old School

Member
Joined
Jul 6, 2017
Messages
48
I have swapped an A3 and an A5 magnet in a 57 classic neck pup. Also currently have an A4 in a burstbucker pro bridge pup. The A5 definitely made it more aggressive. Since 57's are wound evenly it had a nice smooth bite to it. My preference is though is the A3 in the 57 classic. I cant believe Gibson doesnt do that more often. So smooth and yet so booming as well. You have to do the change yourself to appreciate the difference in tone.

The A4 in the burstbucker pro turned a pickup I hated into a pickup I love and want to replicate with other guitars. Takes that harshness off that many people dont like in burstbucker pro's.

There are tons of sellers on ebay for pickup magnets and they are relatively cheap. If you are a tinkerer, buy some, and tinker. You will love the results.




Hey man, did it make notes more clearer or defined?
 

GeraintGuitar

Member
Joined
Aug 28, 2017
Messages
115
Has anyone put an alnico 5 magnet in a 57 classic pickup, I am hoping to get a Burstbucker Pro sound without buying new pickups.

yes i did excactly this with a 57+ about a week ago . i did make the pick up louder with more highs but lost a lot of the lower mids
 

GeraintGuitar

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Aug 28, 2017
Messages
115
if i was you i would just try it and if you dont like it you can put the A2 back in. magnets are cheap you find them on ebay for about £3 , get a few different types like a A8 and a A5 but ive heard the A3 sounds great in the 57s
 

GeraintGuitar

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Aug 28, 2017
Messages
115
That would be an awesome sounding pickup, I do like the 57 but I just want a bit more definition and slightly more crunch, I love playing 70s style but with late 80s early 90s twist, loved the HB-R and HB-L pickups but hard to get.

actually i just rememberd that angus young used to use 57classics but he now uses his sig pickup in the bridge and 57 in the neck. the gibson angus young pup is basically a 57+ with a A5 mag in

but big Al is right a 57 will never sound like a burstbucker and vice versa
 

Old School

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Jul 6, 2017
Messages
48
actually i just rememberd that angus young used to use 57classics but he now uses his sig pickup in the bridge and 57 in the neck. the gibson angus young pup is basically a 57+ with a A5 mag in

but big Al is right a 57 will never sound like a burstbucker and vice versa


Thats sounds like something I would like, I just got the alnico 5 magnets, just need some spare time to swap them. Cant wait to try it.
 

c_wester

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May 9, 2002
Messages
2,116
My understandig is that the A5 would make the pickup alot darker...?
 

GeraintGuitar

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Aug 28, 2017
Messages
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My understandig is that the A5 would make the pickup alot darker...?
Nope , i put a A5 in my 57+ last week , it did make it brighter but i gotta just add to what ive already posted to this thread because i dont want any confusion
wether you put a A3,A5,A8 in 57 classic its still gonna sound like a 57 classic . so if you "kinda" like your 57 pups and just want a "little" more oomph , then upgrade the mags
but if you outright hate the 57s get new pups
 

rbig80

Member
Joined
Nov 15, 2007
Messages
55
Nope , i put a A5 in my 57+ last week , it did make it brighter but i gotta just add to what ive already posted to this thread because i dont want any confusion
wether you put a A3,A5,A8 in 57 classic its still gonna sound like a 57 classic . so if you "kinda" like your 57 pups and just want a "little" more oomph , then upgrade the mags
but if you outright hate the 57s get new pups

+1 I have short A5's that I swapped into 57 classics for my Historic Sg. Sounds great in the sg. I really like the 57 classics, so I put them in my R8, and prefer them now with unoriented A5's
 

Kris Ford

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Jan 6, 2007
Messages
4,003
+1 I have short A5's that I swapped into 57 classics for my Historic Sg. Sounds great in the sg. I really like the 57 classics, so I put them in my R8, and prefer them now with unoriented A5's

Good to hear.
 

GeraintGuitar

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Joined
Aug 28, 2017
Messages
115
+1 I have short A5's that I swapped into 57 classics for my Historic Sg. Sounds great in the sg. I really like the 57 classics, so I put them in my R8, and prefer them now with unoriented A5's

i bet that sg has a proper angus young tone ! its not wild guess its a calculated guess after reading about angus and his pickup tweaking
 

Old School

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Jul 6, 2017
Messages
48
I just fitted alnico 5 magnets in my 57s, definitely hear the difference, brighter, clearer, more edge, but as I was told bit less bottom end, I like em but not sure if I love them, kind started really liking the 57s as I was waiting to swap magnets, might try a4s next, if not I reckon leave as were originally and buy another Gibson for the heavier stuff, thats my excuse anyway :)
 

El Gringo

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Apr 8, 2015
Messages
5,657
+1 I have short A5's that I swapped into 57 classics for my Historic Sg. Sounds great in the sg. I really like the 57 classics, so I put them in my R8, and prefer them now with unoriented A5's
I have Les Paul's with 57's in them and also with custombuckers and you prefer the 57's over the custombuckers from the custom shop? May I ask why?
 

GeraintGuitar

Member
Joined
Aug 28, 2017
Messages
115
I just fitted alnico 5 magnets in my 57s, definitely hear the difference, brighter, clearer, more edge, but as I was told bit less bottom end, I like em but not sure if I love them, kind started really liking the 57s as I was waiting to swap magnets, might try a4s next, if not I reckon leave as were originally and buy another Gibson for the heavier stuff, thats my excuse anyway :)
kinda feel the same now after having a5s for a few weeks , im gonna try a3s ive been told thier just right in 57s
 
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