Awesome '57 Classic Magnet Swaps

[zizyphus]

Hey!

I haven't seen too many threads of magnet swaps for the '57 classic. It seems to be one of Gibson's more popular pups, so maybe that's why you don't see it being modded so often, but I'm still curious whether anyone else has done it.

I swapped the magnets on mine for an A4 in the neck, and an A8 in the bridge, and I'm very happy with the result now. I love the clarity of the '57 Classics, but I wanted a little bit more oomph from the bridge, and I want to even out the EQ on the neck a tad. My results were exactly as I'd hoped!

I ended up putting covers on them for aesthetic reasons, which unfortunately rolled off some treble in a way I didn't like, but I found my way around that as well (discussed in a separate thread). At any rate, all is well that ends well, and I'm very happy.

Who else has modded their classics? What were you trying to do, and did it work?

 

[cooljuk]

I had an A8 in a '57 Classic+ and an A5 in the neck '57 Classic, at one point. This was before I was making pickups, so just commonly available import magnets. I was also playing in a heavier, more modern sounding, band.

I got added output and treble and a tighter feel than the A2s, but the treble was harsh and brittle, accentuated around those Zildian hi-hat / crash frequencies, and didn't have that beyond-presence open and breathy smooth airy treble I would have preferred. Plenty of pick attack and tight thumpy palm mutes, but too much glass breaking treble.

 

[ARandall]

The 57 is an interesting subject. It probably is Gibson most cheapened construction pickup since inception......hence why it is now in so many guitars as it no longer resembles the Tom Holmes designed pickup it once was.

The only time I bought a guitar with them in they seemed to have the sort of tone I was after (in the shop), but not too long after buying it the faults became apparent.....trebleharshness you just coudn't seem to dial out on the bridge, and mud you couldn't get rid of in the neck.

As many have reported doing, they were yanked out. And perhaps (going to the OP topic) the reason why you don't hear about too many mag swaps is that the new cost (and therefore secondhand cost) is exorbitant - especially given the greater number of misses you hear about these compared with other stock Gibson sets.
People just would rather sell them as untouched/unopened rather than screwing about with mag swaps too much. Especially as you can almost get into boutique new sets with not much more coin than the selling price of 57's

 

[zizyphus]

The 57 is an interesting subject. It probably is Gibson most cheapened construction pickup since inception......hence why it is now in so many guitars as it no longer resembles the Tom Holmes designed pickup it once was.

The only time I bought a guitar with them in they seemed to have the sort of tone I was after (in the shop), but not too long after buying it the faults became apparent.....trebleharshness you just coudn't seem to dial out on the bridge, and mud you couldn't get rid of in the neck.

...

Interesting. I'd say I've seen the most complaints about the 490s, then there's a fair share of Burstbuckers detractors who say they're bright / brittle, and while it definitely has its critics, my impression was that the '57s were the best received.

I definitely agree that they have too much treble for my liking, and that's why I pulled them from my LP. I did, however, think they had clarity for days, and I disagree about the neck being muddy. I actually thought it was too bright for a neck pickup! To each their own.

The guitar I put them in tended to have the opposite problem – it was dark no matter what I did. That's why I thought the '57s might work. I'm very glad it turned out as it has.

ARandall, how has the construction changed with time? Thats interesting

 

[RetropM]

I have always liked the 57 classic pickups, even the newer models. I do think that if you don't have 500k pots they are very disappointing. That being said, the newer Burstbuckers (post -2012 or so), the '59/'61 Humbuckers, and the Custombuckers are the best pickups Gibson makes IMO. They really have gotten the PAF vibe down in recent years and there are some good options available in their guitars.

 

[dc007]

I have always liked the 57 classic pickups, even the newer models. I do think that if you don't have 500k pots they are very disappointing.

It was the complete opposite for me. Put 500k pots in my ES335 and totally destroyed the vibe of that guitar.

 

[LtKojak]

Put 500k pots in my ES335 and totally destroyed the vibe of that guitar.

What do you mean by that? Care to elaborate?

 

[dc007]

What do you mean by that? Care to elaborate?

Sure...the best I can....
What I noticed was the high end on the bridge pickup was more piercing or raspier. Neck pup was not too bad but was not better to my ears. I could not use the controls on the guitar to dial them back in to my liking so I got some different pups.

 

[2Muchgear]

Just swapped mags in a 92 Sheraton II. Already had switchcraft hardware and CTS 500k pots, .022 orange drops. The A2’s were ok, but never dazzling.

did a polished a3 neck and polished UOA5 in the bridge. Makes a huge difference. It took a while to get them close to dialed in (and maybe more to go, but close). Biggest difference is string articulation on both pups. The bridge picked up tightness and a little more output. Neck can now play pretty clean, really respond to the volume.

very happy with the $9 upgrade!

 

[cooljuk]

Just swapped mags in a 92 Sheraton II. Already had switchcraft hardware and CTS 500k pots, .022 orange drops. The A2’s were ok, but never dazzling.

did a polished a3 neck and polished UOA5 in the bridge. Makes a huge difference. It took a while to get them close to dialed in (and maybe more to go, but close). Biggest difference is string articulation on both pups. The bridge picked up tightness and a little more output. Neck can now play pretty clean, really respond to the volume.

very happy with the $9 upgrade!

Do you find that combination leaves your neck pickup dark, compared to a brighter bridge? Is that what you were having trouble dialing in with the A3 neck / A5 bridge combo?

 

[MiniB]

Sure...the best I can....
What I noticed was the high end on the bridge pickup was more piercing or raspier. Neck pup was not too bad but was not better to my ears. I could not use the controls on the guitar to dial them back in to my liking so I got some different pups.

Do you have 50's or modern wiring?

 

[dc007]

Do you have 50's or modern wiring?

50's

 

[jbash]

UOA5 works very well in the 57 Classic, IME.

 

[MiniB]

50's

I sometimes like 300K pots over 500K's in some guitars as well. I know what you mean about keeping the warmer/plummier quality of the 335. Can be a delicate balance between that and enough snap/high end.

 

[2Muchgear]

Do you find that combination leaves your neck pickup dark, compared to a brighter bridge? Is that what you were having trouble dialing in with the A3 neck / A5 bridge combo?

Sorry for the two + year reply CJ. But if you do see this, better late than Never!

I still have the same magnets in those pups (in the Sherato). I didn’t find the neck too dark for the bridge. I have continued to tweak but I’m talking pup height and pole pieces. Dialing string volume in helps (to my old ears) string articulation with full chords. So I do screw around quite a bit but haven’t touched this set up in a while. My other semi hollow is a bone stock ‘15 Memphis es335 59 reissue. It has the A3/a2 MHS spec PUPS and through my amps (jtm45, SFDR, 67 blacklime super reverb and a mojo kit 63 Vibroverb) is good as it sits (IMO to my burned out ears).

the 57’s, I should say, were NOS from late ‘93 or so. I’ve read where Gibson has cheapened the construction, so these are more to the original design spec. I have another set of ‘91’s pulled from my LP Studio that never sounded great in that guitar. Dark and flat. Now has BB1-2 set from my R9 (that has Ants) and sports A4 neck/UOA5 bridge.