What magnet to put in my HB?

SunDevil

I have a 8.2k Bridge Humbucker with an Alnico III magnet in LP that I'm considering tweaking

It's currently very bright on the unwound strings with only just enough definition on the wound strings

I'm not yet done with trying to vary the height of the pup, but assuming that doesn't get me there, I'm considering a magnet swap to either an Al II or a IV - Not a fan of Alnico V in HBs and I play on the edge of clean and so exclude ceramics by default

So here's the question
If I want to tame the top end a tad but not loose wound string definition, should I go to Al II (which will tame the top, but might make the bottom end more muddy) or go IV (which risks brightening the top end more, but might allow the bottom end to come up to a level that balances that out)?



Whaddya think?

Ossyrocks

I would try A4 first. Did the same to some Antiquities. Rounded off the highs and beefed up the mids. Cermag sell them for about £1.50 a set

SunDevil

Cheers Rob - big fan of Cermag too

Alegree

Unorientated Alnico 3 is the warmest magnet, Alnico 3 is the 2nd warmest.

If UOA3 doesn't work, you'll want to ditch the pickup.

Funkfingers

SunDevil said:

I have a 8.2k Bridge Humbucker with an Alnico III magnet in LP that I'm considering tweaking

It might help to know about the guitar in which this pickup installed. How close is it adjusted to the strings? If the pickup has adjustable polepieces, how are they set? Finally, does the humbucker have a metal cover?

Winny_Pooh

I'd go Aii and raise the bass side polepieces up. 

It is hard to give advice like this though. Humbuckers are by their nature softer on the low end. What you might prefer is something like a Firebird or mini HB bridge pup so the string sensing area is smaller and roll the tone pot off slightly to smooth the highs. 

TA22GT

Ossyrocks said:

I would try A4 first. Did the same to some Antiquities. Rounded off the highs and beefed up the mids. Cermag sell them for about £1.50 a set

That interests me! 
I have a set of Antiquities in a Tokai 335 semi and although they sound great they are a bit flat in the mids.

 They don't sound scooped but they just lack a little mid push especially the bridge. I can live with the neck pickup because I mainly play on the bridge.
Are you still happy with the swap?

Ossyrocks

TA22GT said:

Ossyrocks said:

I would try A4 first. Did the same to some Antiquities. Rounded off the highs and beefed up the mids. Cermag sell them for about £1.50 a set

That interests me! 
I have a set of Antiquities in a Tokai 335 semi and although they sound great they are a bit flat in the mids.

 They don't sound scooped but they just lack a little mid push especially the bridge. I can live with the neck pickup because I mainly play on the bridge.
Are you still happy with the swap?

I was happy with them, but as we do, I kept looking for something else. Ended up with some Wizz PAFs with A4 magnets. They were excellent. Then swapped those into another guitar, then sold that guitar. Now it has BKP Mules, again with A4 magnets.

What am I like!?

TA22GT

What am I like!?   

Just a normal, down to earth, guitar playing guy with a serious touch of gas......quite normal, no remedy required.

Thanks for the reply, I might just try a set of PAF 36'ths I have in another guitar because they have slightly more mids. Saves magnet swapping!