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For a given pickup, how much difference in tone can be expected by changing the magnet type?
In my case, I have Wilkinson WVC PAF replicas which are fitted with Alnico 5 magnets. These are wound with 42-gauge wire, have nickel-silver bases and covers, and the coils have the same DC resistance on each bobbin (ie, not offset). Neck is 7K and bridge is 8K.
If I were to swap the magnets to Alnico 2, which is supposed to be "sweeter" than Alnico 5, is the difference likely to be substantial, or is this something that's rather subtle and might take some time to become evident?
Nomad
Nobody loves me but my mother... and she could be jivin' too...
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For a good comparison, listen to the Seymour Duncan clips of the Custom, Custom Custom and Custom 5, which are all the same pickup apart from the magnets - ceramic, Alnico II and Alnico V respectively.
"Take these three items, some WD-40, a vise grip, and a roll of duct tape. Any man worth his salt can fix almost any problem with this stuff alone." - Walt Kowalski
"Only two things are infinite - the universe, and human stupidity. And I'm not sure about the universe." - Albert Einstein
Check this thread for an alnico 4 modded Jaguar: http://www.thefretboard.co.uk/discussion/22917/ngd-and-modded-blizzard-pearl-fender-jaguar#latest
If you are working from a PAF type pickups you can really alter your sound with magnets. In bridge I tend to prefer Alnico 2 but for the neck position this type of magnet can lack clarity. Alnico 5 give you more definition but to my favourite there is Alnico 4 as it is between the 2: more clarity with a better balanced EQ than the A5.
Sounds like it's worth doing some experiments, then. Anyone used the magnets from Cermag? I ordered two each of A2,4,5, and 8 in PAF size...
http://www.cermag.co.uk/buy_guitar_pickup_magnet.html
Nomad
Nobody loves me but my mother... and she could be jivin' too...
Ceramics are a bit too powerful for normal guitar parts, better for high-gain stuff. IMO not great in the bridge position -too brittle.
Alnico2 are great in the right situation, so Blues-rock, Southern rock 70's pop etc Think Billy Gibbons.
Alnico5 (my favourites) are great for riff-laden rock/metal and general playing.
I have 4 guitars with Alnico5 bridge pickups, 3 have ceramic neck pickups.
Ringleader of the Cambridge cartel, pedal champ and king of the dirt boxes (down to 21)
II, V and ceramic is pretty clear, but depends how tuned in you are.
Alrighty, I think I'll try the A2 in both pickups first and see what I think. As things stand with A5, I quite like the tone of the neck pickup, but I feel the bridge is lacking - it's brighter but seems somewhat sterile.
A not-unrelated question...
The guitar is a Vintage Lemon Drop with the reversed neck pickup. On this pickup, the magnet is not reversed (both have north towards the pole pieces). The pickup wiring was reversed, and I've since changed it back to normal. Am I right in thinking that rotating the pickup so that the pole pieces are towards the neck will have no effect (or negligible) on the sound? In other words, if there's no magnetic or electrical inversion, it doesn't particularly matter which way round the pickup is?
Nomad
Nobody loves me but my mother... and she could be jivin' too...
Cermag are great, as Hayden says,for modern mags ... Addiction FX do small quantities of rough cast stuff for enthusiasts ... as do Mojotone.
Formerly TheGuitarWeasel ... Oil City Pickups ... Oil City Blog 7 String.org profile and message
Formerly TheGuitarWeasel ... Oil City Pickups ... Oil City Blog 7 String.org profile and message
"Take these three items, some WD-40, a vise grip, and a roll of duct tape. Any man worth his salt can fix almost any problem with this stuff alone." - Walt Kowalski
"Only two things are infinite - the universe, and human stupidity. And I'm not sure about the universe." - Albert Einstein
(Yes, for once the crystal lattice may be relevant!)
What about alnico 8s? I know there are some people out there using them.