Pickup Magnet Swaps

Niallmo

I have just ordered some mags from Cermag. 1 each of Alnico 2,4 and 5. Thinking is that the Dimarzio/IBZ pickups that are on the way have Ceramic mags and are supposedly quite bright. If I don't like them I'd rather spend £1.20 each on the Alnico mags and learn a new skill than sell them on and try for another set.

Think it'll be the 5 in the bridge and 4 in the neck with the option to use the 2 in the neck. If all goes well I'll have a spare to use in something else.

Adam_MD

I did this a few weeks ago now with some paf style pickups I had in the house. The original magnets were a V in the bridge and II in the neck and I could never get them to balance well. Bridge was either too harsh or neck too bassy. Swopped them both for alnico iv and its been like getting a new set of pickups I'm very happy with them now.

Samgb

You two should check out the Seymour Duncan forums.

Every post is about swapping magnets! If theyre so great would they be needing a magnet swap?

Niallmo

The initial interest was from a few years ago with the Duncan Alternate-8 and I saw a few threads then, there have been a couple on here too. I've got a thread on the SD blog saved and it seems ridiculously easy.

OilCityPickups

Alnico four is great in a neck pickup .... that's what my ASL Blackmachine Blackbirds use. Beware using alnico 8 in low winds ... can sound a touch brittle unless the pickup is designed for it. Don't ignore the less commonly seen alnicos ... you will have to get them in from the US mind ... alnico 3 is wonderful on PAFs ... alnico 6 on single coils .... and there is an alnico 9 up at the high output end ... I've tried and used all of these.