ALL THE MAGNETS

[Clint 55]

A4, A5, UOA5, and A6 all have similar strength but drastically different tones.

An A2 spacer, degaussed A2, full strength A2, and double thick A2 have drastically different strengths but the same tone.

So no, you're incorrect.

[misterwhizzy]

Surely someone besides me thought of this after seeing the thread title. If you didn't before, you will now.

[GuitarDoc]

Magnets don’t have a tone.

This is so true. And amps don't have tone either. Niether do speakers. They are just a bunch of physical, electronic parts put together. Heck, I sat all day long one day with my ear pressed tightly to my amp and I didn't hear a thing. No matter which tubes I put into it.

But seriously, we all know that magnets don't in-and-of-themselves have a tone. But it's convenient to refer to them as having a tonal characteristic when used in a pup. They do, in fact, each impart a unique quality to the tone that a pup is capable of producing.

[GuitarDoc]

A4, A5, UOA5, and A9 all have similar strength but drastically different tones.

An A2 spacer, degaussed A2, full strength A2, and double thick A2 have drastically different strengths but the same tone.

So no, you're incorrect.

Good one.

[GuitarDoc]

Sorry. This will be a vague answer, but it's along the lines of why they didn't have a channel 1 on old TV's. Somewhere around here I have a PDF document from the "magnet" society. The number comes from the date it was developed. Not it's magnet strength. Number #1, might have been a formulation that failed, or fell out of favor.

Again, sorry. Late night explanation. I'll see if I can find that PDF.

Ooop. There is an A1. Almost the same as an A2. I can't upload the PDF. It's too big. Maybe I can find it online.

It's "Magnetic Materials Producers Association (MMPA Standard) No. 0100-00"

https://allianceorg.com/pdfs/MMPA_0100-00.pdf

Great reference! Thanks for posting that, Artie.

[ArtieToo]

Yur welcome.

[zizyphus]

Any idea where I can get an A1?

All the more reason to buy more gear to house it...


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[pittbull]

Your thoughts on Alnico 9 magnet

[nexion218]

Real talk - I only use magnets with NOS germanium true bypass tonewoods


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I had to come back to this thread to re-experience the laughter I had when I first read the "true bypass tonewood". Absolutely amazing, made my day, thank you!

[zizyphus]

Your thoughts on Alnico 9 magnet

Bright, tight, and loud

It has an aggressive top end, and can chug-a-lug


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[pittbull]

I just had a custom pickup maker wind me a pickup with a Alnico 9 magnet and it sound just AMAZING

[pittbull]

Alnico 9 magnet is very nice

[WDeeGee]

What about Alnico π ?

[Jack_TriPpEr]

I have humbuckers with every magnet type! A2, A3, A4, A5, A6, A8, A9, and ceramic

Please don't burst my bubble and tell me there's an A1 and an A7... lol

If I specify a magnet after the pickup, there was a swap; otherwise, the pickup is stock:

Gibson Les Paul, Zhangbucker Crushbucker A6 bridge, Duncan Alnico II Pro neck
Gibson SG special, Lead Mini A6, Rhythm mini A4
Strat HSS, SD Pearly Gates Double Thick A6 bridge Duncan SSL6s middle/neck
Strat HSS hardtail, SD Perpetual Burn Double Thick A6, Duncan SSL6s middle/neck
Tele, SD Quarter Pound Tele bridge, Duncan Hot for Tele neck
Tele, DMZ Transition A6 bridge, Duncan Seth Lover A4 neck
Jackson V, Gibson 500T bridge, Gibson 498T A2 neck
RG, DMZ EVO2 A9 bridge, DMZ Fred Neck
Mini Travel Axe HSS: DMZ Air Norton Double Thick A8 bridge, Duncan SSL6s middle, GFS Mean 90 neck
Partscaster HSH: Burstbucker 3 Double thick A6 bridge, SD SSL6 middle, Duncan '59 A3 neck

Takeaways from the excessive amount of pickup swapping / magnet swapping I've done:
- I often prefer pickups that are slightly hotter than vintage, but with stronger magnets swapped in, rather than having a high DCR
- I love the way an A6 magnet thickens up the bridge position
- as guys like Clint have pointed out, double thick / extra thick magnets can really thicken up your sound
- I have a problem. I'm a gear-a-holic
- despite the above, I still need more guitars
- Swapping pot values, and/or adding resistors to the pickup switch so different pickups "see" different pot values, can really sculpt your tone

There are at least a couple different types of ceramic magnet used in guitar pickups. You didn't specify whether you've tried them all.

Most common is Ceramic 5. Ceramic 8 is a lesser used one.

https://forum.seymourduncan.com/forum/the-pickup-lounge/207607-ceramic-5-vs-ceramic-8#post3367368

https://www.schecterguitars.com/pickups/apocalypse-vi-set-black-trad-1218-detail

[gsammo79]

I have humbuckers with every magnet type! A2, A3, A4, A5, A6, A8, A9, and ceramic

Please don't burst my bubble and tell me there's an A1 and an A7... lol

If I specify a magnet after the pickup, there was a swap; otherwise, the pickup is stock:

Gibson Les Paul, Zhangbucker Crushbucker A6 bridge, Duncan Alnico II Pro neck
Gibson SG special, Lead Mini A6, Rhythm mini A4
Strat HSS, SD Pearly Gates Double Thick A6 bridge Duncan SSL6s middle/neck
Strat HSS hardtail, SD Perpetual Burn Double Thick A6, Duncan SSL6s middle/neck
Tele, SD Quarter Pound Tele bridge, Duncan Hot for Tele neck
Tele, DMZ Transition A6 bridge, Duncan Seth Lover A4 neck
Jackson V, Gibson 500T bridge, Gibson 498T A2 neck
RG, DMZ EVO2 A9 bridge, DMZ Fred Neck
Mini Travel Axe HSS: DMZ Air Norton Double Thick A8 bridge, Duncan SSL6s middle, GFS Mean 90 neck
Partscaster HSH: Burstbucker 3 Double thick A6 bridge, SD SSL6 middle, Duncan '59 A3 neck

Takeaways from the excessive amount of pickup swapping / magnet swapping I've done:
- I often prefer pickups that are slightly hotter than vintage, but with stronger magnets swapped in, rather than having a high DCR
- I love the way an A6 magnet thickens up the bridge position
- as guys like Clint have pointed out, double thick / extra thick magnets can really thicken up your sound
- I have a problem. I'm a gear-a-holic
- despite the above, I still need more guitars
- Swapping pot values, and/or adding resistors to the pickup switch so different pickups "see" different pot values, can really sculpt your tone

How would you compare the topend of an A6 to an A5? I typically love the low end of an A5, but wish the high end was a little softer.