I found a humbucker pickup magnet in the drawer. No recollection of where it came from. It's probably A5 or ceramic. Any way to determine magnet type before installing? It's dark grey, with white paint (or marker?) on one of the long edges, and what looks to be a small, faint blotch of the same white paint on one of the wide surfaces.
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How to ID bar magnet?
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Re: How to ID bar magnet?
Ceramics are black and Alnicos are gray. Between the Alnicos the only way to test them is by comparing the strength of the magnet to that of known magnets by pulling off the side of a fridge or something else magnetic.You will never understand How it feels to live your life With no meaning or control And with nowhere left to go You are amazed that they exist And they burn so bright
Whilst you can only wonder why
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Re: How to ID bar magnet?
Originally posted by jscomposer View PostI found another one. lol Looking at these, my guess would be ceramic + alnico 2. Is that right?Originally posted by crusty philtrumAnd that's probably because most people with electric guitars seem more interested in their own performance rather than the effect on the listener ... in fact i don't think many people who own electric guitars even give a poop about the effect on a listener. Which is why many people play electric guitars but very very few of them are actually musicians.
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Re: How to ID bar magnet?
There's a simple way to be sure about ceramic (ferrite): a digital multimeter set for resistance measurements shouldn't show any reading with the magnet between the probes (while an AlNiCo bar would allow a resistance reading since it's made of a conductive alloy).
There's no way to be sure about AlNiCo grades but some COMPARATIVE measurements might give a clue. For example, A3 typically hosts the weakest charge and gives the highest inductance while it's the contrary with A5. A2 and A4 are in between... Now, these explanations hold the water ONLY if the mags have strictly the same mass and have been magnetized in the same way. :-)Duncan user since the 80's...
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Re: How to ID bar magnet?
Originally posted by freefrog View PostThere's a simple way to be sure about ceramic (ferrite): a digital multimeter set for resistance measurements shouldn't show any reading with the magnet between the probes (while an AlNiCo bar would allow a resistance reading since it's made of a conductive alloy).
I think you're using the term "resistance" incorrectly. What you said would be correct if you were talking about "continuity"...just the opposite of resistance. Ceramic will measure a very high resistance (no or low continuity), and the alnico would show little or no resistance (depending on the multi setting)...the meter display would probably show "--" indicating continuity (no resistance).Last edited by GuitarDoc; 07-12-2020, 06:35 AM.Originally Posted by IanBallard
Rule of thumb... the more pot you have, the better your tone.
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Re: How to ID bar magnet?
Originally posted by freefrog View PostA3 typically hosts the weakest charge and gives the highest inductance while it's the contrary with A5. A2 and A4 are in between...
I wonder why alnico 2 isn't called alnico 3? And alnico 3 called alnico 2?“Practice cures most tone issues” - John Suhr
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Re: How to ID bar magnet?
Originally posted by GuitarDoc View Post"allow a resistance reading"? Not sure what you mean by that.
I think you're using the term "resistance" incorrectly. What you said would be correct if you were talking about "continuity"...just the opposite of resistance. Ceramic will measure a very high resistance (no or low continuity), and the alnico would show little or no resistance (depending on the multi setting)...the meter display would probably show "--" indicating continuity (no resistance).You will never understand How it feels to live your life With no meaning or control And with nowhere left to go You are amazed that they exist And they burn so bright
Whilst you can only wonder why
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Re: How to ID bar magnet?
Originally posted by jeremy View Postwhy is alnico3 even called alnico since there isnt any cobalt in it
But Alnico 8 includes some Titanium and Alnico 2 through 5 don't.
Didn't know that either.Last edited by Lewguitar; 07-12-2020, 10:39 AM.“Practice cures most tone issues” - John Suhr
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Re: How to ID bar magnet?
Originally posted by jeremy View Postwhy is alnico3 even called alnico since there isnt any cobalt in it
Reason why I've wrote "A3" in my previous message, in fact.
I write "AlNi(Co)", with "Co" between brackets, when I don't post on a hurry like this morning (and when I find lexical precision constructively useful). :-)
Originally posted by GuitarDoc View Post"allow a resistance reading"? Not sure what you mean by that.
I think you're using the term "resistance" incorrectly. What you said would be correct if you were talking about "continuity"...just the opposite of resistance. Ceramic will measure a very high resistance (no or low continuity), and the alnico would show little or no resistance (depending on the multi setting)...the meter display would probably show "--" indicating continuity (no resistance).
Actual answer: would it be fructful to fall in such an argument? I’ve too little free time for that (like you, I guess) and my only goal when I post here is to share, anyway... so, any imperfect wording due to my hasty answers in a foreign language isn't really a problem as long as my messages are understood - as it appears to be the case below with my previous post… :-)Last edited by freefrog; 07-13-2020, 01:13 AM.Duncan user since the 80's...
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Re: How to ID bar magnet?
Originally posted by freefrog View PostThere's a simple way to be sure about ceramic (ferrite): a digital multimeter set for resistance measurements shouldn't show any reading with the magnet between the probes (while an AlNiCo bar would allow a resistance reading since it's made of a conductive alloy).
Originally posted by Lewguitar View PostAnd that's exactly what we HEAR when we put them in a humbucker: alnico 3 is the weakest and alnico 5 the strongest with A2 and A4 being between.
I wonder why alnico 2 isn't called alnico 3? And alnico 3 called alnico 2?
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Re: How to ID bar magnet?
Originally posted by ArtieToo View PostI never realized that. I just tested it and it works. My known ceramic reads in the mega-ohms, while my alnico reads a dead short. Good info.
My understanding is that the "alnico" number comes from its creation date. Not it's magnetic strength. I've a got a "white paper" on that around here somewhere. I'll see if I can find it.
Alnico 3, though, makes a humbucker sound weaker than alnico 2.
They each seem impart their own tone or EQ curve to a humbucker too.Last edited by Lewguitar; 07-12-2020, 01:05 PM.“Practice cures most tone issues” - John Suhr
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