ALL THE MAGNETS

[Artie]

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.

 

[Clint 55]

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.

That's basically what you'll get. A6 is very similar to A5. The round bass is almost identical. The 2 main differences are the top is slightly rounded and it has added soft low mids.

 

[zizyphus]

That's basically what you'll get. A6 is very similar to A5. The round bass is almost identical. The 2 main differences are the top is slightly rounded and it has added soft low mids.

I would add that A6 has very muscular mids, especially low mids. To my ears, this makes it somewhat dark sounding, even though there is more treble bit to an A6 than there is to A2, 3, or 4.

UOA5 is often (accurately) called a cross between an A2 and A5. I would say A6 is like a UOA5, but much hotter, and much tighter (doesn't have the sponginess of an A2 like UOA5 does)
__PRESENT

 

[Synapsys]

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

Where's A4?

 

[Clint 55]

I would add that A6 has very muscular mids, especially low mids. To my ears, this makes it somewhat dark sounding, even though there is more treble bit to an A6 than there is to A2, 3, or 4.

UOA5 is often (accurately) called a cross between an A2 and A5. I would say A6 is like a UOA5, but much hotter, and much tighter (doesn't have the sponginess of an A2 like UOA5 does)
__PRESENT

I agree. A6 isn't muffled, but it does have a strange overall darkness to it. However, I compare it to A5 because of the non spongy response. It's oriented and none of the oriented mags have a spongy response. Only the unoriented mags minus A4.

 

[eclecticsynergy]

What about Alnico π ?

Tastes a little metallic - you have to add some lemon juice and extra brown sugar to balance it out.

 

[Artie]

Where's A4?

I don't know. I didn't write it. Just posted the link.

 

[Synapsys]

Not a stab at you, Artie... sorry if it seemed so!

I just found if weird that a comprehensive article like the one you posted didn't mention it.

 

[Artie]

Not a stab at you, Artie... sorry if it seemed so!

I just found if weird that a comprehensive article like the one you posted didn't mention it.

No, no man. Didn't take it that way at all. I didn't notice the lack of A4 when I first saw that article. Not sure why they omitted it. I wonder if there's a newer version of that document?

 

[eclecticsynergy]

Where's A4?

No, no man. Didn't take it that way at all. I didn't notice the lack of A4 when I first saw that article. Not sure why they omitted it. I wonder if there's a newer version of that document?

My understanding is that A4 has no officially recognized formulation.
Some claimed for years that no spec for it existed but I assume one has been found.

 

[Synapsys]

Thanks for the info, guys!