Alnico 2 and Alnico 3

[gripweed]

If heard people say that a2 and a3 are very similar, but I'm never clear about how they are different. Does a3 have less bass, or more high mids? What are the eq differences?

 

[skelt101]

IME, A3 takes the mid-hump of A2 and shifts it toward the high-mids. I hear less bass and low mids, more high-mids and treble, and lower output. Of course, it also depends on the charge the magnets have. YMMV and all that stuff.

 

[Chistopher]

Mostly a little less bass a little more high treble.

 

[beaubrummels]

IME A3 is lower output and smoothed out mids, but still a kind of mid-bump signature to it.

 

[Spaghetti Bolo]

I find A3 is cleaner/ less mushy on the low notes.

 

[jeremy]

in concept, i agree with that. in the same pup, i find a3 is a little cleaner on the bottom and low mids

 

[freefrog]

A3 is the only alloy of the "A" range including no cobalt (reason why it's named AlNi3 or alNiCu3, not Alni"Co"3, BTW).
So, all other factor being equal, it contains more iron.
This specificity gives it the highest inductance and weakest magnetism compared to "real" AlNiCo's.
Its "EQing" follows these specs: more inductance = lower pitched resonant peak = slightly warmer response, weaker magnetism = lower output and less prominent resonant peak / flatter response able to be felt as more "full range" or more middy, depending on the gear used . Which opens to all the previous replies above (they all make sense to me when I think to the specs aforementioned).

That said, IME and as with all alloys, A3 factually or potentially varies according to the years of production, foundries where it comes from, from batch to batch and even in a same batch, not to mention that various pickups may react differently to a same magnet. So nothing replaces personal experience IMHO. YMMV...

 

[Masta' C]

Yup, A3 is a very "clear" sounding magnet with relatively low strength compared to even A2. I like it in "hotter" bridge winds, like the Custom, but it's also great for cleaning up and adding chime to a boomy neck pickup.

 

[jeremy]

i like it in the custom as well, especially matched with single coils, but i use it much more frequently in neck pups

 

[Ascension]

Yup, A3 is a very "clear" sounding magnet with relatively low strength compared to even A2. I like it in "hotter" bridge winds, like the Custom, but it's also great for cleaning up and adding chime to a boomy neck pickup.

My experience as well on a neck pickup. I have a 59 neck that I have been running A3 in the neck position of my 95 Washburn USA MG 102. Really opened up that pickup in the swamp ash super strat and pares very well with the stock JB in the bridge.
Used that guitar for all the electric tracks here with my old Red Fender Prosonic head. https://app.box.com/shared/3chz5vojtx

 

[EmiAba]

I have used A3 for a while in a 59n. Less bass for sure, warm, bright, with a vintage glassy tone. The pickup showed enhanced dynamic (I guess because A3 is weaker than other magnets) but I prefer a bit more output..