AlNiCo 2 or 3 in my humbuckers????

[baba o'riley]

I'm having Jeff from Highorder Pickups make me a blues humbucker set. The set will be going in one of my Les Pauls. I'm having the neck at 7.8k and the bridge at 8.3k. Only problem is I can't decide between A2 or A3 mags for the pups. Would love to hear everyones suggestion on what to try. Going for a sound similar to Taylor, Ralphs, Green, etc... Just good ole blues.

 

[Boleslaw Gers 666]

Re: AlNiCo 2 or 3 in my humbuckers????

I'd go with Alnico II's simply because I have experienced them and they sing in a Les Paul. Never used A3s before.

 

[MattPete]

Re: AlNiCo 2 or 3 in my humbuckers????

I just plopped some A3 in some neck pickups tonight. One was a Sethn, and the other was a Jazzn. One of my current guitars has a Custom Custom bridge with the A2 swapped for an A3.

From my experience, the A3 sounds a lot like an A2, but with slightly less mids, slightly more highs, slightly more bass, and slightly less output overall. The biggest difference seems to occur in bridge pickups. I've swapped the A2 in a PGn for an A3, and the difference was barely noticeable. Tonight, I swapped the A2 in a Sethn, and the result is very similar to a SethN, but with just a hair more highs and lows. The JazzN was an A5 to begin with -- swapping in the A3 made it sounds *a lot* like a A2pro.

Getting back on the subject: why not have him install A2s and throw in some spare A3 magnets? If you don't mind swapping magnets and experimenting, it might be a good choice.

 

[Jeff_H]

Re: AlNiCo 2 or 3 in my humbuckers????

I'm also considering having a bridge pup made by him...just to try it out. I'd be interested to know what people thought of A3 vs A4 in a bridge pup somewhere around 10K. I like the sound of a 59' generally, but want a little more output and slightly less harsh...but with clarity.

 

[Artie]

Re: AlNiCo 2 or 3 in my humbuckers????

Just as a quick reminder, A3's are lower power than A2's. Not higher.

 

[frankencat]

Re: AlNiCo 2 or 3 in my humbuckers????

I just played a freind's LP with a set of Jeff's A3 pickups yesterday. They were very cool sounding and sounded like old school Jimmy Page to me. The guitar was a 57 RI Gold Top. To be honest, I had just tried an A3 in my APHn and was not that impressed. I thought it sounded weak and muddy compared to both an A5 and the stock A2. I thought his bridge pickup sounded great but the neck could have used a little more sweetness to it. I would love to try an A2 in that same pickup. I think he said it was a 7.3k. They both had nickel covers on them. It depends on the guitar of course but my vote would be for an A2 in the neck with a lower output wind or the A3 or maybe an A5 if you are going for a hotter wind.

 

[DonP]

Re: AlNiCo 2 or 3 in my humbuckers????

Order with extra magnets. I asked for a pair of Alinco 3's and 4's. I've got plenty of 2's and 5's.

 

[Zhangliqun]

Re: AlNiCo 2 or 3 in my humbuckers????

It's good to have some of all 4 Alnico types laying around for experimenting.

My take on Alnico 3 is that is just like Alnico 2 except with slightly less output and slightly more bass and low mid. It's a great vintage tone and I have a friend who likes to think of Alnico 3 as "aged Alnico 2".

Alnico 4 is like Alnico 3 with more output.

I have an Alnico 3 in my Custom Custom in my ES-355 and I really dig my "Custom 3".

 

[Luke Duke]

Re: AlNiCo 2 or 3 in my humbuckers????

I have an Alnico 3 in my Custom Custom in my ES-355 and I really dig my "Custom 3".

You have a 355?!

Ok I can no longer speak to you! :newangel:

Really though I've always wanted a semi (345 if I could have my wish) with a A2P neck and a CC bridge.

Luke

 

[mnbaseball91]

Re: AlNiCo 2 or 3 in my humbuckers????

More mids = more tone, so I guess that means I'd want A2.