Alnico III vs Alnico II

[Blue Calx]

Could someone explain the difference between these two magnet types? I understand (at least I think I do) that Alnico II offers a smoother tone than the Alnico Vs, but I notice that Mr. Fralin uses AIIIs. What's up with that? Anyone have sound clips that would illustrate the difference?

Thanks!

 

[BS123]

Re: Alnico III vs Alnico II

To my ears, and I may be wrong, the AIII magnets are tonally in between the AII and A5 magnets. I have a Fender Nocaster pickup set and they have AIII magnets and that's what I heard when playing them. Lew will probably have a better and more indepth explanation.

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: Alnico III vs Alnico II

Speaking in gereralities, I tend to like alnico 2 and alnico 5 pickups best...just a rounder, warmer, more pleasing tone to my ears than a3 or a4...single coils or humbuckers.

Alnico 3 & 4 both seem to be a bit brighter and clearer than alnico 2, have tighter bass, and, like alnico 5, seems to give a pickup a little more output and a louder tone than alnico 2.

Alnico 4 seems to give a tone with more mids and a less scooped tone than alnico 3.

Both seem to give a pickup more clarity and articulation, but at the expense of a certain lower midrange resonance I like. Also, the highs sound drier and steelier to my ears with a3 or a4 compared to a2 or a5.

These are gerneralities as I've had some 9K and 9.5K a4 bridge humbuckers in my Hamer Studios that sounded spectacular and anything but DRY! There were things I liked better about them than the Holmes HB's in my Les Paul.

So much depends on the winding, the wire used, the winder, etc.

Lew

 

[Blue Calx]

Re: Alnico III vs Alnico II

this is some tricky bizzness. Thanks for the detailed opinion, lew.

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: Alnico III vs Alnico II

this is some tricky bizzness. Thanks for the detailed opinion, lew.

You're welcome! I'm sure others will have an opposite opinion too... :laugh2: Lew

 

[dr.barlo]

Re: Alnico III vs Alnico II

Alnico grades are due to the composition of the matals involved, and not due to pull power (instead due to the intensity of the magnetic field generated).

In single coils A3's that I have tried (fralins) were really not that good! I was amazed at that actually. I think I like a5's in single coils the best.

When it comes to HBs I find myself having some focal points that depend on the particular HB to be used in. If we are talking about PAF clones I love a5s in hte bridge and a3s in the neck. Still some of the PAF clones I have have a2's in the bridge and neck (PGs). If it is about the custom territory, I found myself liking the a3 best in a CC. CC with an a2 is not bad (way better than a c5 - my personal humble opinion) yet is sometimes too round. A3 corrects that, without changing the character of the pickup too much.

The ones I am fond of (post-mag mod) are:

. antiquities with a5 bridges and a3 necks
. CC with a3, and PGb with a3
. 59b stock (a5) and 59n with an a3
. PGb and PGn without any mods (but I think I like my PG+ more)

B

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: Alnico III vs Alnico II

Alnico grades are due to the composition of the matals involved, and not due to pull power (instead due to the intensity of the magnetic field generated).

In single coils A3's that I have tried (fralins) were really not that good! I was amazed at that actually. I think I like a5's in single coils the best.

Me too...tho I like the Duncan A2 Jerry Donahue and the Antiquity Tex Hot Strat and Tele single coils also. Lindy uses a5 in most of his Strat and Tele pickups...he just offers a3 for those who want it. The Fralins I use (Blues Special Teles and Vintage Hot Strats) are Alnico 5.

My experience with A3 in single coils is limited to the Fralin Real 54 Strat pickup and the Fender Nocasters...which I found to be very good, but a little steely and dry. And lacking in the flatulant lower midrange tones I like!

 

[Blue Calx]

Re: Alnico III vs Alnico II

So, for single coil strat p'ups, which would be 'glassiest'. From the samples I hear on this site, I like the vintage staggered (A5) more than the Alnico Pros (A2). To my ear they sound spankier and bubblier, and glassier. Where would A3s and A4s fall in there?

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: Alnico III vs Alnico II

So, for single coil strat p'ups, which would be 'glassiest'. From the samples I hear on this site, I like the vintage staggered (A5) more than the Alnico Pros (A2). To my ear they sound spankier and bubblier, and glassier. Where would A3s and A4s fall in there?

A5 would be the glassiest...and the most like the Fender pickups in my old '63 Strat and the Fender pickups in the old 50's and 60's Strats used by Clapton, SRV, Mark Knopfler, Eric Johnson, Buddy Guy, Jimi Hendrix, etc. etc.

Lew

 

[dr.barlo]

Re: Alnico III vs Alnico II

Me too...tho I like the Duncan A2 Jerry Donahue and the Antiquity Tex Hot Strat and Tele single coils also. Lindy uses a5 in most of his Strat and Tele pickups...he just offers a3 for those who want it. The Fralins I use (Blues Special Teles and Vintage Hot Strats) are Alnico 5.

I completely forgot the JD and strat ant custom. You are so right, and obviously I love a2 single coils as well, at least all the ones I have tried so far.

B