UberMetalDood
New member
Why isnt alnico 4 used more often? All the things I hear about it are good so if so then why isnt it used by SD or Dimarzio?
Alnico IV
- Thread starter UberMetalDood
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Re: Alnico IV
There's at least 3 common reasons.
1) It's cheaper to minimize the variety of components needed on hand to assemble pickups. Order fewer components in bulk means cheaper prices.
2) Some pickup manufacturers feel that a partially demagnetized (or less strongly charged) A5 sounds the same, or even better.
3) Some pickup designers just don't like the sound of particular magnets.
I don't recall which of these apply for Seymour Duncan.
DiMarzio makes some pretty wacky arguments about magnet half-life to justify their use of only fully charged A5 & Ceramic (they don't even use A2 in humbuckers). Their Air patent is designed to mimic the sound of a weaker/different magnet. But has some interesting side effects.
There's at least 3 common reasons.
1) It's cheaper to minimize the variety of components needed on hand to assemble pickups. Order fewer components in bulk means cheaper prices.
2) Some pickup manufacturers feel that a partially demagnetized (or less strongly charged) A5 sounds the same, or even better.
3) Some pickup designers just don't like the sound of particular magnets.
I don't recall which of these apply for Seymour Duncan.
DiMarzio makes some pretty wacky arguments about magnet half-life to justify their use of only fully charged A5 & Ceramic (they don't even use A2 in humbuckers). Their Air patent is designed to mimic the sound of a weaker/different magnet. But has some interesting side effects.
Zhangliqun
Questionologist
Re: Alnico IV
To me it's just a slightly chubbier A2 so it's not such a radical difference to make too big a deal about.
To me it's just a slightly chubbier A2 so it's not such a radical difference to make too big a deal about.
LtKojak
New member
Re: Alnico IV
Lindy Fralin uses A4 in some of his production p'ups.
I, for one, like it so much to consider it the best magnet for the neck position, as it's got just the perfect amount of sizzle without the boominess of A5, retaining all the clarity without losing the midrange.
You pair this with an A8 magnet for the bridge position and you've got the perfect humbucking set.
Lindy Fralin uses A4 in some of his production p'ups.
I, for one, like it so much to consider it the best magnet for the neck position, as it's got just the perfect amount of sizzle without the boominess of A5, retaining all the clarity without losing the midrange.
You pair this with an A8 magnet for the bridge position and you've got the perfect humbucking set.
FuseG4
Our Neighbor Totoro
Re: Alnico IV
^ I'm with him. a4 seems to have more mids than a5 without giving up the a5 high end. It really does feel in-between a2 and a5, and its a great mag for the neck.
Now, in my LP, i did go back to a5 for the bridge pickup. a8 didn't cut through for me like a5 does. I put the a8 mag into a 7.2K handwound humbucker on a stratocopy and I feel it's doing a better job with the 25.5" scale.
^ I'm with him. a4 seems to have more mids than a5 without giving up the a5 high end. It really does feel in-between a2 and a5, and its a great mag for the neck.
Now, in my LP, i did go back to a5 for the bridge pickup. a8 didn't cut through for me like a5 does. I put the a8 mag into a 7.2K handwound humbucker on a stratocopy and I feel it's doing a better job with the 25.5" scale.
Pontiac Jack
Member
Re: Alnico IV
+ 1 for the a4.
I put together a PAF style pickup recently using an a4. A fairly standard wind at around 7.8K. With an a5 it had an edge to the sound I didn't like,popped in an a4 and it smoothed it out beautifully. The low magnetic drag enhances sustain. I have it in the bridge position of a guitar I use to try thing out on. It has a small,Steinberger styled body of Huon Pine,which is a very lively wood,and the tone with the a4 pickup in it is warm and sweet with fantastic sustain.
I was a little surprised at the results compared with the a5.
I read somewhere that Ted McCarty once said that some of the original PAF's had used a4's. And that Ibanez used a4's in there Super58's which is a pickup,that I think,sounds sensational (If you can find one!)
If you want to try a4's,I'd say grab an SD 59,get an a4 from Wymores and give it a shot. If you're looking for a warm,sweet tone with plenty of sustain,it's definitely worth a shot.
Cheers,PJ
+ 1 for the a4.
I put together a PAF style pickup recently using an a4. A fairly standard wind at around 7.8K. With an a5 it had an edge to the sound I didn't like,popped in an a4 and it smoothed it out beautifully. The low magnetic drag enhances sustain. I have it in the bridge position of a guitar I use to try thing out on. It has a small,Steinberger styled body of Huon Pine,which is a very lively wood,and the tone with the a4 pickup in it is warm and sweet with fantastic sustain.
I was a little surprised at the results compared with the a5.
I read somewhere that Ted McCarty once said that some of the original PAF's had used a4's. And that Ibanez used a4's in there Super58's which is a pickup,that I think,sounds sensational (If you can find one!)
If you want to try a4's,I'd say grab an SD 59,get an a4 from Wymores and give it a shot. If you're looking for a warm,sweet tone with plenty of sustain,it's definitely worth a shot.
Cheers,PJ
cvansickle
New member
Re: Alnico IV
I've got Lindy Fralin A4 magnet pickups in four guitars. To my ears, they have all the volume of A5, but with a more even EQ curve between the highs and mids and much less compression.
I've got Lindy Fralin A4 magnet pickups in four guitars. To my ears, they have all the volume of A5, but with a more even EQ curve between the highs and mids and much less compression.
Re: Alnico IV
The BIG question is "Why isn't A8 used more?"
A4 is a subtle (but effective) change from A5 or even A2 in some PUs, but A8 is a huge change from A5, A2, or ceramic. Big enough to make it very unique. Big enough to justify many production model PUs. It Certainly should be added to the Custom group. In my mind the C8 just about eliminates the need for any of the other Customs.
The BIG question is "Why isn't A8 used more?"
A4 is a subtle (but effective) change from A5 or even A2 in some PUs, but A8 is a huge change from A5, A2, or ceramic. Big enough to make it very unique. Big enough to justify many production model PUs. It Certainly should be added to the Custom group. In my mind the C8 just about eliminates the need for any of the other Customs.
dr.barlo
New member
Re: Alnico IV
One of my all time favorite PAF clones was a 8.65-70K Ant bridge with an a4, and 7.70K Ant neck with an a3 magnet. Was using it in my 04 LP Standard, but later sold that guitar, and them pickups separately.
Ant bridges sound fantastic with an a4, if the a5 is a bit too upfront and punchy. And works really very well with an a3 ant neck, but I also like them regular ants with dun-aged a2 magnets.
Am using this a4 59 of mine together with a PATB-3. It became a killer set, seriously I could not be more happy with the match of these buckers with my hardtail walnut strat.
B
One of my all time favorite PAF clones was a 8.65-70K Ant bridge with an a4, and 7.70K Ant neck with an a3 magnet. Was using it in my 04 LP Standard, but later sold that guitar, and them pickups separately.
Ant bridges sound fantastic with an a4, if the a5 is a bit too upfront and punchy. And works really very well with an a3 ant neck, but I also like them regular ants with dun-aged a2 magnets.
Am using this a4 59 of mine together with a PATB-3. It became a killer set, seriously I could not be more happy with the match of these buckers with my hardtail walnut strat.
B
dr.barlo
New member
Re: Alnico IV
I love the Duncan company, their devotion to development, while maintaining their picky and precise care about the details. Like them wooden spacers in 59s (which is in fact not an expensive pickup, but still is definitely is a much better PAF clone than some other "boutique stuff" out there), or the material of the bobins on PAF clones...
Yet, I think that sometimes they are not immediately responding to customer requests and tastes. For example, the whole 10K PAF thing... I sincerely believe that the Brobucker is one of the mightiest buckers out there. The 78? why not make it into a regular pickup? This A8 thing that you are saying. Yes, I know they started using it, but the trigger was that Crazy 8. Frankly, I though that pickup would suck big time, and did not get into its list. But, now I wish I'd done it. Anyways, to me it seems like alternative 8 would not have happened if people here were not to insist on the specs of the crazy 8. See what I am saying?
Am not saying that they should expand their line in a crazy way. But it is clear that there are some holes, that pop up every now and then. Like this 10K thing (by the way PATB-3 is a great bucker in that regard, yet its looks won't match with a LP or SG)... The use of A8, ... and some other issues.
By the way, I am an academic (economist, actually) specializing on strategic behavior and its various applications. To me it seems like sometimes they are missing some important customer tastes. Of course, the custom shop is there to respond immediately to any such demand, however, many people (even some on this board) are not aware of that. So, expanding the production line just a little bit would be (I think) beneficial for both the company, and us.
Let me repeat that I love this company. My favorite pickup company, which I respect quite a lot. I am stressing it, because I hope to make sure what I said can be evaluated with this perspective.
Peace!
B :beerchug:
I love the Duncan company, their devotion to development, while maintaining their picky and precise care about the details. Like them wooden spacers in 59s (which is in fact not an expensive pickup, but still is definitely is a much better PAF clone than some other "boutique stuff" out there), or the material of the bobins on PAF clones...
Yet, I think that sometimes they are not immediately responding to customer requests and tastes. For example, the whole 10K PAF thing... I sincerely believe that the Brobucker is one of the mightiest buckers out there. The 78? why not make it into a regular pickup? This A8 thing that you are saying. Yes, I know they started using it, but the trigger was that Crazy 8. Frankly, I though that pickup would suck big time, and did not get into its list. But, now I wish I'd done it. Anyways, to me it seems like alternative 8 would not have happened if people here were not to insist on the specs of the crazy 8. See what I am saying?
Am not saying that they should expand their line in a crazy way. But it is clear that there are some holes, that pop up every now and then. Like this 10K thing (by the way PATB-3 is a great bucker in that regard, yet its looks won't match with a LP or SG)... The use of A8, ... and some other issues.
By the way, I am an academic (economist, actually) specializing on strategic behavior and its various applications. To me it seems like sometimes they are missing some important customer tastes. Of course, the custom shop is there to respond immediately to any such demand, however, many people (even some on this board) are not aware of that. So, expanding the production line just a little bit would be (I think) beneficial for both the company, and us.
Let me repeat that I love this company. My favorite pickup company, which I respect quite a lot. I am stressing it, because I hope to make sure what I said can be evaluated with this perspective.
Peace!
B :beerchug:
Last edited:
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