ALNICO pickups - the numbers..?

[DeathMetalRob]

There's 2,5 and 8 - are there other Alnico numbers..?

And does anyone know what they sound like - IE an Alnico 7 pickup, if there's such a thing...?

 

[Edgecrusher]

Re: ALNICO pickups - the numbers..?

Alnico is grades of magnets not pickups. There are like 25 different grades of alnico but for guitar work really only 2,3,4,5,8 are really utilized. Them from there you have sintered or cast. For their sonic qualites use the search and it will give you comparisons of all the different mag types. The most common are A5 and A2 followed by A8 and UOA5. A3 and A4 are mostly used in vintage replica PAF stuff.

 

[EET_FUK]

Re: ALNICO pickups - the numbers..?

If I'm not mistaken there is also A9. You also have roughcast magnets as well.

 

[blueman335]

Re: ALNICO pickups - the numbers..?

I've read that there's alnico 1 thru 12. 2 thru 4 are always unoriented. 5 is usually oriented, but can be found unoriented (and sounds more like an A2, but with more treble).

Alnicos are usually polished, but can also be found unpolished (rough grinding marks) and roughcast (sand indentations and lumps).

Unoriented magnets have a looser, more complex tone. Roughcast magnets have a smoother high-end. For that reason, I prefer polished magnets in the neck slot (where I need treble and cut) & roughcast and/or unoriented magnets in the bridge slot for warmth and to take away any harshness.

 

[DeathMetalRob]

Re: ALNICO pickups - the numbers..?

Alnico is grades of magnets not pickups. There are like 25 different grades of alnico but for guitar work really only 2,3,4,5,8 are really utilized. Them from there you have sintered or cast. For their sonic qualites use the search and it will give you comparisons of all the different mag types. The most common are A5 and A2 followed by A8 and UOA5. A3 and A4 are mostly used in vintage replica PAF stuff.

If I'm not mistaken there is also A9. You also have roughcast magnets as well.

I've read that there's alnico 1 thru 12. 2 thru 4 are always unoriented. 5 is usually oriented, but can be found unoriented (and sounds more like an A2, but with more treble).

Alnicos are usually polished, but can also be found unpolished (rough grinding marks) and roughcast (sand indentations and lumps).

Unoriented magnets have a looser, more complex tone. Roughcast magnets have a smoother high-end. For that reason, I prefer polished magnets in the neck slot (where I need treble and cut) & roughcast and/or unoriented magnets in the bridge slot for warmth and to take away any harshness.

Wow, there's a fair bit of information. Any idea what they lesser known numbers sound like..?

Say we name an Alnico I humbucker. How do you reckon that would sound..?

 

[Edgecrusher]

Re: ALNICO pickups - the numbers..?

Never heard of A1 being used. It exists not sure why its never been used for guitar though. Keep in mind though a magnet is only 1 part of the equation. People will say A2's have lots of mids and no highs with soft bass but if you listen to a Pearly gates bridge pickup its actually quite bright. You can make generalizations as to how they react but in the end they are still only 1 part of the puzzle. Most any sound you could want can be covered by the commonly used mags if the appropriate wind is given. Look at Dimarzio they actually have a wide range of sounds and outputs their humbuckers give and they do it all with only A5 and ceramic magnets.

 

[DeathMetalRob]

Re: ALNICO pickups - the numbers..?

I imagine that is but, I wonder what kind of tone one might get from that.

I own an X2N-7 which is ceramic and it sounds great but, not great enough for me to swap everything I play currently for.

DiMarzio just don't just really do it for me.

 

[blueman335]

Re: ALNICO pickups - the numbers..?

How do you reckon that would sound..?

There are more alnico magnets made than what we see available, the reason is that some aren't cut into guitar PU size as the demand is small. To get a rare alnico cut for PU's, you may have to order $500 worth of them. BTW, the numbering of alnicos is loosely based on strength; the higher the number, the greater the magnetic pull.

Here's the alnico's I've been able to find for PU's so far:

Unoriented
- A2
- RC A2
- A3
- RC A3
- A4
- A4 unpolished
- RC A4
- UO A5

Oriented
- A5
- RC A5
- A6
- A8
- A8 unpolished
- A9

I'd love to try some A1's and A7's to see what they're like.

 

[DeathMetalRob]

Re: ALNICO pickups - the numbers..?

There are more alnico magnets made than what we see available, the reason is that some aren't cut into guitar PU size as the demand is small. To get a rare alnico cut for PU's, you may have to order $500 worth of them. BTW, the numbering of alnicos is loosely based on strength; the higher the number, the greater the magnetic pull.

Here's the alnico's I've been able to find for PU's so far:

Unoriented
- A2
- RC A2
- A3
- RC A3
- A4
- A4 unpolished
- RC A4
- UO A5

Oriented
- A5
- RC A5
- A6
- A8
- A8 unpolished
- A9

I'd love to try some A1's and A7's to see what they're like.

That sounds cool. I'm looking try out some humbucker ideas, mostly hybrid variants of exisiting pickups or humnbucker versions of the current single pickups.

I reckon there might be some good tones going, if they're not already made under humbucker names already.

 

[blueman335]

Re: ALNICO pickups - the numbers..?

I'm looking try out some humbucker ideas, mostly hybrid variants of exisiting pickups or humbucker versions of the current single pickups.

I'm currently making some hybrid humbuckers. For years I had thought that it was hard to do, but actually it's pretty simple.

The wiring color codes go like this on Duncan HB's:
- Screw coil - top coil wire goes to red, bottom wire to green.
- Slug coil - top coil wire goes to white, bottom to black.

You can easily swap slug coils between Duncan HB's and reconnect them following the wires codes above. With 4-lead HB's, it's quick to do. If one or both are single lead, you'll need 10-14" of 4-lead wire. The color code connections are the same to the coils, so it's not confusing. Screw coil: top wire red, bottom green. Slug coil: Top white, bottom black.

 

[DeathMetalRob]

Re: ALNICO pickups - the numbers..?

I'm currently making some hybrid humbuckers. For years I had thought that it was hard to do, but actually it's pretty simple.

The wiring color codes go like this on Duncan HB's:
- Screw coil - top coil wire goes to red, bottom wire to green.
- Slug coil - top coil wire goes to white, bottom to black.

You can easily swap slug coils between Duncan HB's and reconnect them following the wires codes above. With 4-lead HB's, it's quick to do. If one or both are single lead, you'll need 10-14" of 4-lead wire. The color code connections are the same to the coils, so it's not confusing. Screw coil: top wire red, bottom green. Slug coil: Top white, bottom black.

What about a double slug coil humbucker..? Like a Quarter Pound humbucker for instance. Possible?

 

[blueman335]

Re: ALNICO pickups - the numbers..?

What about a double slug coil humbucker..? Like a Quarter Pound humbucker for instance. Possible?

The coils are wound to be opposites, which is what gives the humbucker (series) effect. You wouldn't get this unless you had the wires from each coil coming out at opposite ends of the PU. Unconventional, but it can be done. Do you have a phobia of screw coils that goes back to a nasty experience in your childhood?

 

[DeathMetalRob]

Re: ALNICO pickups - the numbers..?

The coils are wound to be opposites, which is what gives the humbucker (series) effect. You wouldn't get this unless you had the wires from each coil coming out at opposite ends of the PU. Unconventional, but it can be done. Do you have a phobia of screw coils that goes back to a nasty experience in your childhood?

Haha, no, nothing like that. I've seen BC Rich using Rockfield Fat Ass - http://bcrich.com/models/guitars/Warbeast/Warbeast-WMD/97 - which is a double slug. I like the Quarter Pound sound and reckon it'd be good for an Unleashed/Six Feet Under kind of tone (humbucker-wise - I'm also aware that both bands use EMG's).

What difference do the coils make in terms of the tone?

Example: I take the slug from an SH-4 and put it with the screw of an SH-10. I get a certain tone. If I take the screw-4 and slug-10, would I get the same sound or a different one. And if I turned the pickup round so the screws and slugs were positioned the same, what then..?

Elementary questions but, worth asking before I spend money.

 

[Edgecrusher]

Re: ALNICO pickups - the numbers..?

A double quarter pounder wouldnt be like 2 slug coils cause they arent slugs but rod magnets. Look into the Riogrande True split series of pickups their Muy Grande is similar to a quarter pounder and they make it in a humbucker version I have these in 3 different guitars they rock.

Besides that I prefer if possible when doing hybrids to use 2 slug coils because the slugs are tighter than the screw coils for metal.

 

[darthphineas]

Re: ALNICO pickups - the numbers..?

Someone should do a search for that 'teach me about magnets' thread.


Sent from my armored space station using Tapatalk on iPad

 

[DeathMetalRob]

Re: ALNICO pickups - the numbers..?

A double quarter pounder wouldnt be like 2 slug coils cause they arent slugs but rod magnets. Look into the Riogrande True split series of pickups their Muy Grande is similar to a quarter pounder and they make it in a humbucker version I have these in 3 different guitars they rock.

Besides that I prefer if possible when doing hybrids to use 2 slug coils because the slugs are tighter than the screw coils for metal.

Sounds good. What's your take on mixing up the formbook with SD pickups?

For instance, a pickup wound like an Invader but, using Dimebucker blades..? I know it'd sound different but, how different in your opinion - for the record, I have both pickups and a combination would, I think, be either brilliance or blasphemy...

 

[Edgecrusher]

Re: ALNICO pickups - the numbers..?

Sounds good. What's your take on mixing up the formbook with SD pickups?

For instance, a pickup wound like an Invader but, using Dimebucker blades..? I know it'd sound different but, how different in your opinion - for the record, I have both pickups and a combination would, I think, be either brilliance or blasphemy...

Some hybrids I really like. The custom/JB is great I used the custom screw coil with the JB slugs and the ceramic mag. It tightens up the JB some and makes it feel less compressed while still being loud and chunky. I want to try hybriding a Full shred and an Invader. The Dimebucker and invader would be cool but would be hard to do since the dimebucker is made different and encased in epoxy. The bobbin widths arent the same either. Not saying it cant be done but just not as simple as the others are. If you have the custom shop do it I'm sure its no problem. How it would sound i'm not sure i think your right though that it would either be brilliance or blashphemy.

 

[DeathMetalRob]

Re: ALNICO pickups - the numbers..?

I've got 30 pickup customs on paper and most of them are hybrid or humbucker variants of single coil. A Five-Two humbucker (I go with SH-52 for that one - fair assumption?) and the like.

Maybe worth a run or maybe totally failing. The SH-10/SH-8 hybrid sounds pretty cool though. A ton of low end with enough articulation for speed shredding - based on the catalogue's description.

I've got a 6 and 8 string Invader and when I can get my hands on an RG 7321 to convert, I'll get the 7 bridge and have a single neck 7 made, tune the thing to A and get brutal.

 

[Scott Olson]

Re: ALNICO pickups - the numbers..?

The Custom Shop has around 25 grades of magnets, though I couldn't tell you what they all are. I do know they have an A6 that is used for the Danelectro Humbucker. Mostly you see 2,5 and Ceramic.

 

[DeathMetalRob]

Re: ALNICO pickups - the numbers..?

The Custom Shop has around 25 grades of magnets, though I couldn't tell you what they all are. I do know they have an A6 that is used for the Danelectro Humbucker. Mostly you see 2,5 and Ceramic.

That sounds cool, Scott.

I'm looking on ebay at some parts to wind a pickup with - just to try it out and I've found an Alnico 9 magnet and some .375" slug poles that I reckon might be good to go with.

Using information from various websites, what could I expect from a regulated 5,000 turns of wire (not sure what thickness - I can't remember the numbers) using the parts I'm looking at..?