Anybody tried an Alnico 4 JB?

[Rex_Rocker]

Anyone? Seems like it would work well on paper, maybe? Not as soft as A2, but more mid-forward than A5, right?

 

[Clint 55]

Yes, I've tried it. I thought it was one of the best A4 swaps I'd ever tried. It evens out the JB's slop and sounds really balanced.

 

[marcello252]

if the level were a bit lower it could be an interesting thing to try for me too

 

[playas]

Yeah I have one in my Hamer Mirage.
It's not a million miles away from the JB and maybe closer still to the JB2, but I seem to like something about the A4's frequency response, so for me it's an improvement.

What I hear is a more balanced mid range that seems to be smoother over a wider range rather than the more extreme emphasis that the A5 has. It probably has more mids but as it's more even it's not quite as harsh let's say as with A5, and not quite as... what's the word, squishy?...as A2.

I'd like to try an uoa5, but of A2,A3,A4, A5 & A8 that I have done, it's my clear favourite.

 

[Rex_Rocker]

if the level were a bit lower it could be an interesting thing to try for me too

I have only one A4 lying around, so I don't know if my experience is very representative, but IME, I found it significantly weaker than A5, so you might like it. At least it was in the Jazz I tried it in.

 

[xxxplorer]

I put an A4 into a Wagner Ironman at 22K. Really cool sounding pickup. Right after I did it, I saw Fluff had a sig pickup with A4 lol.

Not as 'Mid forced' as my A2 Ironman, and not as aggressive and cutting as my C8 Ironman. Still does the chugs when needed, but a bit more air to the sound is best way I can put it.