bar magnets vs. rod magnets?

[qbertsoul]

What is the difference between bar magnets and alnico magnets? What is the tonal difference?

I'm curious because I've heard pickups in Travis Bean guitars (which are next to impossible to find) are essentially P90 pickups, but the main difference being that they have 6 rod magnets instead of 2 bars, leading to a big difference in tone.

 

[qbertsoul]

Re: bar magnets vs. rod magnets?

bump

 

[tone4days]

Re: bar magnets vs. rod magnets?

bar magnets sit under the bobbins - they are flat rectangular prisms

rod magnets are tiny cylinders that form the pole pieces in single coil pups


alnico is an acronym for aluminum-nickel-cobalt and describes the metal alloy that makes up the magnet, irrespective of type (bar/rod) ... the number after the word alnico refers to the specific composition of the alloy, which in turn determines the magnetic properties, and the tone generating results

 

[big_black]

Re: bar magnets vs. rod magnets?

Are you talking about the TB-500 or 1000? The TB-500 has the "P-90-ish" pickups. I'm not sure what is under the cover of the 1000s. I know someone who makes TB clones....I'm pretty sure he makes the pickups too. He's out of Florida. There aren't a whole lot of TB fans here (one other I know of), but plenty of knowledgeable chaps here.

(note: the board seems to be down now, but try back later. You wull find everything you ever wanted to know about TBs there)