Re: can someone explain all of the alnicos to me?
From
http://www.highorderpickups.com/ :
"One of the really fun things about pickups is the dramatic effect that different magnets can have on their tone. Changing from one grade to another can often take a "ho-hum" bucker to "main-player" status. Different winding formulas are key, but just as important to getting the tone you're after is magnet selection. For the most "vintage" tone, I recommend AlNiCo 2 or 5 in winds from about 7.5k to 8.9k. As the DC resistance goes up (a good relative measure of output) over 10k or so, AlNiCo can have trouble holding together and ceramic will help keep things together. It does add some "grain" to the tone though, so keep that in mind. AlNiCo 8 is interesting in that it's at once powerful, bright, and smooth but will be a bit too powerful for the vintage purist in low output winds. Due to the added cost, I don't always have AlNiCo 8 in stock. Here are some additional thoughts to help you make a decision on what will be best for you.
7.3k - 8.0k AlNiCo 2/3/4/5 - Good range for neck pickups. Lower output equals cleaner and brighter tones so players leaning toward really clean tones should "think low". AlNiCo 2 provides the warmest tone, and AlNiCo 4 provides a nice crisp top and tight semi-big bottom that's good for jazz runs. AlNiCo 3 is in between A2 and A4 in terms of tone - bright like A4 but not as punchy - sizzling like A2 but not as warm. Properly treated, AlNiCo 5 can be sweet and balanced across the board in the neck position.
7.3k - 7.5k AlNiCo 5 Even Wind - Classic "T-Top" tone. The lower output doesn't drive your rig as hard as typicl "PAF" winds but these can work well for vintage rock tones with a cleaner character.
8.1k - 8.9k AlNiCo 2 Even Wind - Warm vintage tone with a hint of natural compression. Good response to pick attack, pinch harmonics, etc. Nice and smooth. More of a balanced "stereo" character than an asymmetric wind.
8.1k - 8.9k AlNiCo 2 Asymmetric Wind - Similar to even wind, but with a bit more edge/cut on top, a bit of low-mid emphasis, and good harmonic "swirl". Midrange emphasis generally increases with increasing resistance. Excellent "PAF" tone.
8.1k - 8.9k AlNiCo 5 Even Wind - Sweet vintage tone the rounder punch of A5 on the wound strings and brighter top end as compared to A2. Good response to pick attack, pinch harmonics, etc. More of a balanced "stereo" character than an asymmetric wind.
8.1k - 8.9k AlNiCo 5 Asymmetric Wind - Similar to even wind, but with a bit more edge/cut on top, a bit of low-mid emphasis, and good harmonic "swirl". Brighter and more open than the same wind with A2. Midrange emphasis generally increases with increasing resistance. Excellent "classic PAF" tone.
8.1k - 8.9k AlNiCo 3 Even Wind - Open/balanced tone with more highend feel and a tighter bottom than AlNiCo 2 though with a bit less power. Good response to pick attack, pinch harmonics, etc. Has a little more "air in the tone."
8.1k - 8.9k AlNiCo 3 Asymmetric Wind - Similar to even wind, but with a bit more edge/cut on top, a bit of low-mid emphasis, and good harmonic "swirl". Not as warm as AlNiCo 2 but better for really dark guitars or when you like more highend feel and overall open character.
9.4-9.7k AlNiCo 5 "Maximus" Wind - Provides enough drive for a more "gainy" sound, but retains a lot of the articulation and definition of a lower output pickup. Allows pairing with higher output at the neck. As with any HighOrder pickup, the actual DC resistance varies with the magnet wire lot on hand. Bigger builders have more control over this. I wind to turns though so the tone of the pickup remains intact while the dc resistance varies within a certain range. "
