Ceramic vs Alnico

[halfmanhalfbiscuit]

Re: Ceramic vs Alnico

Thanks to Lewguitar for speaking so much sense! i believe many of the terms we use are describing different things. It took wine connisseurs decades, if not centuries, of debate to come up with the common terms of reference for evaluating wines, (some would say it's all rubbish there, but i don't think so), and tone evaluation is in its infancy.

I think everyone can relate to terms like "harsh" and "smooth" and "bassy", but others can be more subjective. When someone says a strat is "chimey" i can hear that, but I've never heard "quack" in a strat.

After a while one starts to get a feel for alnico vs ceramic, but the only way to really accurately learn is to swap out magnets on the same pickup. There are examples of this on youtube.

I find that ceramic pickups are tighter, more compressed, and have less overtones. Part of the results of the compression is to have less of the wood sound. I think that's why people say it's less organic.

 

[Aceman]

Re: Ceramic vs Alnico

Megadeth = JB
Ratt = JB
Old Dokken = Duncan Distortion (or JB)
Queensryche = 59 / PAF
DreamTheater = ?

All = MARSHALL!

In other words, I'd say your amp is going to be a way bigger issue trying to get the sounds you want compared to a pickup. If you plan on sticking with the Mesa, go with what works with a Mesa - EMG's.

I think DonP nailed the greater issue. we can get into the meta-experiential understanding of knowledge and organic vs harsh etc....But our boy needs a different amp. I can't think of a pup that will satisfy based on his tastes in tone with that amp. Cool tones - yes. Those tones, no.

However, I am, in retrospect, a Ceramic fan. I love and play most of what you are into. 5 out of six LP's have ceramics of some sort (including a ceramic loaded P-90!). I tend to keep the 300k Gibson pots. I would say my guitars have a good amount of highs, but not that they are harsh.

Amp wise though - I rarely use a Mesa model. Mostly Marshall and 5150's. again - DonP nailed it. Honestly, I find the 5150 a pretty good proxy for a hot rodded marshall tone like most of those would be using (or Soldano, whatever)

 

[ericmeyer4]

Re: Ceramic vs Alnico

Well Guys I really appreciate all the sugggestions you all have given to me, but I really like the the JB, I could learn to deal with it, but I really feel that on the high end (treble) it has a little to much for my taste, and on the low end (bass) I feel it lacks on that, for the mids I do like. I was just looking to calm the highs just a little and boost the lows a little more as well, I was looking at EQ settings on those other Pups and thats what made me think of switching out Pups.:cool2:

250k tone pot should rectify the issues you are having with the JB.

 

[dozer356]

Re: Ceramic vs Alnico

250k tone pot should rectify the issues you are having with the JB.

I have heard that changing pot value change alot, I have the 500k in and I heard that the 250k would tone down the highs, but what will it do for the low end of the EQ spectrum??

 

[blueman335]

Re: Ceramic vs Alnico

Well Guys I really appreciate all the sugggestions you all have given to me, but I really like the the JB, I could learn to deal with it, but I really feel that on the high end (treble) it has a little to much for my taste, and on the low end (bass) I feel it lacks on that, for the mids I do like. I was just looking to calm the highs just a little and boost the lows a little more as well, I was looking at EQ settings on those other Pups and thats what made me think of switching out Pups.:cool2:

You could spend hundreds of dollars buying one PU after another, some guys do just that. Magnets are worth trying. I can't get along with stock JB's myself, even after several attempts in different guitars. Then I put an A2 in one, and the spike was gone, and it had a warm, full sound. Some guys here are getting great results with A8's in JB's. There's always A4's too. Why not try a few magnets before you get another PU.

 

[weinergod]

Re: Ceramic vs Alnico

The Dimarzio Super Distortion is a Ceramic and it posesses many of the qualities listed for Alnico here. It is also reminds me of alot of the tones I grew up with and loved

I personally don't think that it can be simplified to Alnico vs Ceramic. They're just a magnet, you have to think big picture

 

[El CHupacabra]

Re: Ceramic vs Alnico

Isn't the JB an Alnico 5 magnet? Try a quick swap with an ALnico 2, It's only 5 bucks for an Alnico 2 mag. Might as well try that before a new pup altogether.

 

[philthis]

Re: Ceramic vs Alnico

Well Guys I really appreciate all the sugggestions you all have given to me, but I really like the the JB, I could learn to deal with it, but I really feel that on the high end (treble) it has a little to much for my taste, and on the low end (bass) I feel it lacks on that, for the mids I do like. I was just looking to calm the highs just a little and boost the lows a little more as well, I was looking at EQ settings on those other Pups and thats what made me think of switching out Pups.:cool2:

I'm sure someone will dispute me but after haveing several pickups from diff companies and Semour my impression is that Alnico 2 are more midrange Alnico 5 brings out more top and bottom, all the ceramic's I've had could do eather depending on how they were wound but they tended to have alittle more grit or growl. Go to a big guitar shop and play a few guitars. If you get on the websights the manufacturers will tell you whats in there guitars. Right now ESP is putting P-Rails in some of there guitars which I will test out before I buy them for my guitar. Its just a safer bet to hear it before you buy it if possible. Sounds like your on the right track.
:beerchug:

 

[blueman335]

Re: Ceramic vs Alnico

Isn't the JB an Alnico 5 magnet? Try a quick swap with an ALnico 2, It's only 5 bucks for an Alnico 2 mag. Might as well try that before a new pup altogether.

Yes, JB's come with A5's. Between a combination of the winding, magnet, wood, and pots, the infamous "ice pick spike" is born. All you have to do is change one or two parts of the formula, and you get a very different sounding PU. I really like the JB with an A2.