difference between ceramic and Alnico 5 magnets

flipside

New member
Can anyone tell me the "tonal" differences between ceramic, and Alnico 5 magnets. I'm looking at two pickups and one has ceramic magnets, the other has Alnico 5's. Any help is greatly appreciated, thanks
 
Re: difference between ceramic and Alnico 5 magnets

If both pickups are wound identically, the ceramic mag pickup will have a little more output, more mids and a little more sizzle to the treble compared to the exact same pickup with alnico 5. Lew
 
Re: difference between ceramic and Alnico 5 magnets

Ceramics definitely more output and brighter, even a bit shrill to my ears (depending on guitar and pickup, of course). Don't like ceramics in general but they do have some applications.
 
Re: difference between ceramic and Alnico 5 magnets

Lewguitar said:
If both pickups are wound identically, the ceramic mag pickup will have a little more output, more mids and a little more sizzle to the treble compared to the exact same pickup with alnico 5. Lew

Lew nailed it right there.

The different Alnicos have different qualities too. The A5 has more highs and lows...tighter lows, than the A2. The A2 has a rounder top and more mids, it has a looser low end as well.

Luke
 
Re: difference between ceramic and Alnico 5 magnets

Sounds like what i'm looking for is the A5. I'm contemplating either the Duncan Custom (ceramic) or the Custom 5 (Alnico). I like the tone explanations on the Custom 5, but i just wish it had a little more output. What would be a pickup sorta like the Custom 5 but with a little more output and an Alnico 5 magnet.
 
Re: difference between ceramic and Alnico 5 magnets

I like a nice chunky A5 tone in the bridge. And a sizzling ceramic in the neck for shreddy solos
 
Re: difference between ceramic and Alnico 5 magnets

flipside said:
Sounds like what i'm looking for is the A5. I'm contemplating either the Duncan Custom (ceramic) or the Custom 5 (Alnico). I like the tone explanations on the Custom 5, but i just wish it had a little more output. What would be a pickup sorta like the Custom 5 but with a little more output and an Alnico 5 magnet.

The JB. :) Seriously!
 
Re: difference between ceramic and Alnico 5 magnets

the JB in the bridge makes me horny, I love it!
 
Re: difference between ceramic and Alnico 5 magnets

JB it's pickup with over the top definition under high gain and still let's you some nice cleans when split...
 
Re: difference between ceramic and Alnico 5 magnets

i'm worried the JB will sound too bright, and won't have enough lows.
 
Re: difference between ceramic and Alnico 5 magnets

flipside said:
i'm worried the JB will sound too bright, and won't have enough lows.

Not my experience at all... in a LP at least. I found the sound to actually have quite a bit of bass, without muddy low-mids. The spike in the upper mids creates the highly articulate tone, not a bunch of picky highs or rounded upper mids. I found it to be plenty warm while still being very clear.
 
Re: difference between ceramic and Alnico 5 magnets

Along time ago. But I've owned and played both. Alnico 5 magnets have the most magnet pull of all the Alnicos. A2 the least. One of the qualities that is mentioned but worth while saying is that A5 are brighter, and louder. So some players will be pleasantly suprised that they own an A5 because the break up faster, ie distort, and the cleans are really great. In fact live A5's have like a 3-D liquidy effect with a chorus I is hypnotized.

In fact use a 2*12 or better yet what I'm about to purchase is my first quad. Yeah, the confetti is falling. But talk about notes jumping out of the speakers. I like the 3-D * 4 sound. Oh I'm buying a Peavey 6505 quad and 6505+. I bought an EVH 5150III combo 2*12. I've had it with it.

I have to mention that thing is heavy. I had to lift 100 lbs. I opened the box, plugged in a Gib Explorer 2016, and got high pitch squeals. My girlfriend wasn't even having sex with me. Those are my usual high pitched squeals. May have been my dog.
 
Re: difference between ceramic and Alnico 5 magnets

You're responding to an over 10-year old thread... ;)
 
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