Do Alnico V pickups have a tighter low end than Alnico 4?

[CarmenJuandeago]

are alnico 5's better for hi-gain rock than alnico 4?

I read that alnico 4 is a little bit closer to alnico 2, and i really dislike the way alnico 2 sounds with moderate gain palm mutes

keeping pickup construction and everything else the same that is

 

[DreX]

Re: Do Alnico V pickups have a tighter low end than Alnico 4?

It surely depends on the pickup, that said, A5 or stronger / harder magnets seem to work better for high gain chugging. If you don't like A2, you probably won't like A4. I've only been satisfied with A2, A3 and A4 for clean and low gain uses. AlNiCo 8 is a compelling choice for hi gain, it's got the output of ceramic with the rounder top associated with AlNiCo.

 

[LtKojak]

Re: Do Alnico V pickups have a tighter low end than Alnico 4?

are alnico 5's better for hi-gain rock than alnico 4?

I read that alnico 4 is a little bit closer to alnico 2, and i really dislike the way alnico 2 sounds with moderate gain palm mutes

keeping pickup construction and everything else the same that is

Ceramic is the best mag for that kind of music.

You could certainly use Alnico 9 for max output with any p'up.

HTH,

 

[p4vl]

Re: Do Alnico V pickups have a tighter low end than Alnico 4?

Ceramic is the best mag for that kind of music.

You could certainly use Alnico 9 for max output with any p'up.

HTH,

Ceramics are best for faster high gain metal. For playing slower & heavier/tune down, an overwound A5 might be better.

My own experiments with an alnico 9 make me skeptical (it turned a LP copy with a BG Hellabucker into something off an old Norwegian Black metal album; thin and pissed off).

 

[blueman335]

Re: Do Alnico V pickups have a tighter low end than Alnico 4?

A5's have a lot of low end, and depending on the PU and wood, it may be tight or it may be boomy ('59N in some LP's) or flabby (JB's in some mahogany guitars). A4's low end may seem tighter at times because it's not the overdose that A5's sometimes have.

 

[Myaccount876]

Re: Do Alnico V pickups have a tighter low end than Alnico 4?

^I don't think it's the magnet interacting with the wood that makes a flabby low end, rather, I think it is just the inherent design of the JB, love it or hate it. It has a loose, spongy low end, but it tightens up pretty well if you play with the pole pieces. I'd like to say magnets make a big difference, but they don't make a pickup. The sum of parts make a pickup.

 

[Myaccount876]

Re: Do Alnico V pickups have a tighter low end than Alnico 4?

OP, in what context are we talking here? Guitar? Amp? Pickups? Just giving us the magnet is like saying, "Is a V8 engine right for me?" without even giving us what car you're putting it in.

And even if all variables are kept the same, I've had the same magnets respond differently in different pickups. An Alnico II isn't always warmer, an Alnico V isn't always scooped, etc.

 

[Aceman]

Re: Do Alnico V pickups have a tighter low end than Alnico 4?

The best pup is whatever sounds good top you.

In general, I tend to agree that lower output + higher gain amps works best.

I also would say IN GENERAL A2 < A4 < A5 for tightness.

 

[Securb]

Re: Do Alnico V pickups have a tighter low end than Alnico 4?

It surely depends on the pickup, that said, A5 or stronger / harder magnets seem to work better for high gain chugging.

I have A6s in my Fralin Metal SHO set and that is more than enough. The do have extra deep bobbins and are overwound with 43 gauge wire. However, they have as much gain and punch as any of my ceramic pickups while preserving the alinco characteristics.

 

[Demanic]

Re: Do Alnico V pickups have a tighter low end than Alnico 4?

^I don't think it's the magnet interacting with the wood that makes a flabby low end, rather, I think it is just the inherent design of the JB, love it or hate it. It has a loose, spongy low end, but it tightens up pretty well if you play with the pole pieces. I'd like to say magnets make a big difference, but they don't make a pickup. The sum of parts make a pickup.

It tightens up quite a bit if you throw a double thick ceramic in it. Or an A8, but more so the ceramic. Even a single thick.

 

[blueman335]

Re: Do Alnico V pickups have a tighter low end than Alnico 4?

^I don't think it's the magnet interacting with the wood that makes a flabby low end, rather, I think it is just the inherent design of the JB, love it or hate it. It has a loose, spongy low end, but it tightens up pretty well if you play with the pole pieces. I'd like to say magnets make a big difference, but they don't make a pickup. The sum of parts make a pickup.

Magnets don't make a PU, but they change it's EQ, and A5's have a lot of bass. Putting in a magnet with less low-end reduces or eliminates a boomy/bassy sound. I don't remember anyone with a Strat complaining about anything about JB's; put them in mahogany and sometimes squirrely things can happen, like a 'farty low end' and an 'ice pick spike'. Yes it's the JB wind, but part of the recipe for that includes the magnet and the wood. If changing the magnet fixes it, than you kind of have to suspect it played a part in it.

 

[Edgecrusher]

Re: Do Alnico V pickups have a tighter low end than Alnico 4?

I don't remember anyone with a Strat complaining about anything about JB's; put them in mahogany and sometimes squirrely things can happen, like a 'farty low end' and an 'ice pick spike'.

Now its confirmed you cherry pick posts that complain about JB's, as plenty of people with strats complain about JB's in all woods. Such is the price of being the most popular aftermarket pickup.

Though you are right that many times a complaint can be solved with a mag swap.

 

[GilmourD]

Re: Do Alnico V pickups have a tighter low end than Alnico 4?

Now its confirmed you cherry pick posts that complain about JB's, as plenty of people with strats complain about JB's in all woods. Such is the price of being the most popular aftermarket pickup.

Though you are right that many times a complaint can be solved with a mag swap.

I personally don't even like the JB at all, regardless of guitar. But that's me. I've recommended the JB to others, depending on their needs. Sometimes it's not the pickup but the ears.

 

[Myaccount876]

Re: Do Alnico V pickups have a tighter low end than Alnico 4?

Think about this, how likely are you to praise something on the internet? Now how likely are you to talk crap about something on the internet? I'd take a wild guess here and say that for all the people happy with their JB's, they're not going to say anything and just roll with it. Now if they aren't happy, you know that they're going to trash it to hell and back. That's why I think the whole 'JB doesn't work/is finicky in mahogany' argument doesn't stand up.

 

[Myaccount876]

Re: Do Alnico V pickups have a tighter low end than Alnico 4?

I'll repost this, as it seems to have been missed and I don't feel like retyping it.

OP, in what context are we talking here? Guitar? Amp? Pickups? Just giving us the magnet is like saying, "Is a V8 engine right for me?" without even giving us what car you're putting it in.

And even if all variables are kept the same, I've had the same magnets respond differently in different pickups. An Alnico II isn't always warmer, an Alnico V isn't always scooped, etc.

 

[Myaccount876]

Re: Do Alnico V pickups have a tighter low end than Alnico 4?

It tightens up quite a bit if you throw a double thick ceramic in it. Or an A8, but more so the ceramic. Even a single thick.

In generalities, sure. In generalities, you'll also change more than just how tight/loose the pickup is. You may or may not want that. Adjusting the pole pieces is easier and cheaper.

 

[Aceman]

Re: Do Alnico V pickups have a tighter low end than Alnico 4?

Now its confirmed you cherry pick posts that complain about JB's, as plenty of people with strats complain about JB's in all woods. Such is the price of being the most popular aftermarket pickup.

Though you are right that many times a complaint can be solved with a mag swap.

QFT

But yeah - an A2 or an A8 can do a LOT for a JB, depending on what you are looking for.

 

[blueman335]

Re: Do Alnico V pickups have a tighter low end than Alnico 4?

Now its confirmed you cherry pick posts that complain about JB's, as plenty of people with strats complain about JB's in all woods.

Not cherry picking; I'm certainly not reading all of the posts here. Most of threads I check out are related to Gibson design-guitars and PAF's. I don't spend a lot of time reading about Fender type guitars, so where I see guys having trouble with JB's is in Gibsons & mahogany. Didn't know there were complaints on the other side of the fence too.