Need info on alnico rods

[DrNewcenstein]

This place is a mess when trying to search :lol: so here goes:

#1: How do you tell what type of Alnico rod magnet you have? Is there a tool you can buy for that? I know about polarity testers, but how do you know if you've got an A2, A5, etc rod?

#2: Who sells Alnico rods of pickup-friendly height and diameter in all the commonly-used strengths/types (A2, 3, 4, 5, 8 whatever)?
Not looking for bars. I need rods.


Thanks :eyecrazy:

 

[jeremy]

Re: Need info on alnico rods

i go thru allstar magnetics but im not sure what the minimum lot size is.

stewmac sells a5 rods. mojotone might sell others

not sure how to tell them apart. i primarily use a2 and a5 and with a gauss meter i can tell which is which since a5 is noticably stronger

 

[DrNewcenstein]

Re: Need info on alnico rods

Would this meter do the trick?
http://www.lessemf.com/gauss.html (scroll down to the ElectroSensor - Cat. #A144)

MojoTone appears to have magnets:
http://www.mojotone.com/pickup-parts.asp?id=11200&s=Rod Magnet

However, they all say non-magnetized. I'm assuming that means I'll have to magnetize them myself? If so, how do they rate as A2, A3, and A5 already? I thought that was only after they've been charged?


Wasn't aware that the A8 was only available as a bar.

 

[jeremy]

Re: Need info on alnico rods

i use a gaussmeter made by the rb annis company

the different alnicos are different compositions of elements. more cobalt, less of that etc... different alnicos have different fully charged strengths. maybe alnico 2 will top out at 30 gauss but alnico 5 will max out at 70 gauss. those arent totally accurate numbers but you get the idea. you will have to magnetize them yourself. easiest way is to get some neodymium magnets.

i would guess that a8 is unstable at typical rod magnet size and thats why they dont make them.

 

[DrNewcenstein]

Re: Need info on alnico rods

Interesting. Thanks.

 

[GoldenVulture]

Re: Need info on alnico rods

I think you can only get A2 or A5 rod pole pieces.That's all I've been able to find,searching.

 

[jeremy]

Re: Need info on alnico rods

you can get a2, a3, a4, a5 but ive not seen anything else

 

[GoldenVulture]

Re: Need info on alnico rods

you can get a2, a3, a4, a5 but ive not seen anything else

Merci!
There's always non alinco things like standard ferrous oxide or rare earth pole pieces, but quite a different response to alincos.

 

[jeremy]

Re: Need info on alnico rods

i meant alnico. i have some neo rods but i havent really done much with em.

 

[GoldenVulture]

Re: Need info on alnico rods

i meant alnico. i have some neo rods but i havent really done much with em.

Bright and jangly.I like the sound for rythm work.It can give the sound a near acoustic quality.

 

[jeremy]

Re: Need info on alnico rods

are these pups you made yourself or ???

im wondering what type of wind they used. bright and jangly is nice but i wonder what they would be like with a beefier wind

 

[GoldenVulture]

Re: Need info on alnico rods

are these pups you made yourself or ???
im wondering what type of wind they used. bright and jangly is nice but i wonder what they would be like with a beefier wind

They're in some DiMarzio 's HB's that I bought back in 83\84.they were the top of the range at the time.I can't think of the model at the moment.I will get back to you ,as I want to open up the guitar they're in and do some measuring resistances of the coils and so on.:cool2:

 

[GoldenVulture]

Re: Need info on alnico rods

DiMarzio 's HB's that I bought back in 83\84

Nothing on them to identify the model.Reading their site about identfying pick ups,It's gold/brass mounting plate is the only identifying factor.
I measured the coils[X2] in each pickup[X2]All[4] were almost exactly 6K Ohm.
I've re-wired them to 4 wire and connected them to run Single/dual ,but I haven't finished playing around with them.Viz parralell/series. I did play with the coil phase [the coils within one pick up] Flipping one upside down , reversing ones side to side orientation, but I found it worked best in it's origonal configuration.

I figure you could guess what a beefier wind might do to it.
Thickening the overall response would give it an even more usable sound ,I figure thats what it needs even though I like what it does.

If you're familiar with the rythm guitar sound Al Jerrau uses, it's in that area to me.

 

[GoldenVulture]

Re: Need info on alnico rods

Blink!:14: