Single coils - AlNiCo or Ceramic???

[Mr Natural]

I'm new to single coils and planning on buying an SSH guitar in the near future.

From my limited music store auditioning it seems that the AlNiCo single coils are airy and open with a laid back low end. The ceramic magnets seem to have a better frequency response, but seemed to lack the open sound of the AlNiCo's.

Leaving the store I was fairly set on the ceramic type, but have this nagging feeling that after living with them I will regret not getting the AlNiCo's.

Any insights greatly appreciated!!!

 

[Rockstar216]

Re: Single coils - AlNiCo or Ceramic???

A magnet is only one part of a pickup so don't get too focused on one specific part and neglect the whole sum of parts.

What style of music are you looking to play? What type of sounds are you trying to achieve?

 

[idsnowdog]

Re: Single coils - AlNiCo or Ceramic???

A lot of people get fixated on magnets when they first start researching pickups. Magnets play an important role in shaping the tonality of a pickup, but the construction of the coil is also important. The biggest stigma that ceramic magnets need to overcome is that they are used in poor quality OEM pickups and they are used for high output pickups which emphasize power. A ceramic magnet is just as valid a choice as an Alnico magnet and the resulting tone depends on the skill of manufacturer and the quality of construction. You have a bit more leeway with ceramic magnets when voicing a pickup because their power allows you to alter the tone of a guitar more than with Alnico magnets. With Alnico magnets as you increase the resistance you end up with a pickup that accentuates the tonal characteristics of that magnet type while reducing its dynamic range.

 

[Mr Natural]

Re: Single coils - AlNiCo or Ceramic???

I like versatility, but I play mostly blues, rock, and some fusion.

I played every type of single coil I could find, some with staggered pole pieces, some without the poles/magnets showing (just plastic). While I know the magnets are not the total sound of a pickup, it did seem that the ceramics had higher output and more "meat" to the sound.

With humbuckers I tend to prefer AlNiCo, but I've heard some awesome humbuckers with ceramic magnets in the bridge position.

I'll probably end up getting the AlNiCo's and if I need more bottom end use some pedals and turn up the bass on the amplifier.

Maybe after awhile I'll put some Duncan's in if I'm not satisfied with what came in the guitar stock.

 

[DreX]

Re: Single coils - AlNiCo or Ceramic???

A pickup is like a marriage between the coil and the magnet. Each is capable of bringing more or less of one thing or another to the table. People fixate on the magnet because it's frequently published spec, where as coil wind count, insulator, gauge and scatter type are mostly kept secret.

To say you want bottom end is a little vague since that doesn't say anything for what kind of treble characteristic you want. I find that ceramic single coils tend to have to harsh of an attack and too bright of an EQ curve. They lack subtlety and personality more often than not. It's probably fair to say that AlNiCo single coils tend to be less precise in how they communicate string movement to the amplifier, but it's what pickups omit that makes them sound beautiful (contrast with piezo pickups). I tried out some nicer DiMarzio ceramic single coils, and they simply exposed too much, they left nothing to the imagination.

I'd strongly suggest considering the SSL-4 or SSL-5 before considering ceramics. It's all subjective, but I think you'll come to understand over time why all the most popular high gain single coils are hot wound coils around AlNiCo magnets.

 

[koshikas]

Re: Single coils - AlNiCo or Ceramic???

alnico single coils all the way. i agree, with the notion of magnets being just a part of the pickup, but to this day i ve not found a decent sounding ceramic single coil. i think it is the reason why to this day most aftermarket single coils being made are alnicos to a few ceramic ones. all ceramic single coils are mostly found in entry-level guitars, and at most makes fine sport at poorly competing with humbuckers for the sound they make. but considering chime, dynamic range, articulation of alnico SCs i dont think the ceramic SCs stand a chance. Ceramics in humbuckers is a different story.

 

[AlexR]

Re: Single coils - AlNiCo or Ceramic???

The classic tones are all alnico - and rod magnet. I think the Ceramic ones are bar magnet, which tends to be under the baseplate and giving a different sound to rod magnet pickups.