P
polifemo
Guest
Re: Teach me about magnets
2:nd swap performed.
Got an A8 in there right now.
Different sounding pickup again :14: Beefy tone!
Gotta love this magnet swapping thang :cool2:
2:nd swap performed.
Got an A8 in there right now.
Different sounding pickup again :14: Beefy tone!
Gotta love this magnet swapping thang :cool2:
blueman335
Mojo's Minions
SoCalSteve
New member
Re: Teach me about magnets
Can someone explain why most of the ebay seller's pickups just say magnetized and not "charged"? Is charged what we're looking for to do a pickup swap? If so, do we send a note along asking for charged?
What happens if you use one not charged?
Can someone explain why most of the ebay seller's pickups just say magnetized and not "charged"? Is charged what we're looking for to do a pickup swap? If so, do we send a note along asking for charged?
What happens if you use one not charged?
LtKojak
New member
Re: Teach me about magnets
No.
I always send a note asking for FULLY-CHARGED magnets.
The p'up won't produce any sound.
No.
I always send a note asking for FULLY-CHARGED magnets.
The p'up won't produce any sound.
SoCalSteve
New member
Re: Teach me about magnets
^ Thanks. Gonna give it a try.
^ Thanks. Gonna give it a try.
richard parker
Active member
Re: Teach me about magnets
This from Tim at Bare Knuckle:
"Magnets do add to the character of a pickup although it must be understood that a magnet doesn't have a sound on it's own, it contributes by the way it accentuates certain frequencies as current is produced in the coil windings.
Alnico II is the softest and generally has a smooth bass and treble although this is more pronounced the hotter the windings get.
Alnico III is very transparent, low output and clean,sounds great for rounded fat jazz applications-typical of '50s tone.
Alnico IV is probably the best vintage tone IMHO(for humbuckers) and along with II and III was used in the earliest PAFs-this is a fact and not myth as we've had them analysed and a colleague of mine has also seen original Gibson purchase orders that clearly state AIV bar stock being purchased.The tone of AIV is balanced and extremely organic, it produces the most authentic vintage tone and sits better in slightly hotter vintage winds than AII which tends to get very soft in the bass and highs if used incorrectly.
Finally Alnico V is the hottest producing more highs and lows, great for rock applications or where power and cut are important.
Different companies use different grades for personal reasons, we use all of the applicable Alnico grades to suit the correct design, both to be historically correct but more importantly to have the best sound.
Changing magnets in a humbucker can give dramatic results, you soon find the ones that really don't sit right and others that are head and shoulders better.Obviously you can't swap out single coil magnets as they're integral to the coil form.
I've personally spent alot of time voicing all the BKP range with the correct magnets but I do tweak and swap sometimes on consultation with a customer with a specific requirement."
This from Tim at Bare Knuckle:
"Magnets do add to the character of a pickup although it must be understood that a magnet doesn't have a sound on it's own, it contributes by the way it accentuates certain frequencies as current is produced in the coil windings.
Alnico II is the softest and generally has a smooth bass and treble although this is more pronounced the hotter the windings get.
Alnico III is very transparent, low output and clean,sounds great for rounded fat jazz applications-typical of '50s tone.
Alnico IV is probably the best vintage tone IMHO(for humbuckers) and along with II and III was used in the earliest PAFs-this is a fact and not myth as we've had them analysed and a colleague of mine has also seen original Gibson purchase orders that clearly state AIV bar stock being purchased.The tone of AIV is balanced and extremely organic, it produces the most authentic vintage tone and sits better in slightly hotter vintage winds than AII which tends to get very soft in the bass and highs if used incorrectly.
Finally Alnico V is the hottest producing more highs and lows, great for rock applications or where power and cut are important.
Different companies use different grades for personal reasons, we use all of the applicable Alnico grades to suit the correct design, both to be historically correct but more importantly to have the best sound.
Changing magnets in a humbucker can give dramatic results, you soon find the ones that really don't sit right and others that are head and shoulders better.Obviously you can't swap out single coil magnets as they're integral to the coil form.
I've personally spent alot of time voicing all the BKP range with the correct magnets but I do tweak and swap sometimes on consultation with a customer with a specific requirement."
ItsaBass
New member
Re: Teach me about magnets
OK, THAT should be the sticky instead. Still interested to see where ceramics fall into all of that, though.
OK, THAT should be the sticky instead. Still interested to see where ceramics fall into all of that, though.
Re: Teach me about magnets
New to this but I'm sure gonna try it! What about magnet dimensions? Is there a standard size magnet that fits most humbuckers (SD, DiMarzio etc)? Do most of the Addiction FX mags fit SD buckers (except the ones listed as "short")?
Any links to a good video tutorial on swapping mags?
Thanks!
Edit:
I did a google search & found great pix of how to do it. I did not info on magnet sizes. Is there a standard size for SD bucker mags?
New to this but I'm sure gonna try it! What about magnet dimensions? Is there a standard size magnet that fits most humbuckers (SD, DiMarzio etc)? Do most of the Addiction FX mags fit SD buckers (except the ones listed as "short")?
Any links to a good video tutorial on swapping mags?
Thanks!
Edit:
I did a google search & found great pix of how to do it. I did not info on magnet sizes. Is there a standard size for SD bucker mags?
Last edited:
blueman335
Mojo's Minions
Re: Teach me about magnets
All three are warm, and each has their uses.
A8 - Oriented, high output, tight low end, sharp high end (but not excessive), good dose of mids. Sometimes called a cross between a ceramic and alnico. More modern sounding. Really only suited for the bridge slot.
A4 - Unoriented, medium output, flat EQ, lets more of the PU's and guitars tone come thru. Some players like that, others don't. No big EQ push in any direction. Suitable for the bridge and neck slots, when an A5 is too bright and bassy, or an A2 is too warm and loose.
UOA5 - Unoriented, medium output, moderate mids, lots of earthy dynamics and response (similar to an A2). Second warmest magnet, after A2's. Complex and vintage sounding. Suitable for the bridge and neck when an A5 is too bright and an A2's high end is too rounded.
All three are warm, and each has their uses.
A8 - Oriented, high output, tight low end, sharp high end (but not excessive), good dose of mids. Sometimes called a cross between a ceramic and alnico. More modern sounding. Really only suited for the bridge slot.
A4 - Unoriented, medium output, flat EQ, lets more of the PU's and guitars tone come thru. Some players like that, others don't. No big EQ push in any direction. Suitable for the bridge and neck slots, when an A5 is too bright and bassy, or an A2 is too warm and loose.
UOA5 - Unoriented, medium output, moderate mids, lots of earthy dynamics and response (similar to an A2). Second warmest magnet, after A2's. Complex and vintage sounding. Suitable for the bridge and neck when an A5 is too bright and an A2's high end is too rounded.
Re: Teach me about magnets
Yeah, Ceramic is woefully missing. I'll take a stab.
Ceramic - Highest output. Very focused sound and stays tight under high gain without mushing out. Good for a variety of rock styles, but shines with hard rock and all forms of metal. (new, old, down tuned etc.) Great low end aggressiveness, very big sounding with fairly even mids and biting highs. It is stiffer than the Alnicos and lacks some of the dynamics and random harmonics that they produce. It can also be seen as sterile sounding and is not generally as warm as an Alnico. Alot of that depends on the wind, the player and the amp though.
Yeah, Ceramic is woefully missing. I'll take a stab.
Ceramic - Highest output. Very focused sound and stays tight under high gain without mushing out. Good for a variety of rock styles, but shines with hard rock and all forms of metal. (new, old, down tuned etc.) Great low end aggressiveness, very big sounding with fairly even mids and biting highs. It is stiffer than the Alnicos and lacks some of the dynamics and random harmonics that they produce. It can also be seen as sterile sounding and is not generally as warm as an Alnico. Alot of that depends on the wind, the player and the amp though.
Last edited:
darthphineas
New member
Re: Teach me about magnets
TTT
nominated for a sticky...unless there is a better one.
TTT
nominated for a sticky...unless there is a better one.
darthphineas
New member
Re: Teach me about magnets
I've been saying it for quite some time. Now that you're saying it, it'll happen.
I've been saying it for quite some time. Now that you're saying it, it'll happen.
Ayrton
New member
Diminished Triad
New member
Re: Teach me about magnets
STICKY.
STICKY.
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