Jack_TriPpEr
New member
I have a custom made humbucker that someone gave to me a few years back. Is there a way to determine what type of magnet is in this humbucker, i.e. A5 or ceramic or A2, etc. etc.?
Way to determine type of magnet in unknown humbucker?
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Masta' C
Well-known member
Re: Way to determine type of magnet in unknown humbucker?
Ceramic will look like graphite (dark gray/black) and be non-reflective for the most part
If it's shiny/semi-reflective or noticeably silver metal colored, then it's likely AlNiCo. However, you may not be able to determine the type without being able to charge and measure it accurately. Does the magnet have any markings on it at all?
Ceramic will look like graphite (dark gray/black) and be non-reflective for the most part
If it's shiny/semi-reflective or noticeably silver metal colored, then it's likely AlNiCo. However, you may not be able to determine the type without being able to charge and measure it accurately. Does the magnet have any markings on it at all?
freefrog
Well-known member
Re: Way to determine type of magnet in unknown humbucker?
If you can pull off the magnet, test its resistance by putting the probes of a DMM at each end: ceramic is not conductive so it should read infinite resistance.
EDIT - Stupid me. No need to pull off the mag: as it is not conductive, it won't give a resistance reading, as long as the probes are touching each end of the mag only and not the baseplate...
To know what kind of AlNiCo is involved is more tricky and requires what AlexR said. Now, measuring the inductance of the PU might give an indication: A5 < A4 < A2 < A3 when it comes to inductance (IOW, a PU with an AlNi 3 mag will exhibit the weakest charge BUT the highest inductance and it's the contrary with an A5 mag).
If you can pull off the magnet, test its resistance by putting the probes of a DMM at each end: ceramic is not conductive so it should read infinite resistance.
EDIT - Stupid me. No need to pull off the mag: as it is not conductive, it won't give a resistance reading, as long as the probes are touching each end of the mag only and not the baseplate...
To know what kind of AlNiCo is involved is more tricky and requires what AlexR said. Now, measuring the inductance of the PU might give an indication: A5 < A4 < A2 < A3 when it comes to inductance (IOW, a PU with an AlNi 3 mag will exhibit the weakest charge BUT the highest inductance and it's the contrary with an A5 mag).
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