What exactly does *spongy* mean?

[gripweed]

I hear this whenever someone talks about Alnico II. I have a Seth, so I'm familiar with A2, but I still have no idea what quality of this pickup is being described.

 

[YJM_Rocks]

Re: What exactly does *spongy* mean?

I think it's when the bottom end goes to complete mush.

 

[STRATDELUXER97]

Re: What exactly does *spongy* mean?

I think it's when the bottom end goes to complete mush.

No that's "muddy"

Spongey is an amp term first and it means when you hit a note really hard,the amp gives up a bit of it's tightness and gives you a softer feel with some compression and a blossoming of the note again after the initial attack of the note....Another amp term for this is "sag".....

When guys describe A2 magnets,we or they,use the term "sweet"....Sweet has everything to do with the mids,lows,and how the pickup reacts under string vibration...

Hears another way to look at "Spongey"
An amp with a SS Rectifier stays tighter and has a tone that "Honks"
That same amp with a tube rectifier would possibly have more "sag" and not be as tight sounding...It's tone would be more like a "hunk" and not a "honk".....

It's hard to describe because it's all a feel thing and it's hard to put into words really....

 

[the guy who invented fire]

Re: What exactly does *spongy* mean?

No that's "muddy"

Spongey is an amp term first and it means when you hit a note really hard,the amp gives up a bit of it's tightness and gives you a softer feel with some compression and a blossoming of the note again after the initial attack of the note....Another amp term for this is "sag".....

When guys describe A2 magnets,we or they,use the term "sweet"....Sweet has everything to do with the mids,lows,and how the pickup reacts under string vibration...

Hears another way to look at "Spongey"
An amp with a SS Rectifier stays tighter and has a tone that "Honks"
That same amp with a tube rectifier would possibly have more "sag" and not be as tight sounding...It's tone would be more like a "hunk" and not a "honk".....

It's hard to describe because it's all a feel thing and it's hard to put into words really....

That is a very good way to put feelings and sounds into words John!

 

[YJM_Rocks]

Re: What exactly does *spongy* mean?

Yeah, sag is better way to describe it.

 

[STRATDELUXER97]

Re: What exactly does *spongy* mean?

Yeah, sag is better way to describe it.

"Sag" is also what happens during the aging process! :smack: :laugh2:

This "sag" is usually around the waistline.... :laugh2:

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: What exactly does *spongy* mean?

No that's "muddy"

Spongey is an amp term first and it means when you hit a note really hard,the amp gives up a bit of it's tightness and gives you a softer feel with some compression and a blossoming of the note again after the initial attack of the note....Another amp term for this is "sag".....

When guys describe A2 magnets,we or they,use the term "sweet"....Sweet has everything to do with the mids,lows,and how the pickup reacts under string vibration...

Hears another way to look at "Spongey"
An amp with a SS Rectifier stays tighter and has a tone that "Honks"
That same amp with a tube rectifier would possibly have more "sag" and not be as tight sounding...It's tone would be more like a "hunk" and not a "honk".....

It's hard to describe because it's all a feel thing and it's hard to put into words really....

Excellant! Couldn't have said it better. Lew

 

[STRATDELUXER97]

Re: What exactly does *spongy* mean?

Excellant! Couldn't have said it better. Lew

Thanks Lew....I was thinking about how you always describe stuff so well...Basically I just beat ya to it this time brother! :laugh2:

Your descriptions on these types of topics are always crystal clear to me...I Learn from the best..."Always"! :dance:

 

[WITH FULL DISTORTION]

Re: What exactly does *spongy* mean?

Spongey BASS=CC Bass?

 

[Robert S.]

Re: What exactly does *spongy* mean?

Alnico II magnet pickups do have a different feel to their attack when compared to alnico V or especially ceramic magnet pickups. I find ceramic magnets to be very agressive and immediate in their attack. Punchy might be a good word to describe the feel and response of a ceramic magnet.

Alnico V magnets are somewhat less agressive sounding and their attack is less angular.

Alnico II magnets have a softer and more vowel like quality to their attack and some folks may perceive that as feeling spongey. It is a subtle difference but it is there.

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: What exactly does *spongy* mean?

Alnico II magnet pickups do have a different feel to their attack when compared to alnico V or especially ceramic magnet pickups. I find ceramic magnets to be very agressive and immediate in their attack. Punchy might be a good word to describe the feel and response of a ceramic magnet.

Alnico V magnets are somewhat less agressive sounding and their attack is less angular.

Alnico II magnets have a softer and more vowel like quality to their attack and some folks may perceive that as feeling spongey. It is a subtle difference but it is there.

I agree. There is a little more midrange with most alnico 2 pickups compared to alnico 5. And although ceramic magnet pickups tend to have thicker mids than alnico 5, those mids don't have that same "vowel" like quality that they do with alnico 2. I know some techies say that this all has to do with magnetic strength and there's no inherant tonal difference between ceramic, alnico2 and alnico 5, but I'm not so sure. To me, the alnico 2 magnet gives pickups more of that "vowel" like tone tht Robert alludes to, and certain "squishy" quality that lets me shape the note with my hands..."spongey" I guess. I think of some alnico 2 pickups as being a little bit "chewey"....like a soft piece of caramel candy...and alnico 5 as being a little harder.