revolution
New member
I'm seeing this alot. I know about the Alnico numbers but now there are surface types? Anybody mind giving me a brief heads up on this? Thanks! :smash:
What is "Roughcast"?
- Thread starter revolution
- Start date
IanBallard
New member
Re: What is "Roughcast"?
Rough-cast means that it was not polished and "finished" for use. They are relatively ugly and pitted from the casting process. It is asserted that these magnets exhibit different sonic characteristics than their polished brethren.
Rough-cast means that it was not polished and "finished" for use. They are relatively ugly and pitted from the casting process. It is asserted that these magnets exhibit different sonic characteristics than their polished brethren.
Kam
Shaftologist
Re: What is "Roughcast"?
Roughcast just means they aren't polished down and there are still grinder makrs and stuff on the surface. They tend to have a bit more character and a slightly smoother high-end. Tim at Bare Knuckle only uses roughcast in his pups and I think a few other makers have started using them exclusively now, as well.
Roughcast just means they aren't polished down and there are still grinder makrs and stuff on the surface. They tend to have a bit more character and a slightly smoother high-end. Tim at Bare Knuckle only uses roughcast in his pups and I think a few other makers have started using them exclusively now, as well.
blueman335
Mojo's Minions
Re: What is "Roughcast"?
Instead of being flat and shiny, roughcasts are bumpy and pitted form sand indentations. Makes for great bridge tones.
Instead of being flat and shiny, roughcasts are bumpy and pitted form sand indentations. Makes for great bridge tones.
STRATDELUXER97
Stratoblaster Tone Meister
Re: What is "Roughcast"?
Compare tonally if you could,the difference between say A2 reg..vs roughcast. ...I haven't tryed these but have read alot of posts for yourself and others about em...Would appreciate the education..
Compare tonally if you could,the difference between say A2 reg..vs roughcast. ...I haven't tryed these but have read alot of posts for yourself and others about em...Would appreciate the education..
Zhangliqun
Questionologist
Re: What is "Roughcast"?
I use them a lot too and they do sound a bit smoother, especially the ones from Magnetic Hold, which are ugly and even slightly mis-shaped. But if that's any indication, they uglier they are, the better they sound...
I use them a lot too and they do sound a bit smoother, especially the ones from Magnetic Hold, which are ugly and even slightly mis-shaped. But if that's any indication, they uglier they are, the better they sound...
Jolly_Rancher
New member
Re: What is "Roughcast"?
Actually, I was thinking in the car today that music is most often liked when it's screwed up just right. I mean the "tones" like saturated transformers, distorting tubes, electroagnetic interference and capacitance. But usually only in a controlled "&^#@*ed up environment where the distortion and anti-linearity is engineered.
Actually, I was thinking in the car today that music is most often liked when it's screwed up just right. I mean the "tones" like saturated transformers, distorting tubes, electroagnetic interference and capacitance. But usually only in a controlled "&^#@*ed up environment where the distortion and anti-linearity is engineered.
blueman335
Mojo's Minions
Re: What is "Roughcast"?
Having used A5's for years, and gotten used to the sharp high end, it took me a long time to adjust to A2's. Part of the problem is that I had Gibson A2 PAF's, which are dark in the neck slot and prone to mud. Just didn't seem like a good mix of PU and magnet. Then I finally tried some of Duncan's A2 PAF's. Seymour's figured out how to do it right. He uses very bright windings in the neck, and the A2's mids and rounded top make for a larger sound. In the neck, teh stock polished A2's work best for me in Duncan's; in my Gibsons I've put in A5's to clear them up.
The bridge was a different matter. Gibson A2 PAF's had a weird 'ribbony' sound to them ('57, BB, and 490R). Like they were rounded on top and lacking cut, but somehow still thin, and sounded funky, but not in a good way. Hard to describe. Duncan's bridge A2 PAF's werecertainly better, but still not quite what I wanted for a bridge tone. Using roughcast A2's fixed that artificial-sounding high end, and seemed to thicken the mids, making for better tones. I've now put RC A2's in my PGB, A2PB, and even my bridge '57 Classic.
Yes, after fighting it for years, Blueman now has A2's in a few bridge and neck HB's. Even put a RC A2 in a Schaller bridge PU (that came stock with a ceramic).
Having used A5's for years, and gotten used to the sharp high end, it took me a long time to adjust to A2's. Part of the problem is that I had Gibson A2 PAF's, which are dark in the neck slot and prone to mud. Just didn't seem like a good mix of PU and magnet. Then I finally tried some of Duncan's A2 PAF's. Seymour's figured out how to do it right. He uses very bright windings in the neck, and the A2's mids and rounded top make for a larger sound. In the neck, teh stock polished A2's work best for me in Duncan's; in my Gibsons I've put in A5's to clear them up.
The bridge was a different matter. Gibson A2 PAF's had a weird 'ribbony' sound to them ('57, BB, and 490R). Like they were rounded on top and lacking cut, but somehow still thin, and sounded funky, but not in a good way. Hard to describe. Duncan's bridge A2 PAF's werecertainly better, but still not quite what I wanted for a bridge tone. Using roughcast A2's fixed that artificial-sounding high end, and seemed to thicken the mids, making for better tones. I've now put RC A2's in my PGB, A2PB, and even my bridge '57 Classic.
Yes, after fighting it for years, Blueman now has A2's in a few bridge and neck HB's. Even put a RC A2 in a Schaller bridge PU (that came stock with a ceramic).
blueman335
Mojo's Minions
Re: What is "Roughcast"?
The difference in thickness isn't a lot, as there's so many indentations from sand grains. I think it's more the rough surface, as compared to the smooth, sharp lines of a polished magnet. On a RC, with the bumps, lumps, and indentations, the surface is pointed in many directions, and not necessarily evenly either.
The difference in thickness isn't a lot, as there's so many indentations from sand grains. I think it's more the rough surface, as compared to the smooth, sharp lines of a polished magnet. On a RC, with the bumps, lumps, and indentations, the surface is pointed in many directions, and not necessarily evenly either.
IanBallard
New member
Re: What is "Roughcast"?
I haven't seen any roughcast A8's for sale. I'm seriously considering swapping the A2 in my CC for an A8.
I haven't seen any roughcast A8's for sale. I'm seriously considering swapping the A2 in my CC for an A8.
blueman335
Mojo's Minions
Re: What is "Roughcast"?
Addiction has unpolished A8's, with saw marks, but not roughcast. Don't know if they exist. I'd like to get some truly roughcast A8's myself.
Addiction has unpolished A8's, with saw marks, but not roughcast. Don't know if they exist. I'd like to get some truly roughcast A8's myself.
Jolly_Rancher
New member
Re: What is "Roughcast"?
the A8's I have are rougher looking than the polished A5, A4, A3, A2 magnets I have, but still not really "rough". They sound just how they look.
the A8's I have are rougher looking than the polished A5, A4, A3, A2 magnets I have, but still not really "rough". They sound just how they look.
Jolly_Rancher
New member
Re: What is "Roughcast"?
revolution
New member
Re: What is "Roughcast"?
Very interesting. Thank you all!!
Very interesting. Thank you all!!
koshikas
New member
Re: What is "Roughcast"?
did some mag swaps during past weeks. thought of sharing some pics here and thought this would best belong here. i did comb some threads to find out how roughcasts look. all magnets were from "AddictionFX", and all were roughcast although i didnt specifically mention it to be so (which i like BTW).
now what i found was that though the top surfaces (largest) were pitted, the two sides that were supposed to make contact with slugs and screw spacer were polished. so are these magnets purposefully left roughcast for us tonehound glory, or are the sides simply polished to make better/smother contact with slugs and screw spacer ?
and the polished sides;
did some mag swaps during past weeks. thought of sharing some pics here and thought this would best belong here. i did comb some threads to find out how roughcasts look. all magnets were from "AddictionFX", and all were roughcast although i didnt specifically mention it to be so (which i like BTW).
now what i found was that though the top surfaces (largest) were pitted, the two sides that were supposed to make contact with slugs and screw spacer were polished. so are these magnets purposefully left roughcast for us tonehound glory, or are the sides simply polished to make better/smother contact with slugs and screw spacer ?
and the polished sides;
Edgecrusher
New member
Re: What is "Roughcast"?
isnt as much that the sides are polished as they are cut so they are the proper size. The textured your seeing is actually from the sand used in the molds during the casting process. Most are cast though some are sintered.
Though I have to admit lately ive been scratching my head wondering about the consistency of the mags from Afx, but I digress
isnt as much that the sides are polished as they are cut so they are the proper size. The textured your seeing is actually from the sand used in the molds during the casting process. Most are cast though some are sintered.
Though I have to admit lately ive been scratching my head wondering about the consistency of the mags from Afx, but I digress
Demanic
PenultimateTone Member
Re: What is "Roughcast"?
Rough casting lends a certain randomness to the magnetic field shape that influences tone. I have a roughcast A4 in an SH-6n in the neck of my Ibanez RG-120 and I love it. Maybe because of the wind of the pickup, there is still plenty of clarity of attack, but I swear that I now hear overtones that must have been getting stepped on when it had the original double thick ceramic in it.
Rough casting lends a certain randomness to the magnetic field shape that influences tone. I have a roughcast A4 in an SH-6n in the neck of my Ibanez RG-120 and I love it. Maybe because of the wind of the pickup, there is still plenty of clarity of attack, but I swear that I now hear overtones that must have been getting stepped on when it had the original double thick ceramic in it.
LtKojak
New member
Similar threads
