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Post subject: Dear Pickup Experts,
Posted: Tue Jan 12, 2010 10:21 am
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Could someone explain to me the differences between the alnico 2, 3, and 5 magnets?



*disclaimer - this may be a completely ignorant post, i know nothing of the subject


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Post subject: Re: Dear Pickup Experts,
Posted: Tue Jan 12, 2010 11:12 am
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Ryan3985 wrote:
Could someone explain to me the differences between the alnico 2, 3, and 5 magnets?



*disclaimer - this may be a completely ignorant post, i know nothing of the subject


Different alloy blends. Some people say it affects the sound. I say - not to be noticed on a racing horse.

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Posted: Tue Jan 12, 2010 2:38 pm
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They are obviously, all Alnico (Aluminum-Nickel-Cobalt) magnets. The number denotes the strength of the magnetic charge. The higher the number, the higher the charge.

An Alnico II will have a sweet, midrangy sound with a soft high end and a spongy bass. These sustain the longest due to them having the lowest magnetic pull.

An Alnico III sounds pretty much like an Alnico II with a tad better string separation due to slightly less midrange and slightly more treble.

An Alnico V will have a crisp, tight bass, plenty of high end, less pronounced midrange; enhanced string separation vs. the other two strengths is immediately noticeable.

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Post subject:
Posted: Tue Jan 12, 2010 2:42 pm
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thanks martian, i really appreciate the help


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Posted: Tue Jan 12, 2010 2:52 pm
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Ryan3985 wrote:
thanks martian, i really appreciate the help


Any time!

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Post subject:
Posted: Tue Jan 12, 2010 3:05 pm
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Martian wrote:
They are obviously, all Alnico (Aluminum-Nickel-Cobalt) magnets. The number denotes the strength of the magnetic charge. The higher the number, the higher the charge.

An Alnico II will have a sweet, midrangy sound with a soft high end and a spongy bass. These sustain the longest due to them having the lowest magnetic pull.

An Alnico III sounds pretty much like an Alnico II with a tad better string separation due to slightly less midrange and slightly more treble.

An Alnico V will have a crisp, tight bass, plenty of high end, less pronounced midrange; enhanced string separation vs. the other two strengths is immediately noticeable.


I did not know that!


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Post subject:
Posted: Tue Jan 12, 2010 4:28 pm
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Strataholic wrote:
Martian wrote:
They are obviously, all Alnico (Aluminum-Nickel-Cobalt) magnets. The number denotes the strength of the magnetic charge. The higher the number, the higher the charge.

An Alnico II will have a sweet, midrangy sound with a soft high end and a spongy bass. These sustain the longest due to them having the lowest magnetic pull.

An Alnico III sounds pretty much like an Alnico II with a tad better string separation due to slightly less midrange and slightly more treble.

An Alnico V will have a crisp, tight bass, plenty of high end, less pronounced midrange; enhanced string separation vs. the other two strengths is immediately noticeable.


I did not know that!


Like my father used to say, "See, you learn something new every day!"

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Posted: Tue Jan 12, 2010 5:00 pm
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Especially from Martian!! I'm always on the lookout for his pup and electronics post so I can try to learn and most important retain his wisdom in these areas!! :) :wink:


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Posted: Tue Jan 12, 2010 5:09 pm
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fhopkins wrote:
Especially from Martian!! I'm always on the lookout for his pup and electronics post so I can try to learn and most important retain his wisdom in these areas!! :) :wink:


:oops: :oops: :oops:

I'm humbled (again).

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Post subject:
Posted: Tue Jan 12, 2010 5:20 pm
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Martian wrote:
fhopkins wrote:
Especially from Martian!! I'm always on the lookout for his pup and electronics post so I can try to learn and most important retain his wisdom in these areas!! :) :wink:


:oops: :oops: :oops:

I'm humbled (again).


No need to be. When you know your stuff you know your stuff!! :wink:


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Post subject:
Posted: Tue Jan 12, 2010 8:08 pm
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Martian wrote:
They are obviously, all Alnico (Aluminum-Nickel-Cobalt) magnets. The number denotes the strength of the magnetic charge. The higher the number, the higher the charge.

An Alnico II will have a sweet, midrangy sound with a soft high end and a spongy bass. These sustain the longest due to them having the lowest magnetic pull.

An Alnico III sounds pretty much like an Alnico II with a tad better string separation due to slightly less midrange and slightly more treble.

An Alnico V will have a crisp, tight bass, plenty of high end, less pronounced midrange; enhanced string separation vs. the other two strengths is immediately noticeable.


Martian, wow you know your stuff :D Can I ask with the above into consideration, where do SCN's fit into all of this? I assume they arent alnico pick-ups?

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Post subject:
Posted: Tue Jan 12, 2010 9:18 pm
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Alnico 2 an 3 are isotropic magnets and can be magnetized in either direction. Alnico 5 is anisotropic magnet and has a preferred direction which gives them a greater magnetic orientation. Alnico 5's are oriented doing the cooling process.

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Post subject:
Posted: Tue Jan 12, 2010 11:17 pm
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Im saving this one for my book of Q's and A's. Thanks Martian. :wink:


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Post subject:
Posted: Wed Jan 13, 2010 6:08 am
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Blertles wrote:
Martian, wow you know your stuff :D Can I ask with the above into consideration, where do SCN's fit into all of this? I assume they arent alnico pick-ups?


SCNs are ceramic magnet pickups. Cutting through the nice, 'high brow' name, Samarium and Cobalt are rare earth materials. Rare earth materials are what ceramic magnets are composed of. There are others rare earth materials which ceramic magnets can and are composed of too.

As I've stated a few times before, there is a 'sweetness' or 'musicalness' associated with Alnicos which ceramics simply don't have. Ceramics can be brittle sounding, especially in a high output pickup. The SCNs aren't high output and so, they are able to mimic a crisp sounding Strat pickup but again, not with any kind of vintage type warmth, per se.

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