[Alnico Types]

Well, yeah, thats why i do it. To me great tone and dynamics (especially the latter) are what i thrive on. I built my own amp, not a clone but a design i spent years on to get what i always wanted out of an amp. It took me years but now i have it and it's what i have always looked for. Trust me....I'm with ya on this !

[Alnico Types]

Oh hell yeah ! I agree totally. I say the same thing about many things besides this. For example, people don't realize that if you are the type of player that uses your volume control to go from clean to scream, a treble bleed can make or break a guitar. Most throw one in with a certain value, if it doesn't work they may change the cap to a different value or maybe just give up on it and say they are crap. A LOT of people hate them, but if they let me put one in thier guitar I'm sure i could change thier minds for the most part. But a simple cap and resistor OF THE CORRECT VALUE FOR THAT GUITAR and in my case a pot (to vary the degree of bleed) can literately make a guitar you didn't car much for one you are wild about. But there are truly infinite possibilities for that and the right one in the right guitar will have a TB hater doing a 180. And using a pot (in my case easy because i don't use tone controls so i use the tone pot)to vary the degree of bleed can do amazing things because not only can you change the degree of bleed, but it radically changes the gain structure too.

 

So yeah, i get that and big time. I'm guilty of spending way too much time with stuff like this. But the magnet thing is something i only recently have been messing with. I'm sure i probably should have left it alone tho. Now i will likely spend a lot more time swapping magnets than playing. :D

[Alnico Types]

Unoriented refers to the internal grain in the metal, whether it's aligned or random, and has nothing to do with the magnetic poles. That stays the same. Treat them like any other magnet. Remember, A2's, A3's, and A4's are unoriented too.

 

Gotcha, thanks. I bought it so hopefully i'll know in a week if they do what i'm hoping for. I like the 59/hybrid as is, but it's not perfect so It's worth a shot.

[Alnico Types]

Thanks Blueman. I'm going to get the one in the second link. When it says un-oriented does that also mean i can put it in any old way? On the few magnets i have swapped i alwys use another magnet to see how the stock one is oriented then test the replacement to make sure it goes in the same way. But i assume with the un-oriented you can just throw it in any old way?

[Alnico Types]

A8's became commonly available several years ago, and took things by storm; been tried in many bridge PU's (high, low, and medium output, and also in P-90's). It's a great middle ground between A5's and A2's, leaning towards the A5 side. On the Duncan site, most of us get our magents from Addiction FX, who is on eBay. They have the biggest selection and the lowest prices (several dollars per magnet). With any of them, you'll want to get the 'standard' size, fully charged. These will fit any HB and P-90.

 

A more recent magnet introduction is the UOA5, again a middle ground between A5's and A2's, but leaning more towards the A2 side. Medium output, warm, with a more organic/earthy sound, and lots of complex dynamics. Great for blues and jazz.

 

Both of these are great options for bridge PU's where an A5 is too bright or thin, or an A2 is too rounded on top and lacking treble.

 

Oh boy, now you have me thinking about the U0A5 ! I'm big into dynamics more than anything. I'll sacrifice other things for that. I looked at his offerings and saw "Alnico 5 humbucker unoriented magnet". Thats the U0A5 you mentioned correct? It also said 2.444'' long x 0.492'' wide x 0.125'' thick.... is that right? This is for a F spaced model by the way. Should be long enough by my estimation but not sure about the thickness or width.

 

EDIT: heres the page.. http://www.ebay.com/itm/Alnico-5-humbucker-unoriented-magnet-2-444-long-/320902448110?pt=Guitar_Accessories&hash=item4ab746c3ee

 

Then theres this which says fully charged while the other one doesn't. don't get that? anyways, here... http://www.ebay.com/itm/Alnico-5-1-pcs-A-5-1pc-A-5-Unorientd-Magnetized-/220649535487?pt=Guitar_Accessories&hash=item335fbcb7ff

[Alnico Types]

Right. A PU with bright highs will have tight clear lows, because that describes an A5. Likewise, one with round full highs will have muddy (loose) lows, which is classic A2. The '59/Custom hybrid is a great PU and just went into Duncan production this year. Both coils are from bright PU's ('59B and C5), and the unbalanced part of it also adds some highs, so it can be bright and thin with the stock A5 magnet. Since A5's have the brightest, sharpest high end; your choices are warmer magnets. A8's are popular, they still have treble but not as much, and they have more mids, the low end is tight. Lots of punch. A4's are like a tamer A8, with less output and a little flatter EQ. I'm partial to UOA5's, for the vintage dynamics, but they're on the warm side (not as warm as A2's), and the low end isn't real tight (not as loose as an A2). Those are your options. I'd try an A8 first and see what you think. It will fill in the high end and you won't give up a tight low end. They're very good clean too.

 

I read your description of the A8 and it sounded to me like the ideal change. Then at the end you suggested it yourself. So it's probably a good sign. Thank you sir ! Now where can i get one? I'll try Ebay but if you have any suggestions i'm all ears. Also, do you know what dimensions to get for the 59/hybrid? (assuming they come in more than one ?)

[Alnico Types]

thanks, Blueman. Thats pretty much what i hear. I have a ceramic dimarzio in my hawk's bridge and i like it. But i generally like that for the bridge because i use the bridge mostly for hotter stuff and the other positions for cleaner. I do however have a tele with a H bridge and S neck and because it's my only 2 p/u guitar i tend to want the bridge to be more versatile. The bridge is a duncan 59/hybrid which i recall is a A5, and i like it a lot but for the high end which is a bit too thin at times. On the other hand i wouldn't want it to sound dark or any softer. So is there a magnet that would just sorta fill out the top a bit and not change the amount of cut and punch and clarity is has? I fear tho it will muddy the low end if i do find a mag like that because it's already a bit muddy in the lows. Thats what i'm fighting....the low end and high end are so different ! Usually a p/u with a bright high end will have tight clear lows, or a p/u with muddy lows will have round full highs. This one seems not to follow that "rule". Any thoughts?

[Alnico Types]

Great info Blueman !!! But can you add ceramic in there? I have a good idea, but i'd like to see how you'd describe it compared to the rest.

[Alnico Types]

All i know is 2 is a softer, smoother sound/attack than 5. So of the 3 commom types it would be ceramic, A5, then A2 in that order from the most punchy/clear/articulate to the softest spongiest attack and tone. I like them all in the right application/guitar, but none ios better than the other, just different. A lot of people seem to be under the assumption ceramic is bad, but that fact is it's best in some applications. I actually love it a lot of humbuckers, but single could i like with alnico and would choose 2 or 5 depending on whether i need more or less cut and punch.