help me understand magnets

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fuzzyguitars

fuzzyguitars

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since we seem to be talking alot about pickups

help me understand magnets.

specifically alnico types.

2

4

5

8

then we get into stuff like

rough cast

polished



and then we get into

oriented


un oriented.



and if that wasnt enough.


long


short.



can some one please break it down to me in general.

what is the typical dimensions of magnets that fit into 49 and 50mm pickups


i recently was looking online to get some different magnets to swap around but didnt because they came in all different dimensions


please help me!
 
icp_how_do_magnets_work.jpg
 
I've done a metric butt-ton of magnet swapping over the years. Here's my findings.

ALNICO 3: The lowest output of the alnicos. Sounds like an Alnico 2, but with slightly more treble, and less bass. Not a lot of push behind it at all. Medium attack.

ALNICO 2: Common magnet that winders use for a "vintage" flavor PAF. Squishy, saggy attack. Notes seem to sag them swell in. Smooth sounding. Nice chimey highs that are never harsh. Very chewy, vocal, midrange.

ALNICO 4: I've only tried it once, but to my ears, it was like a dry Alnico 5, with the EQ extremes pulled in a bit. Medium attack.

ALNICO 5: Big bass, Very pronounced trebles that can get glassy. Subdued midrange in certain winds. Depending on the wind, those attributes can work great, or not. Very immediate hard attack.

ALNICO 8: The power of a Ceramic magnet, with a little more of the Alnico musicality. Beefy sounding. Hard attack.

ORIENTED VERSUS UN-ORIENTED: This has nothing to do with the magnetic poles of the magnet. From what I understand, It has to do with the manufacturing process, and the way the magnetic particles are arranged. Alnico II and III are naturally unoriented - the particles are in random directions. Whereas Alnico 5, the particles are lined up like wood grain.

UNORIENTED ALNICO 5: Very mixed reviews online, but to my ears, it sounds like a weaker Alnico 5 with less bass. Again, those attributes can be used to your advantage depending on what pickup.

ROUGHCAST VS POLISHED: I consider myself to have supersonic hearing, and I can't hear THAT much of a difference. Half the time I think it was the placebo effect, and my research and readings influencing my hearing. But the word is that the polished magnets sound sharper than the roughcast, which sound smoother.

LONG VS SHORT: No idea. :lol: :LOL:

In all my magnet swapping experiments, MOST of the time, I come to the conclusion that the stock magnet really does work the best.
 
RockStarNick":25plshun said:
I've done a metric butt-ton of magnet swapping over the years. Here's my findings.

ALNICO 3: The lowest output of the alnicos. Sounds like an Alnico 2, but with slightly more treble, and less bass. Not a lot of push behind it at all. Medium attack.

ALNICO 2: Common magnet that winders use for a "vintage" flavor PAF. Squishy, saggy attack. Notes seem to sag them swell in. Smooth sounding. Nice chimey highs that are never harsh. Very chewy, vocal, midrange.

ALNICO 4: I've only tried it once, but to my ears, it was like a dry Alnico 5, with the EQ extremes pulled in a bit. Medium attack.

ALNICO 5: Big bass, Very pronounced trebles that can get glassy. Subdued midrange in certain winds. Depending on the wind, those attributes can work great, or not. Very immediate hard attack.

ALNICO 8: The power of a Ceramic magnet, with a little more of the Alnico musicality. Beefy sounding. Hard attack.

thanks alot for your input.

it looks like a slippery slope to tackle


what about the magnet sizes.

i looked on ebay and there a lots of sizes to choose from

will they all fit standard les paul 49/50mm pickups?



ORIENTED VERSUS UN-ORIENTED: This has nothing to do with the magnetic poles of the magnet. From what I understand, It has to do with the manufacturing process, and the way the magnetic particles are arranged. Alnico II and III are naturally unoriented - the particles are in random directions. Whereas Alnico 5, the particles are lined up like wood grain.

UNORIENTED ALNICO 5: Very mixed reviews online, but to my ears, it sounds like a weaker Alnico 5 with less bass. Again, those attributes can be used to your advantage depending on what pickup.

ROUGHCAST VS POLISHED: I consider myself to have supersonic hearing, and I can't hear THAT much of a difference. Half the time I think it was the placebo effect, and my research and readings influencing my hearing. But the word is that the polished magnets sound sharper than the roughcast, which sound smoother.

LONG VS SHORT: No idea. :lol: :LOL:

In all my magnet swapping experiments, MOST of the time, I come to the conclusion that the stock magnet really does work the best.
Click to expand...
 
how about magnet sizes

when i looked on ebay, they had lots of different sizes.

what will fit into a standard les paul sized pickup 49/50mm?

thanks!
 
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