Difference between Alnico 2 and Alnico 5

[jonblue]

I understand it is a difference in the magnet composition, but what is the difference in sound?

 

[Red Baron]

I'm sure others will chime in with more detail but these are some of my own observations...

A2:
Pros - Nice compression in the attack, very smooth, nasally voice.
Cons - Can be overly bright, too compressed for some applications.

A5:
Pros - Open and airy, superlative clarity.
Cons - Lack of compression, can sound too boomy/chimey, lacks the musical character that gives some other magnets their unique voice, I find it more transparent which can be seen as a positive or a negative depending on the style of music you play.

Although I have to say that the short A5's I have in my new Throbak's are unlike any other A5's I've used before, they seem to combine the best qualities of A2 and A5.

 

[sapi]

I'm sure others will chime in with more detail but these are some of my own observations...

A2:
Pros - Nice compression in the attack, very smooth, nasally voice.
Cons - Can be overly bright, too compressed for some applications.

A5:
Pros - Open and airy, superlative clarity.
Cons - Lack of compression, can sound too boomy/chimey, lacks the musical character that gives some other magnets their unique voice, I find it more transparent which can be seen as a positive or a negative depending on the style of music you play.

Although I have to say that the short A5's I have in my new Throbak's are unlike any other A5's I've used before, they seem to combine the best qualities of A2 and A5.

Thanks RB, are those short A5's unoriented? Used in both neck and bridge?

 

[Red Baron]

Thanks RB, are those short A5's unoriented? Used in both neck and bridge?

They're oriented A5's and I've got them in the neck and bridge in a set of DT-102's, they're very nice.

 

[Triburst]

Negative Alnico 3.

Sorry -- couldn't resist. :hee

Seriously, unless they're the "unoriented" magnets, in my experience the Alnico 5's are more "modern tone." My suggestion is to go to the Gibson site and listen to the difference between any of their Alnico 2 pickup clips versus the Burstbucker Pro (which has the 5's).

 

[GlassSnuff]

While there are differences in the highs, the compression, etc., to my ear the biggest difference is in the bass. A5s are tight and controlled, while A2s are fatter, fuller, and looser. Much depends on the amp you match them with, but as a useless, generalised rule I'd say A5s lean more to metal and hard rock, while A2s favor ballads and blues.

Of course, I have an A2 in my Duncan JB and it goes chunka, chunka, thunk quite well. In that case the change was aimed at smoothing out the highs. I think the windings rule the sound of the pickup, and changing magnets allows fine tuning. The Duncan Custom series is interesting, as it's three pickups the same wind and a choice of the three magnets.

 

[bigtomrodney]

I think most of the guys summed up my opinions on the difference. Don't forget the difference between short and long A5s. I personally think that a short A5 isn't too far away from a long A2; not the same but less of a difference. For all the differences you can talk about probably the most important is magnetic strengh. Given a strong A2 and a weaker A5 you're going to end up in the same ballpark.

But yeah, generally the A2s are a bit rounder and less tight, A5 has that bit more bite. I personally prefer A4 and have used it in Burstbucker and Burstbucker Pro pickups and currently use Bareknuckle Mules which contain them too.

One last bit of useless information, because of the extra bite in A5 magnets I prefer them with balanced coil humbuckers and I prefer A2/A4 in unbalanced pickups. Just something to think about :jim

 

[gts]

So to get "similar" qualities from two different amps wouldn't the amps character would come into play?

EG: if you play through an amp which is normally 'tighter' (thinking Mesa Mark series) and A2 might be good choice.

While playing through a more 'open/ looser' amp like a BF Fender an A5 would be good.

 

[Zhangliqun]

A5 is both boomy and harsh to my ear compared to A2. You just take an A2 and raise both ends of the freq spectrum but leave the mids where they are.

 

[iamspartacus]

...in my experience the Alnico 5's are more "modern tone." My suggestion is to go to the Gibson site and listen to the difference between any of their Alnico 2 pickup clips versus the Burstbucker Pro (which has the 5's).

+1

I would describe the A5 as more "modern" sounding. Think: I can do some nice funk riffage with A2's that just don't sound right with A5's. I can get some thick rock n' roll tones from A5's that A2's seem to lack.

I currently have Antiquities (A2's) in my LP, and I love that the A2 seems to bring out the woodiness and clarity of the neck position, but then it's too bright and not enough oomph for distorted tones when I switch to the bridge position. I'm seriously thinking of putting some SD '59s in the bridge position. (I should mention that I had a '59 in the neck position before and did not care for it: the A5 really muffled and muddied up the sound).

 

[comwave]

I’ve found A5 has loads more output. So by comparison A2 sound much thinner.
I have A5 in a WB 6707 (unbalanced coils) in the neck
and A2 in an early Wolfe DrV in the bridge.
Neck is about 10% louder but sounds nice when volume is rolled off.

 

[pb23r]

Can anyone comment on where A3 and A fit into the equation?

 

[bigtomrodney]

I find A3 to have the lowest output. At least in the few I've tried. They are tonally similar to A4, but seem to just lack in power.

Interestingly they are my favourite magnets for Stratocaster pickups.

 

[efk]

I've always found A4 to be all over the map, probably because different manufacturers make it different ways. The A4 that I have is inevitably very clear and kind of honky - only way to describe it compared to A2 or A5. A2 = uuuuuhhhh, A5 = eeeeeeeeeeee, A4 = errrrrrrrrrr, all in the same pickup. Not as soft and dull as some A2 to my ear, not as unforgiving as A5. That probably makes no sense, but there it is. A4 has been by far my favorite, although I just not long ago got some Stephens Design VLIII for my LP that are without any doubt the best thing I have ever heard in that specific guitar - I have no idea what magnets are in them and don't care!

 

[Red Baron]

I love the A4's that Shep uses in his Blue Sky set, very musical and I would describe their character as having 'dry' quality ...they are exceptional pickups IMO.

 

[pb23r]

Thanks guys for the A4 comments - think i have already hijacked this thread a wee bit, so i'll start another and hopefully others will chime in.

EFK - i also have the SD VLIIIs an Explorer styled guitar - they are special pups!!

 

[honduras]

EFK, for your information the Stephens Design VLIII's have an A3 in the bridge and an A2 in the neck.

 

[efk]

It's funny, I've heard a few different things about the VLIII pickups and the magnets used. I think when I initially ordered them, he told me A4 bridge and A5 neck. Frankly, they are the first pickups that I've had which I have not even thought about swapping magnets. They are that good and more importantly clear. IF it is indeed an A2 in the neck, it will the first A2 pickup I have EVER actually liked, and in the neck no less. I'd be very surprised.

 

[dretot]

It's funny, I've heard a few different things about the VLIII pickups and the magnets used. I think when I initially ordered them, he told me A4 bridge and A5 neck. Frankly, they are the first pickups that I've had which I have not even thought about swapping magnets. They are that good and more importantly clear. IF it is indeed an A2 in the neck, it will the first A2 pickup I have EVER actually liked, and in the neck no less. I'd be very surprised.

Are you sure you don't have the vl2's? They have A4/bridge and A5/neck. The 3's do have the A3/bridge and A2/neck. The vl3 neck is very clear and bright so the A2 works nicely there.

dre

 

[efk]

I definitely have the VLIII, although I have no idea whether they are "stock" or whether he tweaked them a bit for my needs; Dave was very responsive to my emails and my descriptions of what I wanted to hear, the inherent character of the guitar they were going in etc. If there is A3 in the bridge of mine, he must have some super special A3 because the gauss readings at the poles are not characteristic of any A3 I've ever used.