Alnico 3 Modding my Burstbuckers

[MrKensei]

Hi
Just wanted to get some opinions on fitting Alnico 3 magnets to my Burstbucker 2+3 set. I've heard it changes the sound (some people say improves, but I know that's subjective)

Can anyone explain what it will do in terms of output, string pull/sustain, EQ? So that I can get an indicationwheter or not it is worth doing the mod before I desolder the covers.?

 

[SKATTERBRANE]

The A3 magnets are weaker than A2s. String pull is not a problem. It is my belief that the Gibson "Custom buckers" are merely Burstbuckers with A3 magnets. People say the new custom buckers are pretty good pickups. You will probably get a bit more sustain and dynamiics with the swap.

 

[rclausen]

The A3 magnets are weaker than A2s. String pull is not a problem. It is my belief that the Gibson "Custom buckers" are merely Burstbuckers with A3 magnets. People say the new custom buckers are pretty good pickups. You will probably get a bit more sustain and dynamiics with the swap.

I'm curious as to how you came up with this opinion. (This is a genuine question, not try to instigate anything.) It wouldn't surprise me at all if Gibson did this. Could it just be a slightly tweaked BB?

 

[MrKensei]

MORE sustain and dynamics? They certainly don't need more they have that in spades but if I can boost one of their existing strengths them I'm definitely interested.

I was under the impresion that AII was Stronger than AII not weaker.

I like the idea of a slightly weaker magnet (I seem to have grown out of my recent phase of wanting high output, strong/ceramic magnet pickups), and using high gain pedals for my metal playing, seems i dont have to sacrifice depth when I want noise.

 

[polifemo]

I would guess that the neck pickup will sound great with an A3!!! (A3's are my favorite magnets for neck pu's)

Regarding the bridge pu, it might become a bit "weaker sounding", but I really don´t know...
The (A3) mids are nice, if not as creamy as an A2, and the high end is quite present, but rather soft sounding. The low end is maybe a bit more focused.

The only bridge pu that I've tried an A3 in is a Duncan Brobucker - that is a quite "hot" pickup - but that one came out great!

 

[DPaulCustom]

Run it up the flagpole, do some before & after clips to show the difference, & post em up.
Love to hear the results.

I was thinking of trying the A2/A3 combo in my set of BBpros, bridgeA2/neckA3.
Busy with othwer projects at the moment though

 

[LtKojak]

If I may, if you choose an A3 as magnet for a PAFish neck p'up, the arguably best companion for a PAFish bridge p'up is UnOriented Alnico 5 aka UOA5 for the best balanced set, both tone- and output-wise.

This is based on my own experience modding p'ups to match the instrument with the rest of the rig.

HTH,

 

[polifemo]

If I may, if you choose an A3 as magnet for a PAFish neck p'up, the arguably best companion for a PAFish bridge p'up is UnOriented Alnico 5 aka UOA5 for the best balanced set, both tone- and output-wise.


HTH,

Agree totally.

 

[Comanche]

Don't Burstbuskers come with 5's for more bite?

 

[polifemo]

OUA5's are a different beast.

 

[LtKojak]

Don't Burstbuskers come with 5's for more bite?

Look after the difference between Isotropic and Anisotropic in magnet making.

HTH,

 

[ThroBak]

As much as I try, I have yet to bond with A3 in P.A.F.'s. I'm hoping it will still happen but I have yet to nail down a P.A.F. wind for A3. In P-90's A3 sounds very good. But if you A/B Alnico 3 against A2, A4, and A5 in a P.A.F. there is typically less of just about everything with the A3. There is added clarity with A3 that can be useful in the neck but otherwise expect less output, less dynamics, less punch, less swell...... with A3. If you are running into an amp that is already high gain then A3 can solve some problems of articulation and low end clarity. But if you want the kind of nuance in a pickup that will allow your amp to respond to picking dynamics when it is set on the edge of breakup, then A3 is not the best choice IMHO.

 

[WolfeMacleod]

As with Throbak above, my experiences with Alnico 3 in humbuckers have also been crap. Really crap. Dull, dark, mushy.

However, in strat single coils, they're great.

 

[bill m]

Really, I like A3 and it is definately my favorite neck pickup magnet. To me A3 is sweeter and clearer than A2 and is very paf sounding.IMHO

 

[DADGAD]

Really, I like A3 and it is definately my favorite neck pickup magnet. To me A3 is sweeter and clearer than A2 and is very paf sounding.IMHO

I have had the same experience. My former Page pickups (essentially BB2's with AL3 mags) sounded super sweet in the neck. The bridge was not as spectacular though. Probably needed more
EQ'ing. I have found all the few boutique sets I have tried have beat them hands down.

 

[ThroBak]

Really, I like A3 and it is definately my favorite neck pickup magnet. To me A3 is sweeter and clearer than A2 and is very paf sounding.IMHO

You may want to double check your source for A3. I have tried A3 and A4 Chinese sample magnets that I'm quite sure were not either A3 or A4. The A3 I can confirm is A3 was not anywhere as sweet toned as A2. Although sweet toned is one of those very subjective tonal descriptions.

 

[Dougie]

This might sound weird but I think it's not at all. Ok you know how things can sorta "fool" your brain, like the brain picks up on something the ears don't necessarily hear, but the brain registers something that you really can't put a finger on?

I think that function is what makes some people like certain magnets and dislike others. I don't have much liking for A3, I have tried it in several pickups and my experiences are that it is sorta bleh about every way you look at it.

UOA5 was about the same. I didn't notice anything I liked about it very much at all.

A2 on the other hand, has this textured meaty chewy complex tone that really does it for me. Taking the E and B strings on the 5th fret and picking them hard while sliding both down creates this gritty coarse vibe that for some reason, makes me play in ways that bring that out more. A2 is a sound that I can feel and it has all the tones I like.

The PAF neck pickup with A2 gets that Keith Richard woof but it's not muddy or overbearing in the bottom. It's deep, but has a softness to it that's nice.

A5 is too clear, too defined, and A4 will tame down a hot wind but neither of these get that textured chewiness A2 gets.

There's more going on there than just what the ears hear...

 

[bill m]

I guess to each his own. I love A3 and have always gotten them from the same source and they have been consistant, tonally. The A3 I use is just about on par(power wise) with A2, but has more definition and just a sweeter sounding magnet. Actually, I'm not much of a fan of A2, especially in the neck, as the treble response is too soft and the mids can get a bit overbearing. JMO.

 

[ThroBak]

Hi Bill I would be curious to know what kind of gauss range you are getting with your A3. I have gotten supposed A3 that read way too high to be A3. But I agree, what matters is that you are getting the tone you want regardless of the magnet name.

 

[bill m]

My A3 reads approx. 480 gauss at the center of a fully charged mag