SR5 Ceramic or Alnico?

[mikecd1]

Hello All, with all the talk about Alnico magnet pickups from now on, could someone please tell me what kind of pickup I have in my 2000 SR5? I think that's a ceramic bar underneath the 3rd coil, but not sure really what this is so I appreciate any input. Could someone tell me for sure? I know with so many great Music Men minds out there, this should be easy. Assuming this is ceramic, I'm anxious to get one of the alnico's when they become available. Many thanks, Mike

 

[oli@bass]

If your SR5 is from 2000, and EBMM will build the SR5 with alnico from 2008 on, what do you guess you have there?!

 

[shastaband]

If I recall correctly (and I may not, the ol' brain ain't as sharp as it once was), the original SR5's were alnico, from 1987 up until about 1992 or so. Ceramic from then on until 2008, with the exception of the 20th Anniversary SR5 in 2007, which had alnico. So if your bass is 2000, that pickup is ceramic.

 

[A.J.]

Shastaband is correct. If it was built in 2000 it was ceramic.

 

[mikecd1]

Ceramic is what I was thinking, but I was hoping someone could identify by looking at the picture, not my description. I did take the date of 8/2000 from the neck, but I have only owned this bass for a while and sometimes parts change on used instruments. To clarify my comment above, the alnico I'm anxious to get my hands on is the pickup, not another bass. I love the bass I have and would only consider a new pickup for my existing, not a new instrument (free would work of course). Sorry if I confused anyone about "Anxious to get my hands on an alnico" but I just want the pickup. I might consider a quad coil Nordie in there if it would work without major mods. Not sure if my white pickup cover would come off to go onto any new alnico. My pup is the old style with no "ears" and my pole pieces are pretty rusted out on top. Thanks for the input everyone, this is a great forum. I guess I'm also asking if alnicos look different from ceramics. Can someone shed some light on the visual differences? I've been playing a long time, but not that up on all the tech stuff.

 

[Rod Trussbroken]

....but I was hoping someone could identify by looking at the picture, not my description.....

Going by the pics, it has to be a ceramic pickup. The Alnico version didn't have the phantom noise-cancelling coil on the bottom (which your's has).

 

[mikecd1]

Thanks so much, that's the kind of info I was looking for.

 

[Colin]

Going by the pics, it has to be a ceramic pickup. The Alnico version didn't have the phantom noise-cancelling coil on the bottom (which your's has).

Gav, you are my hero

 

[Rod Trussbroken]

Hey Col...you're not going to say that when I'm looking for a nice discount on my next Axe