What's the deal with Alnico?

[high mileage]

I did a search and I've spent a fair amount of time on this forum and I don't know what the deal is with Alnico pickups. I know (do I have this right?) the early SR5's came with Alnico but at some point it was changed to something else, and now the new 20th SR5 will have Alnico. I'm not questioning why the change was made and I'm guessing one isn't necessarily any better than the other - just different.

But what is the difference? Inquiring minds, with a little too much free time...

 

[bdgotoh]

Alnico is the magnet material, which also happens to be the poles. Ceramic pickups have a flat bar of ceramic magnet at the bottom of steel poles.

The Stingray has always had alnico pickups, as did the early SR5. The Sterling and current SR5 have ceramic pickups. The Bongos use neodymium magnets under steel poles.

alnico magnet

ceramic magnet

neodymium magnet

 

[PocketGroove82]

Caution

Neodymium magnets should always be handled carefully. Some that are slightly larger than the size of a penny are powerful enough to lift over 10 kilograms. They are hazardous; able to interfere with pacemakers and implanted heart devices with deadly consequences [1]. An NIB's magnetic force increases with the size of the piece of ferromagnetic metal and larger neodymium magnets can severely pinch skin or fingers, or even break bones when suddenly attracted to a magnetic object. Operating a large neodymium magnet close to smaller magnetic objects (keys, pens, etc.) and larger magnetic surfaces (radiator or a car, for example) can be dangerous if the person is caught between the magnet and the magnetic object or surface.

DEATH BY BONGO?
Anyone with a pacemaker get scared by this?

 

[kakobass]

high mileage:
In plain terms, I believe alnico sounds warmer, clearer, and even more "vintage" if you will - Classic Fender-Bass pickups were/are made of alnico. Ceramic gives you a more agressive and dirty sound. The difference is subtle, but it is there. That is all there is to it. I have experienced this myself when A/Bing alnico and ceramic Dimarzio pickups in a Jazz bass. I prefer ceramic for their edgier sound. I don't know about the sound of neo magnets.

Honestly, I could care less about this issue when choosing a bass.

Some reads:

Bill Lawrence Website



PocketGroove82:
I believe that the magnetic pull of the neo magnets in the Bongo would be the same, or even less than a regular pickup magnet as to not interfere with the string vibration and let it vibrate as much as possible. If the magnetic pull was so strong as to make you all those warnings you mentioned relevant, the strings would be choked.

I'm not an electrical engineer, but I'm pretty sure you can control the amount of neodymium you put in a pickup pole to control the amount of magnetic force you want.

 

[Big Poppa]

Kako you are correct the magnets in the bongo are very thin.

The reason why I had the anniversary model have the Alnico is that I want it to celebrate its heritage and evolution through the years. It also gets some of the old die hards panties bunched up....WOO HOOO

 

[Psycho Ward]

It also gets some of the old die hards panties bunched up....WOO HOOO

 

[kakobass]

Some more reads I found:

Electric Guitar Pickups - Seymour Duncan/Basslines

 

[PocketGroove82]

hehe...
I just wish someone actually died because my brown notes were so huge and low.

yeah, I'm sick...I'm a soldier. What can I say.

 

[high mileage]

In plain terms, I believe alnico sounds warmer, clearer, and even more "vintage" if you will - Classic Fender-Bass pickups were/are made of alnico. Ceramic gives you a more agressive and dirty sound. The difference is subtle, but it is there. That is all there is to it. I have experienced this myself when A/Bing alnico and ceramic Dimarzio pickups in a Jazz bass. I prefer ceramic for their edgier sound. I don't know about the sound of neo magnets.

Honestly, I could care less about this issue when choosing a bass.

Thanks - that's exactly the answer I was looking for. I don't really care what they're made of - I judge the bass by the sound and not what the builder had to do to get the sound. There are some things I normally prefer like tube over solid state, alder over ash for J-basses and I guess Alnico probably falls into that type of sound too. But the proof is in the sound.

BP's reasoning for doing it is pretty valid too!

 

[Slim]

I did not know SR5 started out with alnico pickup so does anybody know when they change to ceramic pickups

 

[brooklynfall]

The SR5's switched over in 1992.

 

[Slim]

Thanks Brook
I may purchase an used 93 SR5 at local music store this afternoon so it should come with ceramic pu. It is white with wite pickguard and beautiful birdseye maple neck and maple board. They want $9** but I am trying to get for less

 

[brooklynfall]

Nice!

 

[Slim]

Brook,
I just bought SR5 and they said 93 but I think its 91 according to serial # 52477 so the pickup must be alnico. How do you tell from alnico to ceramic from outside By the way I got it for 850 including newr MM case and set of strings.

 

[Stevie James]

Just a tad off basses, but if you know guitar sounds, a Les Paul Standard has Alnico, a Les Paul Classic has ceramic. Ceramic magnets produce a "hotter" sound, easier to overdrive the front end of an amp with.

 

[Big Poppa]

stevie james sportin his fabulous buttercream xmas dream!

 

[brooklynfall]

Brook,
I just bought SR5 and they said 93 but I think its 91 according to serial # 52477 so the pickup must be alnico. How do you tell from alnico to ceramic from outside By the way I got it for 850 including newr MM case and set of strings.

You know, I'm not really sure. Something about the shape of the exposed pole pieces. If you compare a ceramic and alnico, and definitely don't quote me on this, I believe the alnico pole pieces are more rounded (slightly) and the ceramic pole pieces are flat on top. If anyone else knows more or wishes to correct me, please chime in!

PS: I'm enjoying the title of this thread: reminds me of Seinfeld. "What's the DEAL with ALNICO? It's not aluminum, it's not nickel, it's not cobalt ... WHAT is it?!"

Anyone? No? Not funny? I can tell by your silence you think I'm hilarious.

And 850 is a steal for a pre-ceramic SR5, IMHO. Congrats!

 

[Slim]

Thanks Brook
This pickup comes with staggered pole pieces so it must be alnico. One more thing I like to know is, did alnico pickup come with noise cancelling phantom coil? I noticed that on 3 way switch first position (close to neck) and middle position I get hum noise if I turn up treble boost If I position the bass to certain angle to amp it will go away just like my single coiled Stratocaster does Third position is dead silent
By the way this SR5 just needed a little tweeking on truss rod and I got it on perfect action without any string buzz and great sound This is my first five strings but I got used to it in ten minutes I am going to take this bass tonight to gig and give my Bongo a night off

 

[brooklynfall]

Thanks Brook
This pickup comes with staggered pole pieces so it must be alnico. One more thing I like to know is, did alnico pickup come with noise cancelling phantom coil? I noticed that on 3 way switch first position (close to neck) and middle position I get hum noise if I turn up treble boost If I position the bass to certain angle to amp it will go away just like my single coiled Stratocaster does Third position is dead silent
By the way this SR5 just needed a little tweeking on truss rod and I got it on perfect action without any string buzz and great sound This is my first five strings but I got used to it in ten minutes I am going to take this bass tonight to gig and give my Bongo a night off

Since it's a 91 it most likely is alnico, but I was talking about the shape of the actual exposed metal pieces, not the configuration. I'm not sure whether the staggering of the magnets has anything to do with the magnet material.

As far as phantom coil, I believe that only the ceramics have it. Pre 92, the switching went as follows: series (switch towards neck)-single coil (middle - this is the noisy one!)-parallel (switch towards bridge). Parallel is hum-cancelling, so while this will be less output than series, it will also be totally silent.

Again, if anyone wants to correct me, I would WELCOME it!

And that Bongo deserves a night off; I'm sure it's served you well!

 

[Figjam]

I am not sure the staggered nature of the poles has anything to do with it either. Maybe on SR5s, but I know my sterling has staggered poles, formed to the radius of the fingerboard, and it is ceramic.