Alnico magnets for guitar pickups

As the largest manufacturer of cast Alnico magnet, we know that Alnico magnets are widely used in guitar pickups. We have many customers who purchase a lot of alnico magnets directly or indirectly from us. But we don’t know much about the application of alnico magnets in pickups. Because of this, many small customers have a lot of complaints about our minimum order quantity and delivery time. After communicating with some customers, we have used the following methods to improve our services.
1. We will provide stock for commonly used sizes, so that customers can start purchasing one piece, and we guarantee that they can be shipped on the same day or the next day.
2. Provide laser marking services that customers need, so that customers can install more conveniently and make their products have their own characteristics.
3. Try to provide the lowest price to our customers
4. The minimum order quantity for customized products has been adjusted to 100 pieces.

Why Alnico magnets for Guitar pickups

There are several types of magnets used in guitar pickups. In addition to alnico, there are also ferrite and neodymium iron boron. Some manufacturers even use iron-chromium-cobalt magnets. Fender and some famous pickup manufacturers like to use alnico magnets because alnico can provide particularly good tone.

In addition, there are different grades of alnico magnets. In the pickup industry, they are usually distinguished by the grades mentioned in the American grade MMPA standard. Different values represent different magnetic field strengths and different timbres.

As a manufacturer of magnetic materials, we only know more about the magnetic material itself. The following description of guitar pickups comes from other website.

Alnico II

alnico II rod magnet list
alnico II bar magnet list

Alnico 2 pickups are the second weakest, meaning they pull the strings less and have a lower output. They are the most “vintage” sounding of the alnico pickups. They have loose, bouncy, and smooth lows, softer highers, and pronounced mids. These pickups are great for classic rock, blues, country, folk, finger picking, and mellower sounds.

Alnico III

alnico III rod magnet list
alnico III bar magnet list

Alnico 3 pickups are the weakest of all alnico pickups. They have a low output and provide a softer tone overall. Their lows are soft, but they also have more treble and beautiful, sparkling cleans. These pickups can work in a variety of settings, but they are best suited for softer rock, blues, funk, and other clean oriented music.

Alnico IV

Alnico 4 pickups are stronger than 2 and 3, but weaker than 5 and 8. They are the most “flat” out of all the alnico pickups, providing a very balanced and even sound. Their response can be more influenced by the guitar itself, bringing out the tonal qualities of the instrument. The mids are fairly balanced, and the highs and lows are both tight and clear. These pickups can be incredibly versatile. They are common in classic rock, jazz, pop, and many more.

Alnco V

alnico V rod magnet list
alnico V bar magnet list

Alnico 5 pickups are the strongest of the bunch besides alnico 8. Their output is relatively high, making them a fair option for heavier styles of music. They are also one of the most common pickup magnets used today. Sonically, they tend to emphasize the highs and lows, producing a fairly balanced sound. They are also arguably the most versatile of all the alnico pickups, as they are commonly seen being used in nearly all genres from rock and metal to jazz and funk.

Alnico VIII

Alnico 8 pickups are the strongest and highest output of all the alnico pickups. They are one of the least used alnico magnets because their output can be too high for most players. However, their high output results in very strong and powerful lows, lots of mids (especially lower mids), and thick highs. They are mainly used in hard rock, metal, prog, and fusion for heavier, more distorted tones.