Difference between magnets, rough vs polish...

[mickmutante]

I want to buy some bar magnets for make some HB pickups, I am trying to find something interesting, lets call it experimentation.
I found some rough or polished bars, some magnetized some not, some unoriented...
Which is the difference between them? more gauss? nicer? stronger?

[mondo]

The smooth ones sound smooth and the rough ones sound rough. But seriously, I think it's a marketing gimmick for people who have a woody for the "VINTAGE CORRECT" fetish. I would love to see a guitar sommellier do a blind A/B test and distinguish between the two. If they are cheaper then buy them but don't waste your money expecting any noticeable difference.

[StarryNight]

It seems like a minute factor that might not have any perceptible difference, but if there is a difference in mass or the magnetic field as a result of having a rough surface it could have an effect on the pickup. Mick, didn't you get one of those sycomp machines? This would be a good way to visually tell if there is a difference between rough and smooth. that doesn't necessarily mean there is an audible difference. There is a third option being offered these days...unoriented or something?

[mickmutante]

Mick, didn't you get one of those sycomp machines?

Yes I have. But I don't have the magnets yet. I was looking at Addiction-fx on Ebay and I saw those type of Alnico bar magnets they sell. I am curious about it. I would like to know which is the difference to have an idea of where to start my "experiments".
The only problem I have is that I do not live in the U.S, so I have to be sure about what I am going to buy, sometimes shipping is more expensive that the things I buy.

[big_teee]

Yes I have. But I don't have the magnets yet. I was looking at Addiction-fx on Ebay and I saw those type of Alnico bar magnets they sell. I am curious about it. I would like to know which is the difference to have an idea of where to start my "experiments".
The only problem I have is that I do not live in the U.S, so I have to be sure about what I am going to buy, sometimes shipping is more expensive that the things I buy.

I really like the Addiction-fx magnets.
I really like his rough Alnico 2s.
His A2 magnets charge a little hotter than other A2s I've tried.
Great tone.
I like his A8 magnets as well.
I thought the A8s had better tone than the A5s.
I haven't tried his Un-oriented 5s yet.
Good luck,
Terry

[SonnyW]

I have tried the unoriented Rough A5 magnets from Dennis (Addiction-FX) To me they sound a little better than the smooth polished regular A5's that I have, which came I think from Guitar Jones a while back. I haven't done a magnet swap one for one in the same pickup though. I did just do a one for one swap of a rough A2 from Dennis in a P.A.F. style bridge pickup with one of his unoriented A5's and it moved the resonant peak higher almost 1khz which was quite a bit brighter and closer to what I needed for that one, but not so much to be too edgy for me. On the neck pickup for the same guitar, I kept the A2 which I agree with Terry they sound pretty good. So- +1 and me too on liking the Addiction-FX magnets. I haven't found anybody else with as much variety for offer. I also like the vintage M55 dimensions for a selling point, though I can't tell much difference in the sound compared to M56 dimension smooth for the same alloy.