Compressed sounding pickups

[David Schwab]

I think weaker magnets just have less output, so you hear that as less dynamic range. But pickups with alnico 2s don't sound compressed to me at all. Just softer and warmer sounding. A5 has a brighter tone, so the attack is sharper. That makes it sound more dynamic.

[RedHouse]

Think of it like a water ballon filled up with water, kind of squishy and all that.

Now, drain it and fill it with motor oil, still kinda squishy but with a remarkably different feel.

Now drain that, and fill it with silicone fluid like, well ...er... a nice pair of fake hooters, now you really have a decidedly different squish and feel. We could even say they compressed well (or had nice bloom).

I'm not saying magnets are like breast implants, but the analogy is that even though something has similar substance, the results can be quite different specially when it has anything to do with sound.

[Mike Sulzer]

Think of it like a water ballon filled up with water, kind of squishy and all that.

Now, drain it and fill it with motor oil, still kinda squishy but with a remarkably different feel.

Now drain that, and fill it with silicone fluid like, well ...er... a nice pair of fake hooters, now you really have a decidedly different squish and feel. We could even say they compressed well (or had nice bloom).

I'm not saying magnets are like breast implants, but the analogy is that even though something has similar substance, the results can be quite different specially when it has anything to do with sound.

Sure, but the three variables that count are field strength, conductivity, and permeability. There is only so much you can do with them.

[RedHouse]

Sure, but the three variables that count are field strength, conductivity, and permeability. There is only so much you can do with them.

Exactly.

And also only so much one can expect from them, but the difference is enough to cause audible effects as we well know.