AlNiCo-5 "Special"

[rhgwynn]

I know I could just ask the company but before I badger them - WHAT IS THIS STUFF? And what makes it so darn....SPECIAL. I know I have seen pickup builders using this term to set themselves apart..."Our poles are a SPECIAL mix - not the cheap ones" And boy, THEY ARE NOT CHEAP. Over twice as much as the regulars??? Really, REALLY, special??? Or SNAKE OIL?? Will anyone fill me in on their experience with the AL5-Special?

-Rob

[Jazz P Bass]

Alnico was the thing in the '60's.
Ounce for ounce it was the best magnet for speakers.(I know the question pertains to pickups)
Then came ceramic magnets which were way cheaper to produce.
So Alnico fell out of favor.
Now it seems that everything old is the best.
It is really a matter of choice & what you are trying to achieve in the PU design, what specific magnet material that you choose to use.
Here is a link to the different properties of magnetic materials.: Alnico Magnets- Technical Information - Dura Magnetics, Inc.

[rhgwynn]

Alnico was the thing in the '60's.
Ounce for ounce it was the best magnet for speakers.(I know the question pertains to pickups)
Then came ceramic magnets which were way cheaper to produce.
So Alnico fell out of favor.
Now it seems that everything old is the best.
It is really a matter of choice & what you are trying to achieve in the PU design, what specific magnet material that you choose to use.
Here is a link to the different properties of magnetic materials.: Alnico Magnets- Technical Information - Dura Magnetics, Inc.

Is the 5-7 the "special"?

-Rob

[Jazz P Bass]

I think the 'Special' tag is a marketing thing.
Here is a rundown from Fender on the useage of the different Alnico magnets & there properties.
Link: What Are Alnico Pickups? | Fender News & Tech Talk | Fender Guitar

[rhgwynn]

I think the 'Special' tag is a marketing thing.
Here is a rundown from Fender on the useage of the different Alnico magnets & there properties.
Link: What Are Alnico Pickups? | Fender News & Tech Talk | Fender Guitar

Arnold Magnetic Technologies - Alnico Guitar Magnets

-Rob

[rhgwynn]

Arnold Magnetic Technologies - Alnico Guitar Magnets

-Rob

I think I just blew the minds of everyone who wanted to know if this crap was real....I did email Arnold and asked them to tell me the difference. We shall see...

-Rob

[big_teee]

I think I just blew the minds of everyone who wanted to know if this crap was real....I did email Arnold and asked them to tell me the difference. We shall see...

-Rob

Notice that all the magnets listed as special are the Rod Magnets, in .192" for Single Coils.
The Non Special are the .189" rod magnets.
Most normal rod magnets, are either .187", or .195".
The ones you list look like a Bastard size to start with, and way over priced.
T

[CRU JONES]

Never heard of it! But come to think of it, what a brilliant marketing idea. If it costs more, it must be better!

[rhgwynn]

Bastard sized? Maybe. WAY overpriced? DEFINITELY. But - there are certainly boutique builders that use them; and they charge a hefty premium too. They would have to, since the poles alone would cost them nearly 16$ per unit. Still waiting to hear back from Arnold.

-Rob

[big_teee]

I'll just stick to my one stop shopping at mojo.
You can pay as little as 46 cents each for the .187" magnets.
I usually need other things, not just magnets, so I get it all on one order, and one shipping charge from mojo.
T

[rhgwynn]

You can pay as little as 46 cents each for the .187" magnets.

Is that the bulk business pricing? What's the minimum order?

-Rob

[big_teee]

That price is for 100 magnets, with a dealer discount.
T

[David King]

I'm pretty sure that the A5 Special designation is for unoriented A5.
Arnold still has a foundry in the USA. The USA is not China and the prices will be different. Eventually (and probably soon) there will be no foundries in the USA and ALL magnets will come from China. You might choose according to what magnet sounds best not just which has the cheapest price hopefully. Personally I think Arnold magnets sound like ass.

[rhgwynn]

Their response:

Hi Robert

We call the Alnico 5 “Special” a hotter magnet – we use a different formulation. Below are a listing of the magnetic properties of the Alnico 5 Special and the Alnico 5. Anything else we can help you with let us know. Thanks……

ALNICO 5 SPECIAL
Br 12000 Gauss
Hc 700 Oersteds
Hci 705 Oersteds
BHmax 5.00 MGOe

ALNICO 5
Br 12800 Gauss
Hc 640 Oersteds
Hci 640 Oersteds
BHmax 5.5 MGOe

[David Schwab]

Then came ceramic magnets which were way cheaper to produce.

And they are stronger for the same size, and not as easy to demagnetize. They might be a little lighter too? Maybe not.

Now neodymium has come along and replaced both on high end speakers.