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Guitar pickup magnets in a nutshell all compared The definitive word
Guitar pickup magnets in a nutshell all compared The definitive word
Okay gang, consider this a 1-part review of alnico magnets as used in guitar pickups. After finishing my epic six part deep dive on AlNiCo magnets, I happened to stumble across a pickup builder who claimed THIS on their website: "Alnico 4 magnets generate a flatter “EQ” overall which can sometimes sound bland to some players, yet have been the hidden little secret for others. This magnet tends to sit between the Alnico 2 and Alnico 5 in magnetic strength and tone – rounder lows than a 5, tighter lows than a...
Why Ringo Played Drums - a story of encouragement!
Why Ringo Played Drums - a story of encouragement!
How a life-threatening illness made Ringo Starr learn drums The Oldest of the Beatles, Ringo Starr is 82 frickin years old as I pen this blog at the end of 2022. 82! Yeah. And dude is still playing major stadium concerts and killing it! Wow. Don't YOU wish you could be so lucky? When most folks are trying to remember where they put their dentures, Ringo is rockin the BIG stages like a boss! Ah, but he musta been gifted with a golden life and born...
Music Totally Rocks at Improoving Academics
Music Totally Rocks at Improoving Academics
As the parent of a school-age child, I was SERIOUSLY interested to learn on ONEEDM about how music can help improve academic performance. Cool, right?! In this blog post, we'll look at six ways that music can help students ROCK in school and also provide some tips on how to use music to improve your, or your students studies. So, if you’re looking for a way to boost grades (and who isn't??), let's jump in! Case in point: Benjy Grinberg is a music executive who used his love of music to excel in school and...
Word: Music Makes Democracy ... Better!
Word: Music Makes Democracy ... Better!
Howdy gang! So this week I go back to the future, it's a return to topics I used to wax on about in the early days of this blog: How music makes the world better! Let's jump in with some hard-core scientific proof from Psychology Today! The article talks about a New Hampshire town that cut music and other programs because they are “not necessary to participate intelligently in a free government” and that using taxes to pay for them “crosses the boundary between public benefit and private...
Alnico 4 - exact composition and electromagnetic specs decoded
Alnico 4 - exact composition and electromagnetic specs decoded
Okay guitar gang, maybe I'm just crazy, okay, I am crazy, but I think this is HUGE! But first, Just in case you have not yet done so, go back and read my last FIVE (!!) blogs decoding alnico: The LowDown on AlNiCo Magnets The Mystical Magical Qualities of Alnico III Alnico II Properties - The musical Magnet Qualities of Alnico V magnets - The Magnet that ROCKS! Alnico 4, 8, 5DG, 5-unoriented, and other oddballs So, I've heard a lot of hype about Alnico 4 (...
Alnico 4 6 8 5DG unoriented alnico 5 and other odd-balls
Alnico 4 6 8 5DG unoriented alnico 5 and other odd-balls
Wow, oh wow ... what began as a simple question about the exact formulation of alnico magnets asked on the WGS forum has turned into quite the blog series! Warning: don't start reading this blog without first reading the ones leading up to this blog! The LowDown on AlNiCo Magnets The Mystical Magical Qualities of Alnico III Alnico II Properties - The musical Magnet Qualities of Alnico V magnets - The Magnet that ROCKS! Okay, ready to read on? Then let's dive in...
The tone of alnico V (5) magnets in guitar pickups - alnico V vs Alnico II
The tone of alnico V (5) magnets in guitar pickups - alnico V vs Alnico II
Wow, what an alnico ride we have been on so far! Just in case you have not, I recommend you begin by reading parts one, two and three of this series to get up to speed on all things alnico! Or, if you JUST want to learn a little more about the tone of Alnico V (A5), then feel free to jump right in right here! In the mid 1950's, Alnico grade 5 was a BIG deal! Alnico formulations 1, 2, and 3 were already revolutionizing the world of electronics, and of particular interest to we musicians,...
The qualaties, properties, and tone of Alnico II (2) the musical magnet
The qualaties, properties, and tone of Alnico II (2) the musical magnet
Okay, so you are officially reading part THREE in my series on the different grades of Alnico, You might just want to start with part one, where alnico in general is broken down into historical context, and also part two, which discusses the properties of "alnico" III, the weakest of all produced alnico grades. But this time around we are going to discuss alnico II, my personal favorite of the alnico family. Why is it my favorite?? Let's discuss THAT! For reference is the chart of the...
the mystical magical qualities of alnico 3 / iii guitar pickups
the mystical magical qualities of alnico 3 / iii guitar pickups
Howdy guitar friends!! The next four or so blogs are ALL going to start with THIS statement: Before you read this blog, at least skim over this blog explaining exactly what AlNiCo (alnico) magnet material is and how the grades of alnico compare to each other as well as the other magnet materials commonly found in guitar pickups and speakers. Now it's time to do a little deep diving into the individual AlNiCo grades commonly found in pickups and speakers. Let's start with the very first formulation to be readily used...
The Differences between catagories of alnico magnets Alnico II vs Alnico V and more!
The Differences between catagories of alnico magnets Alnico II vs Alnico V and more!
Howdy guitar gang! Today we start our conversation on the somewhat "Black Magic" topic of AlNiCo magnets; their composition, qualities, and what that means to their tone. AlNiCo magnets go all the way back to their development in the 1930s. AlNiCo magnets get their name from what they are made of and that would be the metals aluminum, AL, nickel, NI, and cobalt, CO along with iron and other trace elements. In the blogs that will follow this one we will get into the individual qualities of the various grades of...