Alnico IV does NOT exist.... Tim please....

[5F6-A]

According to this:
http://www.thomas-skinner.com/pdf/MMPA%20Magnet%20Standards.pdf

Alnico IV  is not a recognized formula by the MMPA "Magnetic Materials Producers Association" or NEMA, for that matter.

Apparently AIV is literally flawed Alnico 5 that does not hold a full charge, either due to poor mixture, smelting of the materials, or whatnot.

Some winders with huge reputations claim so as well...

Tim... any info??

[ailean]

Interesting. I'd be interested to hear a response to this.

I bet when they sell the 'flawed' AV as AIV they don't do it at B grade stock prices.

[WezV]

Apparently AIV is literally flawed Alnico 5 that does not hold a full charge, either due to poor mixture, smelting of the materials, or whatnot.

there you go, it does exist.  

flamed maple is another flawed material thats so good in instruments

[Elliot]

You will also note that Alnico III is not Al - Ni - Co  but Al - Ni as it has no cobalt

[badgermark]

Crazyness! I love Alnico III though, and can't wait to try out an Alnico IV neck pickup, think the softer magnets are more my thang, just cant seem to get on with the Alnico V pickups from BKP...

[TwilightOdyssey]

I thought this was common knowledge. Who cares, so long as the pickups sound great!

[gwEm]

organic apples do look pretty flawed compared to hypermarket uniformised style apples... but when my mum makes a pie from them... mmm delicious ;)

couldn't resist this redunadant metaphor :)

whatever A4 is, the stuff Tim has is marvellous - rest assured you can hear a difference vs A5

[WITH FULL DISTORTION]

organic apples do look pretty flawed compared to hypermarket uniformised style apples... but when my mum makes a pie from them... mmm delicious ;)

couldn't resist this redunadant metaphor :)

whatever A4 is, the stuff Tim has is marvellous - rest assured you can hear a difference vs A5

it cracked me up
hhoohohohohohohohohohohh
excellent
do you preffer organic ones ?
JP

[MajorPentatonic]

See, now there's your problem, you're listening to scientists.

Listen to a scientist...

Then listen to a AIV Mule...

Bet I know which one will sound better :-)

[Simon D]

See, now there's your problem, you're listening to scientists.

Listen to a scientist...

Then listen to a AIV Mule...

Bet I know which one will sound better :-)

Damn right. Friend of mine is a physics lecturer, and I much prefer the sound of my Mule IV loaded LP to him waffling on...

[ailean]

Scientists play guitar too...

[Yamhammer]

Alnico IV does exist, of course.

I had an AIV Mule in the neck position of one of my Les Pauls and it sounded very, very woody. Definately different in comparison with the AV neck pickups I used for my other Les Pauls...

Same story goes for the MQ (AIV) neck pickup.

To my ears AIV neck pickups are the best for vintage, woody and punchy clean tones. Distorted it's smooth as butter. AIV has a bit more rounded highs when compared to AV, while still sounding very clear. Definately not mushy like A2 sometimes tend to be.

I'm addicted to AIV neck pickups!      

'Need your love so bad' Gary Moore

[MDV]

Scientists play guitar too...

Actually, I'm a physicist, and of the little cabal we had at uni, a pretty tight group of 6 of us, all of us were guitarists too  8)

Simon D and major, I'll try not to take offence ;)

Apparently theres a strong correlation between aptitude for and interest in physics and liking rock and metal. Or so an education expert dude in London tells me.

I thought that was interesting about the AIV; I didnt know that, thanks!

[maverickf1jockey]

Scientists play guitar too...

In my experience of this was a compulsory lecture at school by some w**ker named Lewney (pronounced 'loony') who played guitar for about 5 minutes and then spent over an hour waffling on about hypothetical cr@p he probably read a moment earlier from a Steven Hawking book. A thoroughly underwhelming experience.

I t might not sound like much of a crime but when you name a lecture 'The Physics of Rock Guitar' I expect a bit more focus upon the actual physics affecting the guitar, such as the pickups and wiring.

I got him back though when he asked if the audience if they had any questions and I asked why he said that his sustainer was a pickup connected to the jack at the beginning of the lecture, losing my respect completely (yes I am a pedantic sod).

[B3]

Well, alnico IV may no longer exist to the world at large, but it certainly did in the 50's and is still being made for the niche world of guitar pickups.
I'd let Tim worry about where to get it from and just concentrate on the tone of the pickups. Just goes to show though, that not all alnico is created equal.