Cermaic VS. Alnico

[sebby123]

Alright so ive been talking to tim about nailbombs vs c-bomb.
Im curouis what your guys take is on this

Ceramic vs Alnico in these departments :

Tightness - of course ceramic

Warmth - alnico is allways a little warmer but i love my coldswetas there thick!

Clarity - ? this is the one i cant find any info
For high gain chords opeth-ish what would be the better way to go?

And anything else your willing to share about the comparison.

Thanks again.

[JEFF MAKOR]

Hello and thanks for asking this question.
All ceramic magnets impart a fast tracking punchy delivery, whereas the alnico version of any given pickup will be warm and slightly more 'vintage' or 'organic sounding. If you want to clean up under gain for delicate chordal work, alnico 4 or 5 will suffice.
I've noticed that ceramic will do it, but sound sterile by comparison.
When wide open, the bridge ceramic magnet will lower upper frequencies and push midrange, making it a good choice for heavy blues, rock and shredding (long hair is optional)!
Paradoxically, the alnico magnet under distortion will spread the frequencies across the sonic spectrum and have a more transparent sound.
A matched pair of any Bareknuckles will do whatever they claim to do perfectly well and in a professional manner, but it may be a good experiment to have alnicos for the neck and a ceramic magnet for the bridge.
Whatever style you choose, enjoy.
Regards
Jeff Makor

[Dr. Vic]

If you already asked Tim on that question, I dunno how it will be possible to help you more... :roll:

On the first topic of this section he says :
« We use ceramic 8 as do most pickup makers-it is more powerful and essentially more efficient so the resulting tone usually has a very fast tracking bass response with a distinct cut in the highs.Some players find them cold/hard when run clean and they can cause alot of compression from their relatively hot output-again, depending on how you use them, they are capable of good clean tones too but the general consensus is that Alnicos are sweeter run clean. »

This will stay true if you compare the regular Bomb to the C-Bomb. The difference between those 2 has been discussed many times here, and there you have some examples :

http://bareknucklepickups.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=11306.0

http://bareknucklepickups.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=17227.0

http://bareknucklepickups.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=16628.0

http://bareknucklepickups.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=15768.0

http://bareknucklepickups.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=14747.0

http://bareknucklepickups.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=16983.0


The alnico magnet are also known as « the musical magnets » (I guess as opposed to ceramics), because of their natural warmth, sweetness and organic capabilities. Of course those subjective descriptions depends on personnal likings and of course music and style. As for me I'd just say ceramics handle high gain far much better than alnico, for an overall more agressive tone and  in your faceness.

But if your are in Opeth tone, maybe I'd go for a regular NB, as being a good compromise, regarding versality, clarity, and power.

[MDV]

I think a CS set is very good for opeth, actually.

[dheim]

I think a CS set is very good for opeth, actually.

+1

[ericsabbath]

my cold sweat bridge is C4

[sebby123]

I have a cold sweat calibrated set which i love looking for something slightly different,
The guitar i have the CS in is a Gibson Les paul Studio W/ a rosewood fretboard
This one is The same with an ebony fretboard so since ive heard the C-bomb is is a little darker and more output i think its a good way to go to off set the ebony.


anyone compare alnico vs ceramic for clarity on spread out chords?

[MDV]

Interesting. Whats the difference between 4 and 8? I'm only really familiar with 8.

[MDV]

Why would you want to offset the ebony? Good ebony has a nice chiming high to it. Get that bitch emphasised!

[Dr. Vic]

Interesting. Whats the difference between 4 and 8? I'm only really familiar with 8.

Really curious about this question.. and is there other ceramics type (in addition to the previous named C4 and C8) ?

Sorry for the hijack sebby   :!

[sebby123]

Ha its all good tim recommened me some miracles man's as an alternative to the cold sweat's a little more power with that smooth mid.