Alnico is dead

[Sick Michael]

I fear a parting of the waters....

I prefer Alnico, and have been realising lately that lower output is maybe better for bigger tone. Wierd huh...

 

[TheGreatGreen]

I've been messing around swapping back and fourth between an EMG 81 and 85 lately. 81 has a higher resonant peak so it gets more hi-fi sounding. It's also smoother overall, more refined. The 85's lower resonant peak feels like it's more in line with highlighting string detail and clank. It gets more down and dirty / growly. It's also just a bit thicker.

It's tough to pick a favorite.

 

[Bloodrock]

Alnico can be warm and round to chunky and punchy, depending. Love them in Lps and strats. Ceramics are hot and sharp mostly. They can be great for high gain. Sound like garbage for low gain or blues, especially ceramic single coils. I like ceramics for metal, hot but not sterile like actives. Batteries belong in my wife's vibrators, not guitar pickups.

 

[ChurchHill]

I have never heard a ceramic single coil that I've liked.