Attila where did you find that? I'd say that's pretty different from my experience.

Firstly I often swap from A2 to A3, as A3 has less bass and a bit more treble. Also A2s usually sound very middy to me as well. A8 has a significant thunk in the bottom end and does not have more treble than an A5 from my experience.

However it might be argued that we are dealing with different alloys of these magnets, A4 being the one that can vary the most. I emailed Jon at Throbak as he also said that A2s sound scooped and he mentioned this. Then we can also debate what bass, mids and treble are. Lastly, these might be comparisons at different winds. A low wound A2 mid be scooped and have a wonderful high end (Then again, it'd lose a significant amount of bass).

Curious, very curious indeed.

Here's Jon's (A winder I seriously admire) list, which is also different from my experience.

A2 long / Scooped mids, chimey highs, warm sweet tones, loose feel.
A2 short / Scooped mids, spankier tone than long A2.
A3 long / Very weak, nice clarity for use in P-90's but very low output for P.A.F.'s.
A4 long / Balanced mids, treble and low end, drier toned than A2.
A5 long oriented / mid dominant, focused tone, jazzy cleans.
A5 short oriented / mid dominant tone, fatter toned than long oriented A5.
A5 long unoriented (Illinois) / Great low end clarity with good mids.
A5 long unoriented )(Indiana) / Less low end clarity more treble snarl, good mids.

Mike I cant remember it was a long time ago as you say one can argue the point until the cows come home due to the variables.


However, Mike seeing as you are the most experienced resident winder, your experience speaks volumes. +10000

Bought a set of IV's bridge and neck for a project that I am working on. (had to go for the zebra). Will let you know what they sound like in a hollow body when I fit them.

MikeM wrote: Going into a LP?

Sorry, busy yesterday, but yes, into a Epi LP

Great Info here!
Attila Barath, that diagram is a really nice general guide - saved it! ?
Mike, your info is slightly confusing to me as I have no idea what "long oriented" or "short oriented" means! ??? Explain some more please! I'd love to know more, however if it's not really stuff that we can get easily in SA its probably way over my head! :?

@Atilla, at best I'm a pickup unwinder ? Haven't had a chance to wind my own, but have had quite a lot wound to my specs, and have changed magnets and pulled winds off of loads of pickups!

@Dan, JBs (Or other 16k awg44 with A5s) sound great in anything BUT mahogany in my experience. They sound quite honky and nasal. If hair metal is your thing, great, otherwise they're not that useful...

Throbak use different sized magnets. Long or short refer to either 2.5" or roughly 2.32"

Oriented = Anisotropic = one direction = tighter more focused sound
Unoriented = Isotropic = multi direction = loose, smooth sound

Bare in mind, this is all from my experience and my ears. We are all fallible so you don't have to trust my word ?

In the same wind, I find

A2: Smooth, round, middy.
A3: Quite smooth, a bit sharper, a hair less mids and a hair more treble (Good for an overly dark A2 neck)
A4: Very even, neutral, detailed high end
A5: Scooped, tight, solid bass, powerful treble
A8: Huge. Big mids, great big thunking attacky bass.


I've ordered an A4 set (crap forgot to stop and fetch them at the post office). Going to be putting an A3 in the neck, as well off pulling a couple hundred winds off to take it down to around 7.6k, and then will be putting an A8 in the bridge which is around 8.6k. Rocking combo, well balanced while keeping a good contrast between neck and bridge.

Hi MikeM, without quoting all the above, thanks a lot! Makes "slightly" more sense! ?

I've ordered 2 Tonerider sets, the Rocksong and a set I made up from a Generator Neck and an Alnico 4 bridge. This will go into the Epi LP.
I have another set of Rocksongs in a 335 style Ibanez that sounds amazing and very Robben Ford when combined with a bit of Boss overdrive that it's not true!
R500.00 for 2 sets of pickups is not going to break my bank!

MikeM wrote: In the same wind, I find

A2: Smooth, round, middy.
A3: Quite smooth, a bit sharper, a hair less mids and a hair more treble (Good for an overly dark A2 neck)
A4: Very even, neutral, detailed high end
A5: Scooped, tight, solid bass, powerful treble
A8: Huge. Big mids, great big thunking attacky bass.

I've never used A8s, but otherwise that ties in nicely with my findings. Good post Mike!

Following the nice magnet info above I bought another 2 sets of Tonerider Rocksongs, one zebra and one black bobbin set. I must say zebra style looks pretty cool on a white scratchplate. Both sets are installed into Frankenstein strats. However I replaced the Alnico IV magnets in the one set with ceramic magnets and I'm quite surprised with the difference in tone.

The modded set is in a guitar with an alder body and rosewood on maple fretboard and sounds very clear and a lot more chimey than the DiMarzios that were in there (they're NOT for sale now! ?) I like them a lot better than the DiMarzios.
The un-modded Rocksong set were installed into a Frankenstein with a maple board and a ash body combo - Lovely as they come, warm and chimey too. Bridge humbucker is awesome in this guitar. Nice output, blends well with the SD Vintage Stack in the middle, same with the neck humbucker (took it down a bit for a better balance) - Awesome combo!

Get them while you still can folks. I have seen whats left on the shelf! ?

Hmmmm, go & check the Generator prices now! R200.00 ?
Can they possibly go any cheaper?

For the folks in the know, which of the bridge pickups will go best with the Generator neck, if it's installed in the bridge?

born2burn wrote: Hmmmm, go & check the Generator prices now! R200.00 ?
Can they possibly go any cheaper?

For the folks in the know, which of the bridge pickups will go best with the Generator neck, if it's installed in the bridge?

Jumped on a Rocksong and Alnico IV at that price too. Thanks for the heads up. Just waiting for Andre's reply. Don't even have a guitar to stick 'em in yet (got plans though ? ) but at R500 for a set I thought I better get them while they're available.

There are some ways to balance them out ?

I received a Gen set instead of a A4 set, so we might be able to figure something out for you if you want? Just contacted Andre.

Got mine in the post today. So quick and easy ?

Yea, got my set of Rocksongs yesterday. My Dad and my brother will have a go at installing them this weekend in the V! ?
Andre's the Man!

Hammeron wrote: Andre's the Man!

+1

Yea, got my set of Rocksongs yesterday. My Dad and my brother will have a go at installing them this weekend in the V! ?

Awesome! Keep us updated on how you get on with them :yup:

Psean wrote:

Hammeron wrote: Andre's the Man!

+1

Yea, got my set of Rocksongs yesterday. My Dad and my brother will have a go at installing them this weekend in the V! ?

Awesome! Keep us updated on how you get on with them :yup:

Will do brother, you too! ?

Thanks for this thread guys!

Got a set of Rocksongs good and safely packaged on Friday, installed the weekend and guess what - they sound amazing in a Epi 335! What a difference these pickups make. It's a major upgrade! I cannot believe these things go so cheaply! And I don't mean "cheap" in a derogatory way!
?

Just checked the Tonerider website this morning! http://www.customshop.co.za/
For those who still intend getting some, you better go and check before its too late!
And no, I'm not getting any kickbacks! ?

+1000

Got the last black rocksong set! ?

Hi there, does he still sell the pickups? Can someone maybe send me a number or email? Ive looked at the site and its only a logo would love to get a set for myself.

Thanks