Alnico 3 vs Alnico 5 pickup magnets, what is the difference.
At Migas Touch Pickups we use Alnico 3 in our ‘54 Stratocaster pickups and Alnico 5 in our ‘59 Stratocaster pickups. The difference is in the tone and here is the difference.
The primary difference stems from magnetic strength: Alnico 5 magnets are much stronger than Alnico 3 magnets. Because Alnico 3 actually contains no cobalt, it has the weakest magnetic pull of the Alnico family, resulting in less string dampening and more natural sustain.
Alnico 3: The Vintage Smooth Operator is Warm and Woody. Excellent for recreating early 1950s Stratocaster and Telecaster tones. Sweet Highs, The top-end sings without sounding piercing, making it ideal for the bridge position of bright guitars. Sustain Booster, Because the magnetic pull is weak, your guitar strings can vibrate more freely for longer notes.
Alnico 5: The Rocker is Punchy and Tight. Ideal for cutting through a dense band mix with sharp articulation. Glassy Cleans, Provides that classic, bell-like "cluck" and "quack" in positions 2 and 4 of a Stratocaster. Drive Friendly, The higher output pushes tube amplifiers into a natural, aggressive overdrive much faster than Alnico 3. Here are links to watch YouTube videos on the two so you hear for yourself the difference and in the first comment the Migas Touch Pickups website where you can watch many demo videos.