Did Alembic Recently Inspect Alligator?

[lbpesq]

A contributor to another forum on which I post wrote that he heard that Alembic did a full tear down inspection of Alligator following the recent Bonham’s auction of the guitar.   He believes Alembic discovered that Alligator’s pickups were Alnico 3 magnets (which some claim Fender used in 1954, switching to Alnico 5 in 1955 and ever since).   Any truth to this?   Anyone have any info?   Mica?


Bill, tgo

[lbpesq]

Never mind.  The guy just posted that it was Rick Turner, not Alembic, but he claims the Alnico 3 info is correct, per Turner.   Is it even possible to determine an Alnico 3 from an Alnico 5?   How?  Certainly not visually, and I don’t think I can do it with my Gauss meter?

Bill, tgo

[cozmik_cowboy]

I just spent some time poking around the interwebz looking for an answer to that, Bill, and everything was about telling them apart by sound.

I did, however, learn that alnico III actually has no cobalt, and thus should be "alni III".

Peter

[paulman]

Thanks Bill, I needed a new tool and a Gauss Meter will do nicely!


What magnet material was in your replica?

[BeenDown139]

<veering off subject slightly>

Thanks Bill, I needed a new tool and a Gauss Meter will do nicely!

not to sound like old uncle joe sitting around reminiscing at the potbelly stove, but i've had a lot of tools pass thru my hands over the 45+ years i've spent in electrical engineering, but that's a new one on me.

looks like home depot has one.  think i'll pass, though.  got enough stuff laying around...

[lbpesq]

What magnet material was in your replica?

I used Alnico 5 magnets with vintage bevel, 1950’s stagger with G and D poles the same length, .710, with approximately 8000 winds of .42 gauge heavy formvar wire.   I also shielded the inside of the pickup covers and ran them to ground.   Jerry had this done so that he didn’t have to ground the strings, thus minimizing the risk of electrocution.   I’m starting to assemble parts for another Alligator.  I’m going to try oversize (.195) Alnico 3 magnets and see how it sounds.

Bill, tgo