Marcel's GAS SGM-1 (PBG build #5)

[Simon Barden]

I'm not sure you can tell the magnet type just by looking, except maybe tell the ceramics from the Alnicos. Any colour differences appear to be very slight. Ceramic magnets are normally darker/greyer than alnico and are supposed to be non-conductive, so you could use a multimeter on then to check it they have a high (ceramic) or low (Alnico) resistance.

For some reason, Alnico 3 doesn't contain any Co (Cobalt) so really is an "Alni" magnet. It's also less powerful than Alnico 2 and only just stronger than Alnico 1 (so really 2 and 3 should have been renumbered in the table). Alnico 5 produces around a 33% stronger magnetic field than Alnico 3, and as the magnet sizes are pretty much the same for a given pickup configuration, that's very much the increase in output you'd get by changing from an Alnico 3 to an Alnico 5 magnet.

[Marcel]

It's all much of a muchness there Simon...

From my meagre research the only real physical differences that a layman can attribute between Alnico II and Alnico V is about a 2% weight variation by volume and their relative magnetic strengths, with the Alnico V being the heavier and most often being by any given mass an approximately 1/3 stronger magnet. Not much to go on...

Both are made using either of the same two processes, both can look and feel the same. For that matter a new Alnico II can have a greater magnetic force than a worn out and tired or abused Alnico V. So the only real way to identify any particular magnet is chipping a chunk off and having it chemically analysed for the ratios of Al & Ni & Co..... Not that there is any doubt about the differences and their effects but it seems to me to be another wonderfully huge hole in the hard facts department, which is right next door to the "Tone woods" department, for rumours and Snake Oil salesmen to step in and make a living from....

[Simon Barden]

Indeed. Without looking up anything, I'm assuming those force figures are maximum ones and the strength still depends on how hard the basic alloy is magnetised. I've seen threads where people talk about degausing pickup magnets to reduce their strength to make them behave and 'sound' like vintage ones.

Given that the magnet is just there to create the magnetic field to make the pickups work, I'm sure any tone variation is down to different magnetic strengths, rather than their chemical make-up. Yet I still prefer Alnico over Ceramic pickups!

[Marcel]

I'm not closed off to Ceramics, and with the right set in the right axe I think they can be quite good.

Some time ago I got a set of SD rails. Hot rail bridge, Vintage rail neck, and Cool rail neck.... They sounded barely passable in my 40 year old MIJ Ason Plywood Strat, absolutely woeful in a Poplar bodied kit Strat, yet they are awesome in my Alder partscaster Strat.

Interestingly I discovered later that the Poplar bodied kit Strat sounds best to me with the cheapest kit PU's I could find, and the plywood sounds best with a set of Fender MIM PU's that I scored from somewhere.

All of the above is subjective.... I know what I like in an axe's sound, which isn't necessarily what others may like... however, keeping the guitar setup aside as another issue, I maintain that there is a strong 'relationship' between the PU's and the body/neck that affects how each and every guitar sounds through any amp... and every builder just has to find that right combination...

[Marcel]

A little has happened....

Shaped the headstock
Sanded at 180 entire body and neck.
Applied and sanded back with 180 Ebony TimbreMate.
Applied and sanded back with 240 Feast Watson Japan Brown
Applied as thin as I could a coat of Birchwood Casey Filler/Sealer (the manufacturers recommended undercoat for TrueOil.)...

It's getting there ...

[wazkelly]

Interesting effect Marcel. Presuming chrome hardware as a contrast?

[Marcel]

That's a big yes Waz.

All chrome. Will try the kit bridge and stop bar, have a set of chrome Grover tuners, The Belcat PU's have chrome covers, and I have a different few sets of knobs with silvery caps so will select which set at time of fitting. Will probably go for Black PU rings and poker chip though I do have a cream set if the Black doesn't look right.

My daughter will be visiting tomorrow so I'll get a feminine point of view on its 'in person attitude'...lol... ..I suspect she will prefer a rough satin if not slightly relic'd finish as high gloss would be more than a little out of character. Actually, while I was sanding the stain coat and the way it was looking I had this feeling that I had just saved this axe from a fire, but that feeling went away the moment I put the sealer/filler coat on....

[wazkelly]

Lot of tiny pores in mahogany. Are you aiming for a totally smooth finish or happy to leave those to add a bit of character?

[Marcel]

As I like thin finishes I'm letting each coat settle for a few days and then deciding. So far only 4 coats and most of the pores have gone. Still weighing up on a 5th coat.

As it is I have a damn fine gloss after one sealer/filler and the four TO coats... will post some pix tomorrow.

[wazkelly]

Must be a pretty good sealer/filler as 4 coats of TO alone wouldn't be enough to fill those small craters.