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If an A2 magnet is warm highs, big mids,soft bass tone and an A5 is brighter with tighter bass response tone what does a Ceramic magnet have going for it. I`ve thought about trying a Custom but I`m not sure about the ceramic magnet. Please excuse my lack of smarts in this area.

Technically, a ceramic magnet doesn't affect the tone at all (at least that's what's been posted here before). You're hearing just the coils of the pickup. Compared to alnico magnets, people like them because they're more aggressive and have more clarity.

^^^ what he said.

^^^^bah.

The only experience I have is with the Custom series. Compared to an A2, the ceramic fills in the low and highs. Compared to the A5, the ceramic seems to fill in the mids.

If an A2 has a response like a bell-curve, and the A5 has a response that's scooped, then the ceramic is a lot closer to a flat response.

All I know is that the custom really helps make my les paul rock. Duncan uses the ceramic magnet very well in the custom IMO, check it out, its a great pickup.