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Is there a way to visually decipher between an Alnico II, III, and V humbucking pickup bar magnet (not just SD magnets)? The Alnico IIs I've seen (in the Seth Lover and Gibson PAF RI pickups) are shiny, the Alnico Vs I've seen (in the SD 59 and Gibson 490 pickups) have a rough sand cast dark grey appearance. What would be characteristic of an Alnico III?

I have some loose humbucking pickup bar magnets I'm trying to identify. I'm certain they are not ceramic. I do not have a gauss meter (and have no intention to build one) nor do I want to spend too much time swapping out magnets in pickups. Any replies welcome.

Hello J.D.

i keep all mine on the top edge of my fridge with the top of each one sticking up over the top of the fridge so I can snap them back and forth to feel which is which-- beaware of Antiquitys-- yet they usally slide almost off the fridge. not much power, I then take a marker and mark the known ones and compair..

cheers
RD

Rev Donzo, funny idea. But they are not to decipher visually, to different ratios of the metals used are not wide enough. The sanding is simply a optical gimmick, which can be done to all of them. My approach is to use a permanent marker and label them with the known specs and origin when i pull them from the original pup eg A5 Duncan JB, A4 Fralin, A3 David Barfuss

Duncan magnets are marked on the slug side at the factory...
Alnico 2 and 5 look almost identical...
A2 = BLUE
A5 = BLACK
Ceramic magnets are entirely BLACK