• From: Detroit
  • Registered: 2006-06-02
  • Posts: 5,807

Topic: ceramic vs. alnico magnets in guitar speakers

Hello,

Can anyone describe nuances or preferences between having a guitar speaker with a ceramic magnet vs. alnico? I'm shopping for a guitar speaker, and am seeing the same model of speaker in both a ceramic and an alnico. Just a hunch that I should go with alnico because it's going into a vintage amp.

- Nic from Detroit... posting on JB's Forum since 6-2-2006
Ask me about my handwound Great Lakes Guitar Pickups
Since 2010, Bonamassa fans have taken advantage of my JB friend discount = my cost + shipping. cool
  • From: Florida, USA
  • Registered: 2008-06-04
  • Posts: 1,420

Re: ceramic vs. alnico magnets in guitar speakers

Hmm if I had to describe the differences between ceramic/alnico speakers I would say that the ceramics are brighter, tighter, more glassy and perhaps a little brittle sounding.  A good example would be a Deluxe Reverb RI or Twin Reverb RI amp, bright as hell and sound very good clean.  For me ceramics are NO NOs for lead/dirty tones.  Alnicos are what they put in the Super Reverbs, Bassman RI, Marshalls, etc.  More wooly, warm, crunchy, and loose sounding. Great for the distorted stuff but can do the cleans as well.  Alnico all the way IMHO.

'67 and '74 Fender Twin Reverbs, '74 Marshall 1987 lead mkII, Metro Superlead 100. Pedals from TC Electronic, Ibanez, Dunlop, BK Butler, Electro-Harmonix, Fulltone, Maestro/Gibson, Loopmaster switching, VoodooLab, Boss. Gibson and Fender guitars, Dimarzio pickups.
  • Registered: 2008-11-01
  • Posts: 103

Re: ceramic vs. alnico magnets in guitar speakers

There are soooo many different types of speakers out now that the ceramic/alnico difference isn't nearly as clear cut as it used to be years ago.
With heavier alnico magnets and cones available and lighter cones/voice coils on ceramics some ceramic speakers do a good job of imitating an alnico speaker.
I have an old 15" JBL 100 watt alnico that I can't get to break up and some early Jensen ceramics that breakup just like alnicos when pushed, so even then who knows.

You may be pretty dissapointed just going for an alnico speaker because it's for a certain amp.
Depending on what vintage amp you have and the tone you're trying to get out of it, should depend on what speaker you should look for.

  • From: North Carolina
  • Registered: 2008-10-26
  • Posts: 2,926

Re: ceramic vs. alnico magnets in guitar speakers

Here is a new magnet alloy out on the market called neodymium.  Its been around for ever but they just came out with it 5 years ago with speakers.  The first ones sucked, but new ones sound a better from what I've heard.  Whats good about them?  They use less mass to equal the same magnetic pull so its ligher weight.  As for sound I cant say a thing about them or any other magnet.  My vote is Alinico is better then ceramic.  It is in pickups to me so I think its a warmer sound.

AD3THREE's Website

  • From: Detroit
  • Registered: 2006-06-02
  • Posts: 5,807

Re: ceramic vs. alnico magnets in guitar speakers

I'm really looking at a Weber 8" SIG speaker 15 watt 4 OHM

they come in ceramic or alnico (early breakup) or alnico (late breakup)

Im leaning towards alnico (late breakup)

- Nic from Detroit... posting on JB's Forum since 6-2-2006
Ask me about my handwound Great Lakes Guitar Pickups
Since 2010, Bonamassa fans have taken advantage of my JB friend discount = my cost + shipping. cool
  • From: North Carolina
  • Registered: 2008-10-26
  • Posts: 2,926

Re: ceramic vs. alnico magnets in guitar speakers

So does late breakup give you any tone differences other then more usable volume?  I've got a Epiphone practice amp that has some cheap speakers from a yamaha keyboard.  They breakup at about half way up and all the way up sounds like a marshall.  Problem is they only handle 6 watts at 4 ohms so after 10 mins. they start to buzz from too much power I guess.  If I hook up a 12 inch organ speaker up to it, it has a good clean sound but never breaks up.   The 6 watt speakers (2 of them 4'') wired together are ceramic.  The organ speaker is a 12'' Alnico from the early 60's.  Could I buy a low wattage Ceramic speaker and get that drive sound that I got with the keyboard speakers without them craping out?

AD3THREE's Website

  • From: Detroit
  • Registered: 2006-06-02
  • Posts: 5,807

Re: ceramic vs. alnico magnets in guitar speakers

From what I understand, you're right - early breakup is a speaker characteristic in which the speaker distorts are earlier volumes. Weber speakers got really good reviews off HarmonyCentral. I was researching "who makes the best 8" guitar speaker" and Weber speakers were constantly coming up.

You could probably call Ted Weber and ask him about this.
http://www.tedweber.com/

I head Ted is a great guy, and loves talking to musicians. He's in Indiana I believe
765-452-1249

- Nic from Detroit... posting on JB's Forum since 6-2-2006
Ask me about my handwound Great Lakes Guitar Pickups
Since 2010, Bonamassa fans have taken advantage of my JB friend discount = my cost + shipping. cool