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Post by wolf on Jun 13, 2005 21:44:05 GMT -5
Is there a supplier for pickup magnets - specifically Alnico V magnets for P-90 pickups? I will soon be getting a 3 P-90 guitar but they have those "awful" ceramic magnets. Rather than buy 3 replacement pickups, maybe replacing the pickup magnets might be a cheaper remedy? I know a few of you folks like to wind your own pickups. Do you know of any pickup magnet suppliers?
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damian
Meter Reader 1st Class
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Post by damian on Jun 13, 2005 22:24:21 GMT -5
try stewartmacdonald.com they have a p90 kit for a pickup im not sure of the type of magnets they use though. Good luck. Damian
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Post by Runewalker on Jun 16, 2005 11:26:38 GMT -5
I have had this idea before as well, because I now have a number of Single coils with ceramics I have stripped out to replace with alnico pups.
I have looked at the bar magnets on the bottoms of the pups and they seem securely glued.
Is there a way to remove these out off their glued up state anyone else has used. I would like to convert these to alnicos and recycle.
Also I assume there will be issues related to sustaining the magnetic polarity. So some means of assessing that would be helpful.
RW
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Post by wolf on Jun 16, 2005 21:10:38 GMT -5
RunewalkerI have a feeling that the middle pickup on my triple P-90 guitar might have to be opened up to "flip" the magnets. Why? I think it is not the reverse polrity of the other 2 and I do like humbucking options. I'll let you know if I have a problem with it or if I find an easy solution. I'm beginning to think that buying magnets is going to be a bit on the expensive side. Here is one link (it is an individual and not a magnet company): www.ampge.com/components.htmIt seems you can buy Alnico P-90 pickup magnets for $2 IF your minimum order is $300 !!!!!!! For smaller purchases, the price is $4 each. So that would cost me $24. (Still seems a bit expensive.)
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Post by Runewalker on Jun 16, 2005 23:15:23 GMT -5
Wolf:
Glad to see you are a collegue in the guitar parts value shopping quest.
I got started on this sick hobby because my venerable LesPaul was just getting worn to the nub on frets. Doesn't have another dressing left. After pricing a new fret job, and not achieving confidence it would be done 'right," I started buying ebay parts to build up some subs to give Pauline a rest.
What started innocently has become a near obsession. Replacing my LP would cost me $2500 to $3000 -- just rediculous. That would fund 7-10 high quality build ups. A veritable Harem!
But the detrious of this hobby is unused or bought parts where my mind changed.
I have been successful in discharging some of my parts I abandoned by building up guitars for my daughter's friends and my musician friends, but unfortunately my standards have shifted and gotten more expensive.
I've got to pursue a P90 build up --- preferably on a Jag body. Why, because I can! and it is so nerdy cool.
As an aside I have a 1952 175D, the first year Gibby made the double dog earred P90 175. It is very sweet but gotten so valuable I am afraid to play it --- and that is just wrong. It's yours for $10K, only slightly above an Agile.
RW
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Post by GuyaGuy on Jun 17, 2005 15:20:18 GMT -5
Runewalker & wolf i don't think you'll find alnico magnets for much cheaper. it's not a bad price really. it's just one of those "it's a helluvalot cheaper for a company to make em than to DIY" things--like FX pedals, DIY guitar, etc.
at the risk of sounding stupid, make sure sizes match if you do order but...
MOST IMPORTANTLY: because ceramic magnets are usually stronger than alnico, the windings are determined to match. so a ceramic PU w/ a resistance of 7K ohms will have fewer windings than an alnico. so slapping some alnico magnets into a PU wound for ceramic will probably cause the sound to be hotter and quite possibly muddy.
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Post by GuyaGuy on Jun 17, 2005 15:23:25 GMT -5
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Post by Runewalker on Jun 17, 2005 16:08:18 GMT -5
Yeah, thats the direction. I have bought and dissassembled Tursers, and like them. Their bodies seem to be made of a porous, very light wood, so I have had trouble, at least with the JT-300s in getting the substance I crave. Too many years with a Les Paul, I guess. I was thinking of fabing one out of oak, because no one uses oak, and I am convinced the whole tonewood notion in solid bodies is a myth. I have heard some great sounding guitars that were laminates (at the extreme end of the antitonewood spectrum) Check those crazy slider switches. The wiring I want is described in guitarnuts2.proboards45.com/index.cgi?board=wiring&action=display&thread=1117172128But that was evolutional so the final designs don't occur until pg 3. So I would have to get a custom pickgard, new switches, new pups, because I am almost certain these are ceramic, etc. So by the time of purchase price and add ons I would be looking at $400+, but I try to keep my projects at or around the $200 range. So .... maybe later. But this is a good canidate.
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Post by wolf on Jun 17, 2005 21:09:34 GMT -5
GuyaGuy You said that ceramic magnets are stronger than alnico (and I think they are). So to me, replacing ceramic magnets with alnico would make the sound weaker and thinner wouldn't it?
Yeah, I guess buying magnets is cheaper than the do it yourself route. I guess I'll cancel the order for my alnico smelting furnace. ;D
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damian
Meter Reader 1st Class
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Post by damian on Jun 17, 2005 22:45:53 GMT -5
Bad idea runewalker, although I totally agree with you about body wood being a "myth". Oak is usually not used because it is very heavy. I think alder or poplar are very cost effective and sound beautiful. I have a plywood bodied squire that sounds great with gold laces, but guitars have been built for many years and people use the woods they do for good reasons. Its a good idea not trying to reinvent the wheel in guitar building. I just built a strat with a solid rosewood neck and an alder body that sounds super good. or my mone a stiff neck with a light body are the best combo for good tone. Peace Damian.
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Post by GuyaGuy on Jun 18, 2005 0:44:30 GMT -5
wolf, yr right. apparently i can't write, think, and read 2 websites at the same time! Runewalker, my main guitar is an EASTWOOD, made by the same factory as the JAY TURSERS. it's actually quite similar to that SURF MASTER in build, aesthetics, etc. good guitar. www.myrareguitars.com/guyatone.htmland, yes, slider switches are cool! i think any multi-PU should have them or mini toggles for on/off.
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Post by GuyaGuy on Jun 18, 2005 1:31:52 GMT -5
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Post by Runewalker on Jun 18, 2005 8:20:20 GMT -5
Well I see I drifted off topic. Sorry Wolf, stream of consciousness and all of that.
Guya... That is one tres-cool and scary beast you have. Bigsby? I don't know. I'll use the redirect to irritate the tonewood freaks.
Back to pickups and magnets.
I asked earlier in the thread, how do you remove the glued up magnets and still don't know the answer to that one.
Also, the ceramic overwound issue may in fact be an enhansement to the alnico conversions. I like my alnicos a little hotter than vintage but not Super Distortion style. I always split hums and set them for the Parallel option, and there the increased windings help the output of those modes.
But I will agree it is a constant balance act between flexibility, tonal definition and output.
Alnicos are just sweeter without that upper register crackliness that you get in cerams.
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Post by GuyaGuy on Jun 20, 2005 3:01:24 GMT -5
Runewalker, i was multitasking and not thinking logically when i wrote that putting in alnico will make yr PU hotter. alnico is weaker than ceramic. ceramic PUs generally have fewer windings as the magnet is stronger so adding alnico will make the output WEAKER and probably more trebly. maybe try alnico 8?? as for magnet removal, the onlu info i can think of is here: www.projectguitar.com/tut/barmagswap.htmbut it's for HBs. do you have Dan Erlewine's book from Guitar Player? in the electronics section there's something about P-90s and parts glued in that i didn't read cuz i didn't need the info at the time i read it. i believe it was about glued-in magnets. maybe you can check there if no-one offers more advice. and, yes, my eastwood is tres-cool. scary? maybe. bigsby? yessir. i love it. and this bigsby knock-off is smoother than the real thing! (also people with tuning problems probably have a bad set up, non-rolling bridge, 3-to-a-side tuners, and a lousy nut.)
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