Turning junk to gold...

[popsaka]

...Hey, kids I have a coil of about 6k with a bar magnet that fits inside it along with its own neutral steel bar to go between it and the strings... I wuz thinking of combining it with one of two over-wound strat pups (approx 12k and 14k) to create a sort of bastardized humplucker...
Can anyone tell me why this is an utterly lame idea as well as suggest coil and magnet polarities? (both the strat pups are typical 6 alnico pole piece types) I'm hoping to get a reduced noise/cleaner unique tone from this latest frankenstine ''junk to gold'' experiment and not just yet another 'audio sculpture... IYKWIM

Also I'd really love ta hear about any similar bouts with the norm

[roadtonever]

In high DCR pickups ceramic bar magnets are usually mated with steel poles. Combining with alnico poles might have been done before but I couldn't tell you what to expect tonally. Try it if you want and if you don't like the results but don't want to give up you might be able to find a cheap source for steel rods on the internet.

For reducing noise you could try copper shielding the coils. The trick is not to complete the loop or unwanted signal loss may occur.

[popsaka]

...Thanks for reply and pix. I'm sorry, what I meant wuz one coil has the alnico poles (as per the norm) while the 2nd lower impedence coil has a single bar magnet fitting snugly where the poles usually reside...
(sorry 'bout the lack of pix)

[newey]

the 2nd lower impedence coil has a single bar magnet fitting snugly where the poles usually reside...

Is it like the single-rail Strat pickup in my P-Bass?


I don't think there's any problem with your idea. When we wire two dissimilar SCs in a series configuration, it's just like what you're doing, except the coils are closer together in yours. You will want one to be RWRP so the series combo will be humbucking. This may or may not require any flipping of magnets; some testing is needed to check the respective polarities.

At worst, you would need to flip the magnet on one of them.

[popsaka]

...Yeah, that's the idea, thanks Newey. In your experience should the the rail magnet be glued or shimmed in tight or would it have a brighter tone if allowed to float a bit? Also, has anyone had any success combining two coils when one has nearly twice the impedance of the other?

[newey]

In your experience should the the rail magnet be glued or shimmed in tight or would it have a brighter tone if allowed to float a bit?

I dunno, I just put it in there straight out of the box and didn't play with it at all. I wasn't aware it would come out.

[thetragichero]

isn't any movement inside a pickup a bad thing, hence why we dip them in hot wax?

[roadtonever]

Yeah, you really want to avoid damaging the copper wire.

popsaka, loose parts in a pickup assembly might result in microphonics.

[popsaka]

...Thanks guys, I wuz just trying to muze outside the envelope...

Does anyone have any weird pickup adventures they'd like to report? (and I don't mean down at the local constabulary though if it wouldn't be to off topic...(?)