magnet swap questions

[alphadog808]

Hi guys,
I was thinking of doing a magnet swap on one of my seymour duncan pickups, but I had a few questions that hopefully someone can answer..

1) I was going to buy the magnet from addiction-fx on ebay but wasn't sure if there is a particular size magnet I'd need for a seymour duncan magnet swap. Is there a standard size?

2) It seems the direction of the magnet(north) matters, is it as simple as having the north side of the magnet facing up towards the bobbins? If so, does it matter which part or the north magnet is facing the slug and screw side?

3) Do people usually just swap the middle magnet and leave the outer, thinner magnets?

Thanks!

[Zhangliqun]

Pickup bar magnets are standardized at 1/2" wide, 1/8" thick and 2.5" long (some 2.25").

The N and S poles are along the length of the magnet on each side -- NOT top and bottom or end and other end. On a humbucker the north pole (for most manufacturers) faces the slugs, the south pole faces the screws. I strongly recommend Stewmac's polarity tester to avoid confusion when actually swapping the mags.

Most humbuckers don't have the outer narrow magnets, those are found pretty much exclusively in ceramic high output bridge models.

[alphadog808]

Hey Zhangliqun, thanks so much! I think I'm ready to take the plunge..

[jake_xms3_punk]

go for it, mag swapping is the easiest most effective way of fine tuning your tone.

if you happen to put a magnet in the wrong way its not a big deal, it wont effect the pickup when used on its own but will sound out of phase when used with another pickup.

[alphadog808]

thanks for that, I guess I can test if I did it right by using both pups...!

[jake_xms3_punk]

the easiest way to do it is to pull out the mag half way and hold the new one up to it so that the sides attract and the top and bottom repel. also most mags have the north side marked.

[alphadog808]

the easiest way to do it is to pull out the mag half way and hold the new one up to it so that the sides attract and the top and bottom repel. also most mags have the north side marked.

I read something like that, but I swore it was the other way around...wasn't the top and bottom attract and the sides/ends repel?? Maybe my memory is failing me..?

[jake_xms3_punk]

I read something like that, but I swore it was the other way around...wasn't the top and bottom attract and the sides/ends repel?? Maybe my memory is failing me..?

No, the sides should attract and the ends and top should repel. I've done a little picture for you, hope this helps.

[alphadog808]

Jake,
Thanks so much for this! The pic confirms what I think in my head, so I guess my wording was wrong :P...I think there is massive confusion out there when people are trying to explain it without pics...at least that's been my experience when searching the site...thanks again!

[jake_xms3_punk]

Jake,
Thanks so much for this! The pic confirms what I think in my head, so I guess my wording was wrong :P...I think there is massive confusion out there when people are trying to explain it without pics...at least that's been my experience when searching the site...thanks again!

no problem. have fun mag swapping and post your findings on here

[GuitarDoc]

Hey, Jake,

That was a great picture (it truly says a thousand words).

[darthphineas]

Hey, Jake,

That was a great picture (it truly says a thousand words).

+1

[joyouswolf]

No, the sides should attract and the ends and top should repel. I've done a little picture for you, hope this helps.

GREAT PHOTO.
THANKS for the help.

[dvanburen]

ive been swapping mags for some time now. I always pull the old mag out about halfway, then touch the new mag so the bottom of the new mag attracts to the top of the old one and install that way. ive never had an issue but ive never payed any kind of attention to the sides of the mag and which end goes in first. Is this wrong?

[GuitarDoc]

Reverse polarity.

[dvanburen]

hmm. never sounded out of phase to me. probably because my neck magnets are installed the same way.

[metalmachine]

I read something like that, but I swore it was the other way around...wasn't the top and bottom attract and the sides/ends repel?? Maybe my memory is failing me..?

I think I was the one who said that. Oops. I have been doing it backwards

[GuitarDoc]

If the polarity of both pups is reversed, they will sound and function normally.

[dvanburen]

just ordered the magnet tester from stewmac

[MisterE]

One stupid question. Do you need to orient the poles if you have an UOA5?