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There are several steps you can use to wind a pickup. The bobbin can be magnetized first, wound and wax dipped or wound, wax dipped and then magnetized. When doing the second way it gives me better control when calibrating and measuring the gauss (magnetic strength) in the pickup. The coil and magnets can get…

I have experimented with many ways to direct the magnetic field to the strings, and have found that using different pole piece shapes can change the way a magnetic field leaves the pickup. Seth Lover, who invented the humbucking pickup for Gibson in the 50s also worked for Fender during the 60s and spent time…

The Alnico rod magnets used to make the pole pieces on many single coil pickups are first cast in sand. Rods are pushed into the sand removed. Then the molten magnet material is poured into each hole which is about 10″ deep. As the magnet material hardens it is removed from the sand at about…

Magnets can be re-magnetized when the magnet is demagnetized by several factors. When magnetizing pickups, a few methods can be used. One method is using a semi-continuous DC magnetizer that uses iron core electromagnets that are energized by filtered direct current. They have adjustable and interchangeable pole pieces to fit most rod and bar magnets…

The magnetic domains are locked in position as established by initial magnetization. The domains are held in place until acted upon by forces exceeding the locked in force. Various factors affecting magnet stability include metallurgical changes, time, temperature, reluctance changes, adverse fields, shock, stress and vibration as quoted from Indiana General. Metallurgical: In the older…

From my notes given to me by Indiana General years ago they say that several types of protective coating and coverings are available for many magnets. Due to the porosity and high resistivity, Ceramic magnets cannot be electroplated. Most Alnico magnets can be plated to prevent corrosion and a covering suitable for soldering. Cast alnico…

You divide 3 into 16 (3/16) and you get .1875″. I use calipers to measure my guitar parts most all the time. The Dial Calipers give precise measurements especially when measuring diameter of magnets. Some calipers measure in ruler increments, some measure metric and the best is digital read out. The chart below will give…

Contrary to what others believe, I do age magnets physically and visibly. I quote from Dean of Technology Lester R. Moskowitz, registered professional engineer and author of “The Permanent Magnet Design and Application Handbook. “Fortunately, modern Alnico and Ferrite materials are metallurgically stabilized by aging at the mills and are generally very stable.” He lists…

Magnets can be moved or changed on Stratocasters that have molded bobbins. I’ve often changed the magnets in the molded bobbins with others found from broken or destroyed pickups. At times older magnets have less string pull and staggering the pole pieces for the desired string output. I like replacing the flat poles (all the…

I have used two types of scribers that work well. One is made by General Tool Mfg. Co. in New York (most well stocked hardware stores carry General Tools) and is part # 88. The scriber has a Tungsten Carbide point that’s useful for scribing stainless steel, ceramics, glass and magnets. The scriber # 88…