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Most of the flex magnetic strips I’ve seen are magnetized N-S-N-S-N-S per given length and side. You would need a magnetizer capable of remagnetizing it so one side is South and the reverse side is North. I have seen pickups made with flexible magnet strips and many early Sears Silvertone guitars, for example, used a…

I generally refer to aging the magnets as ones that loose magnetism or strength often referred to as gauss and flux. Rubbing magnets together does not age or properly weaken the magnets in a pickup and most likely it will rearrange the magnetic domains and can cause each magnet to be magnetized inconsistently from pole…

The shape and diameter of the various type pole pieces can change the shape of the magnetic field to the string. Longer and shorter pole pieces can change the magnetic path through the coil as it magnetizes the string. Various pole pieces can be alnico rod or bar, ceramic rod and bar, magnetic stainless steel,…

Any pickup where the pole pieces facing or closest to the string are all magnetized “South” polarity. South polarity is also known as South magnetic polarity. The top of the pole closest to the string is magnetized South and the opposite end of the pole inside the cavity of the instrument is North.

It generally refers to the magnetic polarity of the magnetic pole piece that are closest to the strings. In a typical single coil pickup the magnetic rod pole pieces closest to the strings are all magnetized “North” or “South” polarity.

Generally you will decrease the brightness and output from your pickup. Decreasing the magnetic field can increase the sustain from less string pull. The pickup will sound warmer and smoother but may have less attack.

Generally you will increase the brightness and output from your pickup. Increasing the magnetic field can also reduce the sustain and increased string pull from the pickup that can slow down the string vibration.

The Alnico rod magnet material can be plated with may types of plating such as nickel, black nickel, chrome and gold to name a few for cosmetic appearance. During the early 80’s Fender would gold plate some of their Alnico rod pole pieces to designate a certain grade of material. Gibson during the mid 50’s…

I have always liked these pickups. They are a single coil pickup with a Alnico bar magnet down the center of the bobbin. I have wound them using between 9,600 & 10,000 turns of 42 AWG plain enamel magnet wire. The Melody Maker bobbin is make of nylon and the Alnico bar magnet slips into…

The “Patent Number” decal used after the “Patent Applied For” decal. This was a patent number for a “Combined Bridge and Tail Piece for a Stringed Instrument”. The Bridge/Tail Piece was applied for on July 9, 1952 and granted March 13, 1956. The Bridge/Tail Piece was designed by Lester W. Pulfuss better known as “Les…