Post Type Archives: SWD

Typical Gibson, Duncan, DiMarzio have wiring options besides being hooked up in series. Most companies manufacture pickups with 4 conductor wiring. This will enable you to split, phase, parallel, series and many other wiring combinations when used by itself or in combination with other pickups. There are many new switches on the market and some…

Turning over one of the bobbins on a humbucker will make the pickup out of phase with itself. You are electrically changing the direction of the coil and making it incompatible with the system. Depending on what pickup you are using will not look very attractive from the bottom side. The top of the bobbin…

The new pole pieces are metric and will not thread into the older bobbins. The original Gretsch pickup designed by Ray Butts used a ferrous pole piece screw that measures 6/40 x 3/4″. The polepiece screw is a Fillister head, slotted, machine screw and chrome or gold plated. Seth Lover who designed the Gibson Humbucker…

This can happen while the guitar is in the case especially if it falls over and the strings are forced or pushed against the poles. It’s been known that little kids or even heavier animals walking on the case or even exposed guitar can exert enough pressure to force the poles down. If the poles…

The metal claw around a Jaguar is made from a ferrous material and will attract the magnetic field from the pole pieces. The claw helps retain the magnetic field closer to the coil as compared to a Strat pickup where the magnetic field can expand further away from the coil. The Jaguar claw or keeper…

This can be easily done using several methods. We use manual and computerized engraving machines for doing engraving on our tooling and custom pickups we make. Many times our company logo is stamped on bottom plates or covers and is used to identify a product. The punches are made from hardened tool steel and need…

Changing the magnets in your pickup can do several things. I believe that using stronger magnets will dampen your string vibration. The stronger magnetic field in the pickups pulls on the string, slowing down the actual sustain. You will notice a louder and brighter sounding pickup when using a stronger magnet. I like calibrating my…

9.1 Magnets: Magnets can be made into various shapes and strength. Fender commonly uses cast Alnico rod magnets for their pickups. Alnico is the combination of different alloys mixed together to make certain grades of Alnico magnets. Here’s a chart that shows the differences in each grade of commonly used Alnico magnets: Alnico II: 10…

A typical Alnico magnet used in the majority of guitar pickups consists of several different alloys. Aluminum, Nickel, Cobalt, Copper, Silicon, Titanium and Iron. With the presence of Iron, a magnet can rust due to moisture in a case, high humidity in the air and most likely the sweat coming from your hands. Moisture contacts…

A good place to go look for suppliers is the reference department in your library. Ask for a book called Thomas Register and look magnet suppliers. Another good company that has a large assortment of magnets is Edmond Scientific and a company called Magnet Sales & Manufacturing, 11250 Playa Ct., Culver City, California 90230. I…