Post Type Archives: SWD

There are many standard and custom shapes that magnets can be made into. Some standards for Alnico are: Blocks U-shapes less than 180° U-shapes more than 180° C-shapes Rods Bars Squares Rectangular Chain Cast or break off Slugs Rings Bowl Cups Side Poles Internal Radial Poles E-shapes Some standards for Ferrites are: Plates Blocks Slabs…

The surface pits are a result of sand casting when the molten material is poured into a preparation shell form made from sand and binders. At times air pockets can occur and also piping is the small hole often seen at the ends of the magnet as it is formed. Magnet rods and bars are…

The most common are: Cobalt Steel: various grades- 3 1/2%, 3%, 17%, 36%. Alnico: common grades- 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 5DG, 6, 8, 8HC, 9. Sintered Alnico: various grades- 2, 5, 6, 8, 8HC. Ceramic: various grades- 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8. Cunife: various grades- 1, 2. Vicalloy: common grade- 1…

The most common are the Alnico rod and bar types used in most instrument pickups. Some common grades are: Alnico 2 10Al, 19 Ni, 13 Co, 3 Cu, Bal. Fe Alnico 3 12 Al, 25 Ni, 3 Cu, Bal. Fe Alnico 4 12 Al, 27 Ni, 5 Co, Bal. Fe Alnico 5 8 Ni, 14…

Remagnetizing magnets in guitar pickups can change the tone and output of a pickup. Trying to make a weaker magnet stronger depends on the chemical composition and grade of the material. There are several ways to magnetize by using Permanent-magnet magnetizers, Impulse magnetizers, Semi-continuous DC magnetizers, Half-cycle magnetizers etc. If a magnet has become demagnetized…

Magnets and pickups need to be handled with extreme care and should be kept a safe distance apart. I would keep pickups approximately 3-4 inches apart. Magnets can be altered by the placement of other magnets or pickups in close proximity to them. I see pickups displayed in stores stacked on top of each other…

The same polarity of each magnet should be positioned towards the center metal spacer. If both magnet poles are facing the center metal spacer are South, then the adjustable pole piece will also be South. If both are North, then the adjustable pole will also be North. If they are both opposite facing the metal…

I’ve noticed that on earlier Fender pickups the polarity of the pickups often varied from North to South and North again. I’ve seen old Telecasters with a North bridge pickup and a South neck pickup. The older switching and wiring on the early Centralab 1452 Lever switch didn’t have both pickups on at the same…

There are several ways to determine the polarity of your pickups. In humbuckers made by Gibson and Seymour Duncan each bar magnet has a black line on the edge and that is used to represent the “North” polarity of that side of the magnet. The other unmarked side represents the “South” polarity. Normally on Gibson…

The polarity will need to be determined and re-magnetized opposite on pickups with rod magnets. Bar magnets used in humbucking style pickups can normally be removed from a pickup and flipped over 180° and reinserted to reverse the phasing. Reversing the phasing in a pickup will only be noticed when being used with another pickup….