Prostheta Posted June 17, 2011 Report Share Posted June 17, 2011 I'm currently analysing a Japanese pickup and have come across some larger than normal poles....anybody know of a source for steel slugs 13mm and 14mm in depth? These seem fairly non-standard sizes, although I am open to correction. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Southpa Posted June 18, 2011 Report Share Posted June 18, 2011 (edited) 13mm dia??!! Thats about 1/2" across! and 1/2" long unless I'm misunderstanding your dimensions. I picked up some roller bearings (8mm dia. X 14mm long) from work a while back that might do for pickup magnets. I still have to look into getting them magnetized. Edited June 18, 2011 by Southpa Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Prostheta Posted June 18, 2011 Author Report Share Posted June 18, 2011 Heh. Large indeed! I'm actually looking for 6mm diameter (1/4" is adequate also) poles, 13mm and 14mm in depth. I'm reproducing these: That's pretty much like a Jazz-style pickup with evenly-spaced poles over a 54mm spread. How different would utilising "standard" sized poles be in reality? I'm fairly new to pickup tech so pre-knowledge would be a better thing to go into this with. Those interlocking bobbins are just sublime. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Southpa Posted June 18, 2011 Report Share Posted June 18, 2011 (edited) The only PU I know that features 1/4" dia. pole pieces, aside from yours, is the Seymour Duncan Quarterpounder. Are your pickups for a bass? ie. 1 string between 2 poles and can probably be used as a 8-string guitar pickup if the spacing works. Edited June 18, 2011 by Southpa Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Prostheta Posted June 19, 2011 Author Report Share Posted June 19, 2011 They're actually Aria pickups from an SB or RSB bass. The spacing would be a bit crazy for an 8-string unless you wanted the same spread as a normal 6-string!! Excellent call on the quarter pounders. I totally forgot about those. I suppose that given the poles aren't exposed in the design, it wouldn't be too much of a chore to grind out some steel poles manually from bar stock. Buying them in the finished form would be far more convenient of course. I guess that since QPs have a specific design choice in using 0.25"/6.35mm poles the difference between those and 0.187"/4.75mm there is a significant difference in the results. If I can't source these, I'll have to figure out which "type" of steel would be the best choice for pickups. I bet that's a real nest of rats. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SwedishLuthier Posted June 19, 2011 Report Share Posted June 19, 2011 I have a few 6mm diameter, 15 mm long magnets I got from HYABhere in Stockholm. I supect that you can get away with a "reversed stagger" on the bottom and use these magnets. Hyab is extremely expensive for small quantities And I haven't forgot to send you the covers. Still trying to get to the post office... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Prostheta Posted June 19, 2011 Author Report Share Posted June 19, 2011 Fantastic Peter, thanks. These are only slugs though, rather than mags. I intend on making a few variations on a theme though, so trying out mag poles vs. slugs+bar mag will be a good way for me to gain experience and A/B each configuration. I can't believe that nobody has commented on how beautifully engineered those bobbins are....they fit together like a glove! If I decide to get flatwork laser cut, I will definitely interlock the bobbins using a similar idea. That made my day, finding that underneath all the epoxy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.