Strat sized “P90” wih alnico bars

[Alberto]

I’d like to build a strat sized “p90” with alnico V bars, instead of ceramics. I can have some custom made alnico bars, in the size of half a standard bar, and I would use a standard 52mm humbucker bar keeper to hold them together.
My question is: will they hold the charge in such a configuration?
Thanks for your help!

[big_teee]

Seems like a lot of trouble, for something that hums!
How about a HSS pickguard.
Then put a H-90 in the Humbucker hole?
T

[Alberto]

I know, Terry, but this is my plan-b for people that don't want to route out their s-s-s strat

[big_teee]

There are cheap after market bodies running around everywhere.
This day and age no reason for just one guitar.
I have them here SSS HSS, all configs.
If I alter from a strat Single, I prefer a Rail.
When someone wants something more exotic than that, I refer them to you guys.
GL,
T

[Jim Darr]

Alberto,

The Alnicos should hold their charge just fine in the configuration you describe. I would make sure they are fully charged, then degauss as necessary to get the sound you want. My recommendation would be A5 in P90 type opposed positioning for the 2 magnets.

[David King]

A strat pickup is only 5/8" wide and if the poles are 1/8" thick then you are left with 1/4" of magnet on each side without a keeper bar. If you follow the 1:3 height to width rule you would want thinner magnets, say 3/32" thick or about 2mm to hold a charge. I have no actual experience with this so if Jim Darr says it will work I'd go with that. I do kind of doubt it will sound much like a P90 but it definitely won't sound like a strat.
Alberto, do report back!

[Alberto]

Thank you Jim and David! I'll go ahead as described above and let you know about the results of this project.

[Jim Darr]

...I do kind of doubt it will sound much like a P90 but it definitely won't sound like a strat...

I agree with David, because of the Strat style coil geometry the sound may not be what you want.

I have experimented with Melody Maker pickups by taking the magnet bar out (Direct Magnet) and replacing it with an iron bar magnetically charged underneath the pickup (Induced Magnet). The sound changes dramatically and even more so between Alnico and ceramic... but still not a P90 sound.

Why not just consider buying a Dimazio SDS? They sound very good and have stood the test of time. They use two ceramic magnets with a keeper bar and have adjustable poles. I have an old one that sounds fantastic. You can always experiment with it by removing one magnet, changing the magnet types completely, changing adjustment screw alloys, change the coil (turns, TPL, wire gauge) or, as i did, just use it as is.

Sometimes the best solution may just be to use somebody else's product. This could save a lot of money, time and frustration.

[Alberto]

Actually, they are not meant to sound like P90s. I've already made some "Di marzio SDS" like pickups, with ceramic bars and adjustable poles, I know how they sound and I like them! They are just a bit too "compressed" for my tastes, so I thought that maybe I should try with alnico bars instead. I'm not sure this will work, but it's worth a try