I have a P-90 magnet question...

[Dude]

I was wondering what you all thought about mixing the magnets. I have yet to wind my first pickup and was thinking about making a set of P-90s with an A2 and A3 in the neck and an A3 and A5 in the bridge. What are the possibilities?? I'm sure I'm not the first one to come up with this idea. And please don't tell me to use two A4s in the bridge; that's not the point. The question is about mixing magnets.

Thanks,
Dude

[LtKojak]

Mixing magnets in a P90 is a lot of fun...

Mixing magnets in a P90 is a lot of fun, but also a long process, as they use two bars for each p'up, so the possibilities of alter the tone are A WHOLALOTTA!

In my experience, the best results are using the brightest magnets in the neck p'up; the bridge p'up will sound good with any combination, it's just a matter of taste.

The neck p'up is the trickiest to get that elusive single coil definition tone without the mud... the best in my case was using A5+A3 in the neck and A4+A3 in the bridge w/500K pots, but of course YMMV.

HTH,

[Peter Naglitsch]

I think there were a thread with P90s from Wolfe were he had mixed A5 and Ceramics for a quite famous guitar player (Rick Derringer if I'm not misstaken)

[SK66]

I haven't done this in a P-90, but there are considerations you should be aware of. First, I don't think you want to mix two very different grades in one pickup....Putting a very strong magnet in opposition to a weak one can cause demagnetization of the weaker (especially if it's a ceramic oppposing an alnico). The results might be pleasing but transient.
Also keep in mind the pickups resulting aperature. You will want to place the magnets so that the stronger is on the side where you wish to sense more string length (i.e. maybe away from the bridge)

[Peter Naglitsch]

Exactly that part, The ceramic demagnetizing the A5, was a topic in the thread I refered to....Hm...can't find it right now.

[SK66]

That was me anyways. It's information I got from the consultants at a magnet manufacturer. You can degauss alnico with a ceramic, you can even charge alnico with a big enough ceramic. It only makes sense you could degauss weaker alnico with a stronger, but it may take time.

[Chadheckler1]

It only makes sense you could degauss weaker alnico with a stronger, but it may take time.

If this is the case then why did Shea at magnetic hold tell me that I could store all of my magnets in close proximity? In theory I aggree with your statement, and that is why I asked Shea in the first place, but would it take months, years, decades, or longer?

I know that there is not a perfect answer, but if it there is any transient demag or weakening due to design of a pickup that sounds like a poor design to me...

[black_labb]

you can store magnets touching if you have them touching in a way that they dont oppose (i think atleast, may want someone elses opinion)

[madialex]

you can store magnets touching if you have them touching in a way that they dont oppose (i think atleast, may want someone elses opinion)

+1, Beside with a P90 the magnets are opposing which could cause some degaussing of Alnico, but I have a P90 here that is made like that, also as with SK's statement of putting the ceramic towards the longer string sensing area it is nice. The weakened Alnico with the ceramic towards the neck side really makes a good tone IMHO, good cut but smooth, Yummy

[SK66]

If this is the case then why did Shea at magnetic hold tell me that I could store all of my magnets in close proximity?

Of course you can as long as each "grouping" is in something of a "loop" and not directly opposing another grouping. "Close proximity" is not the same thing as "opposing". You can stack all types of magnets together if you want and the only effect it might have would be to make some of them stronger.

[Chadheckler1]

The more I think/read abou this topic, the more I feel the need for a good Gauss meter... I feel a little uneasy leaving it up to chance...

Are there any decent ones that are under the $200 mark?

[belwar]

There is really only one gauss meter that we all use here (unless somone has made thier own). This is really the only cost effective solution that gives a reliable readout.

http://www.carlsenmelton.com/gm200a/gm200a.htm

It's $329 bucks, but i'll attest that it works like a hot damn! It's small, durable and VERY easy to use. It's one freakin button.

[Rosewood]

Has anybody made their own gauss meter?

[Chadheckler1]

Wow...I'll tell the wife I want it for Christmas. I'm sure that will go over like a lead zepplin!

Seriously though, I must have one to to allow myself to sleep at night...

[Joe Gwinn]

Has anybody made their own gauss meter?

Yes, but it's a bit rough.

http://home.comcast.net/~joegwinn/

Look for "Simple hall-effect magnetometer".