P-bass pickup with bar magnets & steel poles?

[belwar]

Has anyone here ever made a P-Bass pickup using bar magnets with steel poles instead of Alnico rods? Constructed pretty much like a P-90. If so i'd love to hear your feedback on how it sounded.

[David Schwab]

That's how the DiMarzio Model P is made, but with ceramic magnets and adjustable poles.

The cheaper Mexican Fender P (and J) bass pickups are also made that way, also with ceramic magnets.

[belwar]

Interesting, I know almost nothing about bass pickups. I think the new bass I am working on is going to have a P-bass shaped pickup in the neck .. though using alnico. I just haven't figured out what to put in the form.. I was thinking of using a steel blade with alnico bar magnets to help keep the string in the field, but I wasnt sure if something like that was blasphemy. I also thought about using those alnico threaded magnets sens is making now.

I really want to get ahold of some lane poor P-bass pickups and see what that is all about too.

[Dave Kerr]

I'd think that having bar magnets along the bottom like a P90 might lead to some funky interaction between the two sets of magnets just due to their physical proximity.

[David Schwab]

I'd think that having bar magnets along the bottom like a P90 might lead to some funky interaction between the two sets of magnets just due to their physical proximity.

No it works fine, just as it does with a P-90. I've made stacked blade pickups like that too.

[David King]

I haven't been too thrilled with the steel and ceramic combination with a few rare exceptions. I think A5 bars might be a possibility but only if the magnets were powerful enough. There's not much width under a P for alnico and a thicker magnet will probably have the wrong dimensional ratio to hold a charge. Maybe a wide alnico bar with dual steel rails and the coil on the inside of the rails (See a Fender Lace sensor)

Maybe rare earth bars? They are easy to find in 1/4" x 1/4" x 1"

I still can't figure out if the pole alloy makes a difference or not.

The fundamental question is what characteristics of the original P pickup are the good ones and what would you rather diminish.

When people see a P they are likely to expect it to sound like a P. That could prejudice them before the hear it and might disappoint them afterwards if it sounds completely different.

[David King]

I see Joe makes one:
Joe Barden Engineering (Manassas, Virginia)

[Dogbone]

Hi I am new to posting, I do check in now and then to see what everyone does.
We are based in Chicago and build pickups for Lakland basses. We have a P bass pickup that we use a combination of alnico rods and neodymium bars that are attached to the bottom of the bobbin. These are great, punchy pickups that are really defined and loud. We always try dumb stuff like this, sometimes it works, sometimes not
Bo
Hanson pickups/Hanson guitars

[David King]

Bo,
I've enjoyed looking at your site and feeling the great 50-60's feel of the place.
Welcome and thanks for being so forthcoming too.

[Dogbone]

Thanks David.
I am hoping that when the recession is over we can expand into the 70's!

[David King]

Nah the '70s sucked, jump right into the recession-era 1980s