mini bucker rail/magnet

[belwar]

Hey all,

question for you all - in the standard mini bucker design, the rail (or slug, or whatever you want to call it) sits on top of the magnet, as oposed to the edge of the magnet as in a standard bucker .. Has anyone here tried using a smaller magnet and taller rail? i.e. a 1/2" tall slug, and 3/8" wide magnet? If so, did it work for you and what did you think?

The only think I can think of that could go wrong is maybe the length to width ratio of the Alnico might be too small, which might degauss the magnet over time.. Though I figure i'll use a high power mag like A6 (which I like the sound of anyways).

conversely, has anyone tried using a magnet as the rail, and a steel bar in the place below the pickup?

before you ask "why do you want to change something that works" - I'll just say im trying it for the sake of trying it - to see what happens - no other reason. it's how I learn i guess

[big_teee]

Hey all,

question for you all - in the standard mini bucker design, the rail (or slug, or whatever you want to call it) sits on top of the magnet, as oposed to the edge of the magnet as in a standard bucker .. Has anyone here tried using a smaller magnet and taller rail? i.e. a 1/2" tall slug, and 3/8" wide magnet? If so, did it work for you and what did you think?

The only think I can think of that could go wrong is maybe the length to width ratio of the Alnico might be too small, which might degauss the magnet over time.. Though I figure i'll use a high power mag like A6 (which I like the sound of anyways).

conversely, has anyone tried using a magnet as the rail, and a steel bar in the place below the pickup?

before you ask "why do you want to change something that works" - I'll just say im trying it for the sake of trying it - to see what happens - no other reason. it's how I learn i guess

I beat on all this quite a bit a while back.
I built a mojo mini kit with the adjustable screws on one side and the slug bar on the other side.
It had the standard humbucker magnet at the bottom, and the slug bar sat on the edge.
Then I rebuilt a couple of minis for a friend. The covers ,and base were brass.
I don't recommend, and I won't do that again.
I finally got them to sound pretty good after lots of fooling with them.
Something I was going to try, if I build anymore.
If I build the adjustable screw type, I thought about substituting the slug bar with a firebird bobbin magnet.
you would have the edge of the bottom magnet against the adjustable screws. and set the firebird magnet on the edge of the bottom magnet.
That should make it brighter, and that was my main problem, was getting it bright enough.
The other option is to build a regular firebird P/U with bobbin magnets on each side.
That would require the cover with no holes.
Good Luck.
Terry

[Lovelock]

"Conversely, has anyone tried using a magnet as the rail, and a steel bar in the place below the pickup?"

Just took appart a Duncan minihumbucker to make it 4 conductor. It was one with no poles and the duncan logo stamped into the cover.

I was surprised to find the poles where magnet bars (alnico of some sort) and there was a thin steel keeper underneath. So Duncan seems to be doing it.

[big_teee]

"Conversely, has anyone tried using a magnet as the rail, and a steel bar in the place below the pickup?"

Just took appart a Duncan minihumbucker to make it 4 conductor. It was one with no poles and the duncan logo stamped into the cover.

I was surprised to find the poles where magnet bars (alnico of some sort) and there was a thin steel keeper underneath. So Duncan seems to be doing it.

That would be regular Firebird style, a magnet in each bobbin.
I'm surprised your Duncan wasn't already 4 wire.
Do you mind telling us what the DCR is on each coil and sum of both?
Thanks,
Terry

[belwar]

I love the look of that pup. The "S" logo looks so classy on it - cool design. Cant speak for the sound as i've never heard it

[Lovelock]

That would be regular Firebird style, a magnet in each bobbin.
I'm surprised your Duncan wasn't already 4 wire.
Do you mind telling us what the DCR is on each coil and sum of both?
Thanks,
Terry

It was around 3K for each coil (they were similar). I can't measure now, as the guitar is back with client. However, I will get the guitar back in about a week for new bridge, so I could measure inductance & DC of each coil. I'll let you know.

This pickup is the stock neck pickup on a Fender U.S. hotrod tele, and not an aftermarket type, so that's why it's probably 2 conductor.

[David King]

Any sort of "keeper" should help the longevity of a short ratio alnico.

[David Schwab]

The Duncan SM-1 is Neck: 6.54 k, Bridge: 7.57 k. The SM-2 is Neck: 8.52 k,Bridge: 16.41 k, and the SM-3 is Neck: 6.29 k, Bridge: 11.6 k.

[Lovelock]

I have the guitar back for servicing and, as promised, just measured the coils:

series DC resistance= 6.11K inductance 3.47H
coil 1 = 3.06K inductance 1.56H
coil 2 = 3.05K & 1.56H

The label on the bottom tells it's a SM-1 Neck

[Lovelock]

oh, some other details I remember that might be of interest to you: Bobbins are clear see trough flexible plastic, wire was a light copper colour (SPN?) and between the thin steel keeper & backplate sits a maple spacer. The whole cover was filled with wax.

Is that typically firebird?

Actually I remember to have once read that Robert Moog had something to do with the design of the firebird pickup, never found anything on this again, and find it hard to believe. Does anyone know?

[big_teee]

Any sort of "keeper" should help the longevity of a short ratio alnico.

David can you please explain this. with the magnet in the bobbin don't see the point?
Unless like you said it helps with more magnetism?
Doesn't more steel, like the baseplate on a Tele Bridge keep it from sounding too bright?
These are strictly questions, and I really don't know.
Terry

[Lovelock]

Personally I don't really care for the sound of this pickup, but that's because I really like a single coil definition in the neck position. This pickup sounds quite weak when split.
However the owner of the guitar it's in really likes this pickup. He's a guitar teacher & plays things ranging from Eddy v. Halen to old school rock & roll.

But they sure look classy..

[Mike McCardle]

I wonder if regular PAF type of pickup - with regular sized bobbins that were wound with SPN to 3.125K-3.25K on each of the coils and regular humbucker magnet - would sound quite similar to a mini-humbucker?

[David Schwab]

I wonder if regular PAF type of pickup - with regular sized bobbins that were wound with SPN to 3.125K-3.25K on each of the coils and regular humbucker magnet - would sound quite similar to a mini-humbucker?

That would pretty much give you a Filtertron. Mini-hums are narrower so the aperture is smaller.

[LtKojak]

Our own Zhangliqun makes a very special mini-humbucker, no cover needed.

I thought the idea, in all its simplicity it's nothing short of brilliant.

More info in his website. http://www.zhangbucker.com/mini-humbuckers.html