Dogear to Soapbar conversion?

[Zemaitis]

What you should have done is mill the covers to the correct height to accomodate the lip on the baseplate and instead of using rubber mounts, wooden shims. The baseplate should have two wooden shims inside under the magnets too. What a shame you used flat baseplates instead on such a valuable vinatge guitar. If you still have them perhaps you can put it right.

I have all the original parts, in the case. The guitar sounds better, and with 1/2 hours worth of work can be made original. But the owner is happy and playing the guitar more than he did before, as it sounds better.

The pickup now looks just like the ones on his other 68's.

[David Schwab]

But if you are replicating a tone of a pickup that had a nickel silver base plate to begin with, then there is only one way to go.

OK, but why? That's the question. What property of the base plate causes a difference in tone. That's what I want to know!

Other wise the answer is just "because every one says so"

I've done no tests, just mental exercises. The only two factors seem to be one baseplate might be ever so slightly magnetic, and the other is does one allow more eddy currents? I don't see brass as being more conductive than Nickel Silver, so that might rule out the eddy current effect (although they would both have some), so maybe the addition of nickel, which is magnetic. But anyone who ever tried to stick a magnet to either a baseplate or a US 5 cent coin, knows they aren't very magnetic.

Hmmmm.

When I get a chance I'm going to swap the base plate on one of my humbuckers and see what happens.

[Ruel]

OK, but why? That's the question. What property of the base plate causes a difference in tone. That's what I want to know!

Other wise the answer is just "because every one says so"

I've done no tests, just mental exercises. The only two factors seem to be one baseplate might be ever so slightly magnetic, and the other is does one allow more eddy currents? I don't see brass as being more conductive than Nickel Silver, so that might rule out the eddy current effect (although they would both have some), so maybe the addition of nickel, which is magnetic. But anyone who ever tried to stick a magnet to either a baseplate or a US 5 cent coin, knows they aren't very magnetic.

Hmmmm.



When I get a chance I'm going to swap the base plate on one of my humbuckers and see what happens.

I just might also try swapping a brass baseplate with a nickel silver one in my Ibanez pickup to see what happens. But I am more interested to hear about the result of your little experiment, if and when you get to doing it, Dave.

[Spence]

Back to the origin of the thread

The link below shows a pair of P90 soapbars I made for a customer recently. The baseplates started life with dogears....

http://www.mylespaul.com/forums/tone...d-pickups.html

[PoorMan]

I use a hand nibbler which is a tool for cutting sheet metals. It's quick, does nice straight lines and doesn't distort the metal.

Ah, Spence. You rule!!! I did the conversion today and cutting the tabs off worked like a charm. We're lucky to have you here, my friend.

New problem...the soapbar cover doesn't fit. Fralin must have some screwed up polepiece spacing. I guess I'll email him.

EDIT: AW SHEEEIT! Fralin has no email address on his site. I'll have to call him.

[Spence]

You may have to make a cover in that case. Although I'm sure I've seen no-hole soapbar covers that could be drilled. I know Guitar Parts USA does dogear cover without holes. You could modify one of those.

http://www.guitarpartsusa.com/item--...g-Ear--PROD447

Let me know how you get on.