humbucker magnets

[franklin01]

i posted a question about magnets but it hasnt gotten one hit yet so im not sure if it even went on the forum properly so i am posting it again.

i was wondering if i have to use alnico bar magnets when making a humbucker. I am having trouble finding them where i live so i wanted to know if anyone had tried using the magnets strips like you would find on the back of a fridge magnet. any info would be good as i am completely new to pickup making.
thanks

[Possum]

no you can't

refrigerator magnets are usually unoriented, they have no definite pole orientation so you can't use them. StewMac.com has alnico magnets for buckers they ship world wide...

[franklin01]

thanks for the tip, i figured that fridge magnets wouldnt work but hey, whats the harm in asking!
thanks again

[Ruel]

i posted a question about magnets but it hasnt gotten one hit yet so im not sure if it even went on the forum properly so i am posting it again.

i was wondering if i have to use alnico bar magnets when making a humbucker. I am having trouble finding them where i live so i wanted to know if anyone had tried using the magnets strips like you would find on the back of a fridge magnet. any info would be good as i am completely new to pickup making.
thanks

It doesn't necessarily have to be an alnico magnet. You can also use ceramic magnets which are easier to obtain. They come in different shapes such as bars and squares. The thing though is, the polarity is oriented differently than alnico. You may have to use two bars or several square ceramic mags for the north and south coils. Alnico magnets used in humbuckers are polarized through their widths. The south side can be placed under the adjustable pole pieces while the north side will be under the slugs. Ceramic mags are often than not, polarized through thickness. So if you find bar mags, one bar with the south pole will be stuck under the adjustable pole pieces while another bar this time with the north pole will be stuck under the slugs.

Ceramic magnets are stronger than alnico thereby producing higher output. Distortion humbuckers such as those produced by DiMarzio use ceramic mags. But if you are looking for vintage tone, you have no choice but to go with alnico.

[franklin01]

magnets

thanks alot, i have no idea what im doing when it comes to making pickups as i have never done one before, so thanks for the tips

[leftywinder]

humbucker (neo) magnets

Hi, Experiment, I use 12 round 6mm cylindrical magnets, for my humbuckers, 2 rows of 6 ea , 1 per string, using a 6mm wooden magnet holder, orient 1 row north, and 1 row south, no screws, but height compensated slugs. Works very well and gives a powerfull "bucker" Try it if you like, I also use aluminum baseplate and ground that to the master volume control, a 500Kohm , pot.

[corduroyew]

Hi, Experiment, I use 12 round 6mm cylindrical magnets, for my humbuckers, 2 rows of 6 ea , 1 per string, using a 6mm wooden magnet holder, orient 1 row north, and 1 row south, no screws, but height compensated slugs. Works very well and gives a powerfull "bucker" Try it if you like, I also use aluminum baseplate and ground that to the master volume control, a 500Kohm , pot.

How do neo mags compair to alnico and ceramic? Do they sound horible clean like ceramics do? I can't help the think that all the extra pull would kill your sustain.