P94 without a magnet spacer

[jnohlic]

Hello everyone,

Just received a bobbin I had 3D printed and I'm ready to wind a P94.
I will use poly 42 wire and my bobbin should allow me to for about a 10000 turns (I would like to get close from an original p90).

I will use rough cast A5 magnets and I will see how all this sounds like.

I have a two questions about this pickup :
Is it a problem if I don't use a spacer between the two magnets ?
If I do without spacer, will it have any incidence on the sound ?

Thanks,
Julien

[John_H]

I have a two questions about this pickup :
Is it a problem if I don't use a spacer between the two magnets ?
If I do without spacer, will it have any incidence on the sound ?

The spacer provides coupling between all of the metal parts. It would work, but you might have detrimental characteristics like dead poles, or uneven response.

The bobbin looks a little taller than a normal P-90. You should have no problem getting 10k turns on there.
Any change in construction, parts, etc. will impact the tone in some way.
How do you plan to mount that to the guitar?

[jnohlic]

Thanks for your answer.
I think I get it. But then does it matter if the spacer is made out of wood or if there is no spacer but the magnets are held appart from the screw with something else like tape.
Or is the metal spacer just about making sure the screws touching the magnet ?
I’m just trying to understand where the risk of uneven response comes from.

The bobbin is 7mm tall. If I’m correct the P90 is 6,35. So the difference is here but not very big.

The pickup is for a friend, it will be a bridge pickup to replace a Humbucker on a telecaster. The other gfs neck P90 on the guitar will stay there because the owner is happy about it.

[big_teee]

The spacer you refer to, we call a keeper bar.
The screws go through the keeper bar, and it gives a larger steel surface to magnetize.
It provides a straight edge for the magnets to butt up against.
Since you are going to put a magnet on each side of the row of screws?
If the magnets are properly charged, It should work fine without the keeper bar.
Try it without it.
Like John said, you need a way to mount the bobbin, and we presume it goes on a humbucker baseplate?
T
**A side note!
We try to use measurements in Inches decimal here, since about all winding data here, is in inches.

[John_H]

....Or is the metal spacer just about making sure the screws touching the magnet ?

This. The spacer provides a consistent connection.

The bobbin is 7mm tall. If I’m correct the P90 is 6,35. So the difference is here but not very big.

That's not as large as I thought. I don't know if 10k turns will fit.

[jnohlic]

I will tell you about the number of turns.
Yes, I will use a humbucker baseplate.

I will try without keeper bar and I will tell you also if I meet problems of uneven poles.

thank you

[Alberto]

I've tested a P90 without keeper bar and it worked fine!