Adding on magnets to a pickup?

ParadoxV

New member
Hi,

Just out of curiosity, would there be tonal differences if for example a Neodymium bar magnet gets put onto the Base-plate of a Invader
and if there is any differences at-all?
 
Re: Adding on magnets to a pickup?

I tried putting a magnet outside the base plate of a HB once. Both magnet's energy when to attracting each other, and that made the PU sound weak, which is probably the opposite of what you're trying to do.
 
Re: Adding on magnets to a pickup?

Many years ago I put an A5 bar mag on the bottom of a Strat pickup. I couldn't hear any difference.

With 3 ceramic mags and a beefy wind, an Invader doesn't exactly lack power to begin with, so what are you trying to achieve with adding a neo mag?
 
Re: Adding on magnets to a pickup?

MOAR GAIN, MOAR POWER, MOAR DJENT.... SUCH KVLT.

not too sure really, just a quick and dirty thought experiment.
 
Re: Adding on magnets to a pickup?

On another note, couldn't a neodymium mag degauss even a ceramic?

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Re: Adding on magnets to a pickup?

Such a powerful magnet would probably de-magnetize the magnet in the pickup. But 'power' is more than just a strong magnet. All of the power in the world doesn't do anyone any good if the tone is terrible.
 
Re: Adding on magnets to a pickup?

I think the point of neodymium is that less of it has more power. So if you were to put the same size neo magnet in your invader, you would have more power (or whatever) than is in there now. The same size alnico magent would have less.
 
Re: Adding on magnets to a pickup?

it may demagnetize. No clue yet though, left it on the base-plate of my pup and never got to play it as i've been busy.

Although the coils did seem to have more magnetism when i put the neodymium on the base plate on the HB though.

No clue how it'll sound but in-case it does degauss i took it off till i actually get time to play it.

I wonder what happens if i swap the ceramic with a neodymium mag from a http://www.entwistlepickups.com/pickup.php?puid=Dark Star ND

Any thoughts?
 
Re: Adding on magnets to a pickup?

it may demagnetize. No clue yet though, left it on the base-plate of my pup and never got to play it as i've been busy.

Although the coils did seem to have more magnetism when i put the neodymium on the base plate on the HB though.

No clue how it'll sound but in-case it does degauss i took it off till i actually get time to play it.

I wonder what happens if i swap the ceramic with a neodymium mag from a http://www.entwistlepickups.com/pickup.php?puid=Dark Star ND

Any thoughts?

Brighter, with possibly more perceived volume/output.
 
Re: Adding on magnets to a pickup?

Well. I'm gonna open up the pup and go for a swap rn.

Maybe i'll leave the stock ceramic and i just stack the mags together?
 
Re: Adding on magnets to a pickup?

Maybe i'll leave the stock ceramic and i just stack the mags together?

That will not work. You can leave the outside magnets but you have to swap the inner one. If you stack magnets they'll be attracting each other and the overall magnetic field will be smaller.
 
Re: Adding on magnets to a pickup?

Well. I dun major goof. Absolutley screwed the pup when my screwdriver accidentally slipped into the coil whilst i was tryna push out the huge ceramic.

Any suggestions for a next pup *bridge* Wasn't too pleased of my invader either way.

Was looking at a black winter/pegasus/nazgul/full shred for a Basswood body, maple neck/fret and a Floyd.

Something which is aggressive but isn't thin, good note separation/clarity and usable for "leads"
 
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Re: Adding on magnets to a pickup?

Well. I dun major goof. Absolutley screwed the pup when my screwdriver accidentally slipped into the coil whilst i was tryna push out the huge ceramic.

Any suggestions for a next pup *bridge* Wasn't too pleased of my invader either way.

Was looking at a black winter/pegasus/nazgul/full shred for a Basswood body, maple neck/fret and a Floyd.

Something which is aggressive but isn't thin, good note separation/clarity and usable for "leads"
Black Winter.
 
Re: Adding on magnets to a pickup?

Yeah, I'm defo considering a black winter. Although I'm not too sure about the lead tones as hardly any vids of it doing lead work are on youtube.

Could a black winter owner chime in on their experience?
 
Re: Adding on magnets to a pickup?

Yeah, I'm defo considering a black winter. Although I'm not too sure about the lead tones as hardly any vids of it doing lead work are on youtube.

Could a black winter owner chime in on their experience?
It sounds amazing for leads. I happen to own quite a few black winters. The note separation is great and the lead tone is truly inspiring. It sounds fairly flat eq wise and gives you a very clear and open sound. It has a very big sound to it. It is not thin unless you have dialed in your amp to make it so.
 
Re: Adding on magnets to a pickup?

Yeah, I'm defo considering a black winter. Although I'm not too sure about the lead tones as hardly any vids of it doing lead work are on youtube.

Could a black winter owner chime in on their experience?

Some good leads in this demo

 
Re: Adding on magnets to a pickup?

Here's a rough approximation of how a typical humbucker magnetic field looks:

magfield1.jpg


Notice how the center of the field (the rings) is centered around the poles that pass through the coils. Even though the magnet is under the poles, because they transfer that power, the poles become a part of the magnet, and shift the center of the field into the coils.

What happens when you stick a magnet to the bottom of the baseplate is that you shift the magnetic field further down into the pickup cavity, away from the strings, which is why it sounds weaker. You're changing the field in such a manner as to relocate its operating center, out of range of the strings.

magfield2.jpg



Rather than adding a magnet, raising the adjustable poles will shift the operating center of the field closer to the strings, giving them more field to move within, and increasing output level. By staggering the level of the poles, you can change the individual string volume slightly.
 
Re: Adding on magnets to a pickup?

What does the addition of magnetic spacers do to the field?

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