Any use for the inexpensive single-coils?

[constant mesh]

I have accumulated quite a few single-coils from Squiers etc. Those with either one ceramic bar in the middle or two side by side. They usually have nickel-plated poles and I doubt material underneath is actually alnico.

Is there any particular use fot them as-is? I am actually saving them because I might get into rewinding in the future and these might be good to practice on.

Converting them to magnetized poles would probably be a non-sense, right?

Maybe for some didley bow/hubcap/cig box guitar project?

Thanks!

 

[beaubrummels]

Re: Any use for the inexpensive single-coils?

You can give me one (if you are feeling altruistic). I'm looking for one to use as a dummy coil in one of my Strats. If it works, I'd do that trick in several of my Fenders. I'm looking for one that's about 6k - 6.5k.

 

[freefrog]

Re: Any use for the inexpensive single-coils?

I use these things as dummy coils too. I remove their ceramic mags then put them in the electronic cavity or in a lateral routing... They can be wired in series with single coils to make them silent (albeit they change their tone, of course). Unless we put them in parallel with an humbucker PU: in this case, the HB starts to sound single coilish...

There's other options that I won't mention for the moment. Not enough free time right now.

So, let's conclude: the tricky part of the experiment is to find a proper physical location for a dummy coil in series, in order to obtain an optimal noise cancellation. BTW, it will cancel the hum but won't necessarily prevent HF noise and could even increase it...

 

[dotsdad]

Re: Any use for the inexpensive single-coils?

The two magnet Mexican ones can be turned into good pickups. Break the two magnets off, pull out the slug polepieces, and replace them with some Alnico 2 magnets from addiction fx on eba. Makes a killer Strat bridge pickup - fat mids and smoother, less shrill highs.

 

[dotsdad]

Re: Any use for the inexpensive single-coils?

The single ceramic magnet squier pickups are pretty much only useful as interesting paperweights or fridge magnets.