Filing down Pickup Polepeices

M

mojorisen

New member
I have a Fender Mustang and replaced the pickups with non-staggard pickups. The polepeices are raised above the bobbin, where the original Mustang pickups are nearly flat. I was wondering if I were to file down the polepeices would it damage the pickup. I don't see how it would but I know pickups can be pretty sensitive.
 
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Re: Filing down Pickup Polepeices

If it were a junker pickup, I'd say go ahead and try it, but in all likelihood you will end up breaking the coil...the heat generated by grinding may also degauss the magnet. If you want a non-standard stagger, the best bets are to find it that way and buy it or do the stagger yourself and have it rewound (because 2 out of 3 times you try to fuss with the magnets in Fender style SC's, the coil gets blown). Are ya feeling lucky?
 
Re: Filing down Pickup Polepeices

welcome to the forum!!

like he said, not a good idea. it is possible you wont mess up the pickup but the odds are not in your favor
 
Re: Filing down Pickup Polepeices

Instead of filing or grinding them down, I think you can simply remove the pickup and push the poles down inside of the housing a little further.I'm not too familiar with the design of those, but I know that most humbuckers, you are able to do this.
 
Re: Filing down Pickup Polepeices

It can be done with a jewelers saw. It is like a coping saw but smaller. You shouldn't generate much heat with it and risk demagnetization.
 
Re: Filing down Pickup Polepeices

Pushing them down works when not glued in or have fiber bobbins. I would give it a try on plastics. Dont overdo it. I'ved done it the other way. Staggering a flush Fender American standard Strat pup.

BTW This is what Master Seymour says:

306. Can I push down the pole pieces on my Fender Strat to make them flush with the cover?
It can be very risky to move the pole pieces in Fender single coil pickups without causing damage to the inner coil of the pickup. Breaking one fine turn of magnet wire will cause the pickup to fail. If you have plastic molded Strat style bobbins it is possible to move the pole pieces. If you are using staggered magnets and change the pole pattern, the inner-phasing of the magnetic field will be realigned and can change the sound of the pickup.
 
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Re: Filing down Pickup Polepeices

Thanks everyone for your replies. I think I'm going to leave them alone. I just didn't want to spend $130 for mustang correct pickups.
 
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