Help! ... swapping magnets

[Jazz Rock]

All right!

Theodie convinced me to get a PG/C combo for my Gibson. But before it happened, I need to have the bugdget approved by my Fiancee, which is nowhere soon.

But then, Luke duke suggested a magnet swap, which idea actually quite appeal to me... and is virtualy inexpensive.

Problem is I've never done that before so I could use yours advices. I got the former pickups from my Epi, I knew I should keep them just in case, because the case is now, and their gonna be my first shot, just for trainning.

I already removed the base plate and can see the ceramic magnet glued to the screws on one side, to the pots on the other, and to the plastic part of the pup on the back.
It doesn't really seems easy to remove... without breaking everything.

What do I do?

 

[bryvincent]

Re: Help! ... swapping magnets

http://www.projectguitar.com/tut/barmagswap.htm

 

[Jazz Rock]

Re: Help! ... swapping magnets

http://www.projectguitar.com/tut/barmagswap.htm

Thanks for the link, that actually look quite scary, I don't have any of the tools... Really need to think about it.

By the way, what happen tonewise if you reverse the magnet and get the north toward the screws? Different sound, crappy sound, no sound at all?

 

[Jazz Rock]

Re: Help! ... swapping magnets

I took a look at my Epi pup to try... but, there is no way I'm gonna manage to lift up the magnet with two screwdrivers like they say on the linked wbe page.

Does anybody came acroos a similar situation? Where the magnet darn well attached to the bobbins. Could I have the same problem with Gibson pups?

 

[tone4days]

Re: Help! ... swapping magnets

is it really glued, or is it simply dried wax from potting? ... you might be able to take an exacto knife and cut the 'wax' free (carefully) ... when i did a mag flip, i just slid the magnet out linearly (carefully) and did not 'lift' it out, per se

just flipping a magnet will not give you any tonal difference when the pickup is used by itself ... when you combine it with the other pickup, they will be 'out of phase' and no longer will cancel hum .. the result might be pleasant to your ears, but often it is not considered such


good luck
t4d

 

[Jazz Rock]

Re: Help! ... swapping magnets

Thanks for the reply T4D.

I tryed again tonight to remove the magnet. As I don't really care about the pup I started to work on it with a scredriver and a knife... impossible to make it move. Totally vexed, I tryed to turn apart the bobbins, which I almost manage, but If I had been going on, I truely believe the bobbin would have give way before the glue/wax (whatever it is).

From what I read here and on the website Bryvincent showed me, it shouldn't be this hard... should it? I guess rubbish pups like this epi one aren't supposed to be customised. That's a shame cause I am not to confident to do it on the 490R and 498T... whithout a little practice.

This week end I'm gonna check if the second epi pup is alike or more custom friendly.

i will need luck :smack:

 

[Jazz Rock]

Re: Help! ... swapping magnets

Please guys, just a few advices. I don't want to jump into this without being sure it will be a total disaster.

Can those of you who already carried this experiment out light my fire?

 

[Jazz Rock]

Re: Help! ... swapping magnets

The stock pup from the Epi I tried to have magnet out of looks like this after my experiments.

Just don't tell me that the Gibson stocks won't be the same... I mean, if you look close enough you would this toffee-colored stuff (wax?) around the magnet and against the poles. I guess that is what keep me from removing the damn thing. :rocket:

I wouldn't be very pleased if I end up wrecking my gibsons pups!!! :yell: :yell: :yell: