Mild steel vs tensile steel pickup poles. Plus a small increase in pole length ... wi

[vinnie1971]

If I were to replace the 5mm x14mm hex grub screw poles in my pickups with 16mm ones, would this additional 2mm make much difference? (16 is as long as will fit before I have to use fillisters and get use keeper bars and source some threaded inserts to get them to fit but I have trial fitted slotted fillisters that friction held in place temporarily as a trial which gave me a surprisingly boomy bass - too much bass, even with the bass side of the pickups set very low)

I am able to get mild steel and tensile steel alloy 12.9 (1200) grub screws in 16 mm - compared to the 14mm ones in there what would be the likely difference if any (not sure of the current alloy but if they are true to the DMZ super 2 format should they be 12.9 tensile steel?)

I am looking for a slightly thicker bass and a softening of the highest trebles.

The pickups are late 1970s clones of DMZ super 2.

The pickups have alnico had the old monster sized ceramic swapped out fit alnico and are wound moderately low:

Neck A4 DCR 7.9k
Bridge A8 DCR 8.2k

They have a brass base plate and I am using
maple spacers under the magnets to keep them firmly in place - which I guess stops the brass from having much effect to dampen the treble?

They are very bright with spongy soft bass with the above magnets. The focus of the EQ is in the upper mids which I really like.
The trebles while not ice pick as they were with the original double size ceramic magnet they are still very bright but not as brittle sounding as when I had alnico 2 magnets in there which I guess is down to the fatter bass of the A4 and A8.

If anyone can offer experience or advice I shall be much obliged.


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[darthphineas]

Re: Mild steel vs tensile steel pickup poles. Plus a small increase in pole length ..

12.9 is a strength. You need to look at the alloy, as in 1018, 1022, etc

You can look around and see where some people say one alloy is better for one thing and one for another. Track down some Pickup Maker forums or do a little research online about what each available alloy will do.

As with the previous thread about this sort of thing, best advise is to get a few dozen of each alloy. Either get them in different lengths or cut them yourself. Then try them to see what works for you.

Respectfully, after going through the phases and fads of swapping coils and mags and poles, I found it to not be as productive for me as just trying other brands/models.

 

[vinnie1971]

Re: Mild steel vs tensile steel pickup poles. Plus a small increase in pole length ..

12.9 is a strength. You need to look at the alloy, as in 1018, 1022, etc

You can look around and see where some people say one alloy is better for one thing and one for another. Track down some Pickup Maker forums or do a little research online about what each available alloy will do.

As with the previous thread about this sort of thing, best advise is to get a few dozen of each alloy. Either get them in different lengths or cut them yourself. Then try them to see what works for you.

Respectfully, after going through the phases and fads of swapping coils and mags and poles, I found it to not be as productive for me as just trying other brands/models.

Hi thanks for that, it's 1200 so that means no or low carbon? Struggling to source different alloys in low quantities - I find need buy hundreds, just 12 or 24 of each

It's just this one guitar only that I am doing the experiments, on my others I just select a make and model that's going to give me what I want.




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[darthphineas]

Re: Mild steel vs tensile steel pickup poles. Plus a small increase in pole length ..

http://music-electronics-forum.com/t21609/

 

[vinnie1971]

Re: Mild steel vs tensile steel pickup poles. Plus a small increase in pole length ..

http://music-electronics-forum.com/t21609/

Fabulous, thanks for the link [emoji1360]


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