Non-magnetic B magnet, revisited

[GuitarDoc]

A couple days ago ICTGoober started a thread about a client who had a dead "B" string in the neck pup in his Strat. Goober noticed that there was no magnetic pull when he tapped it with a screwdriver. He took out the pup and turned it over and found that one of the magnetic poles had a blue mark on it. It was intimated/hinted/assumed that it may have just been a non-magnetized slug. Problem is, it was the "A" sting pole that had the blue bottom.

I don't think there ever was resolve to the problem, so I'm revisiting it because I'm very curious about a couple things.
What was the blue mark (on the bottom of the "A" sting magnet/pole) all about?
What was wrong with the "B" string (which apparently worked fine with the middle and bridge pup...so, nothing wrong with the string)? Was the pole piece actually not magnetized (this is what I assume)?

Any ideas? Especially about the blue mark?

I don't know all about pup manufacturing but I'm assuming that the poles begin as a long rod which is cut to the lengths of the specific poles and then magnetized before assembly. Perhaps the long rods have a color-coded mark on the ends to indicate the metallic composition? It's just random which pole in the pup gets that end piece of the rod?

Any pickup winders have an answer?

 

[Chistopher]

Re: Non-magnetic B magnet, revisited

I reckon that the unmagnetized rod might have been supposed to go into a cheapo single coil that used a ceramic bar magnet, but someone in the factory fudged up. If the B polepiece doesn't have a charge but the A polepiece is marked, then it might be used to designate neck, middle, or bridge.

That's my guess anyone.

 

[beaubrummels]

Re: Non-magnetic B magnet, revisited

Interesting, when I bought my Highway 1 Tele, one of the other American Standards I tried had a dead A string on the bridge pickup, just the A string - appeared to be the pole had no magnetization. The Fender rep was in the store. His answer was to sell me the Tele at a discount and give me a replacement pickup I could install myself (I opted for another Tele that was fully working). So while rare, it appears this has happened before.

 

[GuitarDoc]

Re: Non-magnetic B magnet, revisited

I would have taken the discount plus new pup.

 

[AlexR]

Re: Non-magnetic B magnet, revisited

I don't think we ever saw the pickup from the top to know if that blue mark was just a sticker on the bottom.

Its a pity that it was closed before most got to put their minds to the task really........actually I don't think I've ever seen him close a thread before, let alone so speedily. But I think he knew what was coming given how rude he was over his own ignorance.

 

[GuitarDoc]

Re: Non-magnetic B magnet, revisited

I think you're totally correct AlexR. That attitude seems to be more common than not with Goober. He can never accept when he is wrong. Rather than fight a losing battle (like he usually does) this time he decided to just avoid the obvious and close the thread to prevent anyone from proving he was wrong. He can't take the heat.

 

[Chistopher]

Re: Non-magnetic B magnet, revisited

I fail to see how analyzing the social strategies of another forum member gets us any closer to finding out how this fluke ended up in an otherwise perfectly normal pickup.

Another theory is that the particular slug just didn't make it through the magnetization process. I don't know the finer aspects of industrialized pickup winding, but it sure seems plausible.

 

[GuitarDoc]

Re: Non-magnetic B magnet, revisited

I fail to see how analyzing the social strategies of another forum member gets us any closer to finding out how this fluke ended up in an otherwise perfectly normal pickup.

In general, it is good to know the credibility of someone if you are relying on his help with a problem you might be having. Especially if you get two differing opinions...one from a very reliable source, and one from someone who is known to be not so.

 

[beaubrummels]

Re: Non-magnetic B magnet, revisited

I would have taken the discount plus new pup.

Yeah I was tempted but it would have voided the warranty and he wouldn’t give me a warranty on the replacement pickup either. The rep was kind of a jerk about it. Unapologetic about the problem and had a “ill throw you a bone but you’re on your own after that” attitude.

I just wanted/needed a good sounding Tele that worked and was backed by the company if it didn’t. I actually don’t regret it. That Highway 1 was $200 less than the discounted Am Std and turned out to be my #1 live guitar for 10 years. Eventually I put a Broadcaster and Antiquity neck in and it’s like 50’s vintage Tele now.

 

[VinceT]

Re: Non-magnetic B magnet, revisited

As I recall, my Texas Specials had one pickup with a blue dot on a pole piece (can’t recall which one) and another with a red dot - to designate neck and bridge respectively. So, I believe that’s the correct answer for the coloration.

As for the dead slug, I would guess it was manufacturing error (HB pole accidentally put in single).


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[GuitarDoc]

Re: Non-magnetic B magnet, revisited

Sounds reasonable.