Orientation of a magnet for a magnet swap

3

357mag

New member
I'm going to be removing a ceramic bar magnet from a Custom and replacing it with a A2. I have a polarity tester. If I hold the tester along the edge of the A2 magnet I get either North or South depending on how I'm holding the magnet. As far as I know, I would want to place the south edge of the magnet toward the adjustable screws on the pickup. Correct?

But what about the broader face of the magnet? I don't have to do anything with that do I? From what I can tell with my tester it will not give a reading if you hold it to the face of the magnet, you have to hold it to the edge of the magnet.

So as far as I know I don't need to be concerned about which face of the magnet is pointing up or down in the pickup.

Know what I mean?
 
The way I do it is while the magnet is still in the pickup but halfway out, I put the replacement magnet up to it, oriented as if I'm going ot slide it in, and if it repels along one edge (not the end) i need to flip it. If it attracts along one edge, then I have the right orientation and keep it that orientation for when I slide the replacement in.
 
On humbucker mags the poles are the long edges - you don't need to worry about the faces.

Beaubrummels' directions are correct. To be a bit more specific for a first-timer:

When you've slid the old mag halfway out, its right edge should attract the left edge of the new one.
If they repel, flip the new one over and they will attract.


EDIT: Just realized it doesn't matter which edge attracts - if the orientation is correct, either one will. Duh!
 
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To be completely clear, the south side most often goes towards the adjustable screws and the north side goes towards the slug. The big flat side only really makes a difference if one has a magnet that has a rough side and a smooth side, then it can make a slight difference to the sound. For the broader flat face of the magnet, there isn't a right or wrong way. For certain wiring diagrams the direction of the north and south polarity sides do matter.
 
to find out right now

take the polarity tester and point it toward the slug poles

then to the screw coils

orient the new magnet the same way
 
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