Replacing magnet on bar-magnet SC's?

[Erlend_G]

So.

The three single coils in my Peavey Predator Plus, are of the kind; with a ceramic bar magnet underneath.

Is there, let's say A5 and A2 magnets, that will fit- so that; - If i get the stock one loose; i couild glue on another- and get a tonal difference?
I'd even think about stacking two magnets on top of eachother. Just for kicks...


...I find the stock singles a bit bright/shrill at times. Though, they fit the guitar. Replacing them would be a much more major investment/mod.

 

[Erlend_G]

If this procedure is possible. And you know the address-

-can you please put me over! . I'll order straight away (can't be too expensive), so I won't procrastinate too hard.

Thanks!!

-E

 

[Ashurbanipal]

If the coil is wound on a plastic bobbin, into which the steel slugs are pressed, then yes, you could remove the ceramic bar underneath, and replace the steel slugs with alnico poles. This is pretty much impossible to do on traditional, Fender style pu because the coil wire is in direct contact with the magnetic poles – e.g. people in the past, trying to flatten out the pole stagger for more even output have destroyed vintage pups in the process.

One issue is that many of these ceramic single coils have a lower dcr, and the ceramic magnets offsets that in terms of beef/output. So if you install alnicos of some kind, you might still have a weaker/wiry tone. Of course, some might go for that to have a particular sound in their arsenal.

I have a pair of old Iabnez single coils lying around which are wound to 3k and have two small ceramic mags on either side of the steel slugs. The stock tone is kinda low output and a bit dull, especially compared to the (much nicer) SSL2s I replaced them with. At one point I thought about doing the aforementioned mod for the heck of it but it would be too much trouble because everything is epoxied into the pu cover, à la EMG.

 

[idsnowdog]

It's cheap and easy to replace slugs with individual Alnico rod magnets.

 

[DonP]

So.

The three single coils in my Peavey Predator Plus, are of the kind; with a ceramic bar magnet underneath.

Is there, let's say A5 and A2 magnets, that will fit- so that; - If i get the stock one loose; i couild glue on another- and get a tonal difference?
I'd even think about stacking two magnets on top of eachother. Just for kicks...


...I find the stock singles a bit bright/shrill at times. Though, they fit the guitar. Replacing them would be a much more major investment/mod.

I have a regular 1994 Peavey Predator with the same pickups.

Rather than try and possibly mess then up. get yourself a set of Bootstrap pickups for at most $65 shipped.

 

[Artie]

Peavey Predators are cool. (Sorry. I had to say that.)

 

[GuitarDoc]

I agree that it is much easier to just get new pups and end up with a much better sounding guitar than if you replace the magnets in those existing cheap pups. You'll spend $20-30 on magnets alone, a few more bucks more gets you a set of brand new good pups and saves you the hassle and work of replacing those epoxied-in magnets. GFS make some really good sounding pups for very little $. I've got a set of grey bottom 60's that sound terrific and the set was only about $60. Here's their Strat pups...https://www.guitarfetish.com/Fits-Stratreg_c_579.html

 

[GuitarDoc]

If you already had the magnets you need, and plenty of free time, and didn't want to spend any money, I'd say go for it. My choice would be to replace them.

 

[idsnowdog]

You can buy new Alnico rod magnets for under $10 https://www.ebay.com/itm/322167246649?hash=item4b02aa0f39:g:VKwAAMXQiM5Q9xR2 . While there's no guarantee that converting a single coil to use Alnico magnets will make it much better it is cheaper than buying a cheap set of new pickups.

 

[eclecticsynergy]

Some have pried off the single ceramic and replaced it with 6 small neo discs, one below each pole piece.
This allows you to keep the same slugs in place and is said to improve tone even with lighter cheapo winds.

I have not tried this myself, and would probably recommend replacing the pickups with a Bootstrap set.
But if you're determined to keep the originals (or just really want to experiment) there are videos on YouTube.
Here's one: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TqzoAbG7Nug