Bare Knuckle Pickups Forum

Forum Ringside => Tech => Topic started by: HJM on April 08, 2005, 07:47:36 AM

Title: What's the story with unpolished magnets?
Post by: HJM on April 08, 2005, 07:47:36 AM: Tim,

Can you explain the idead behind teh vintage cut unpolished magnets Bare Knuckle use?

Cheers!

H
Title: Mags
Post by: Tim on April 08, 2005, 01:39:17 PM: Unpolished magnets where used in all the early P90s and PAFs-predominantly Alnico II, III,and IV-the move to using alnico V didn't come till about '61.
An unpolished magnet has a rough finish to it and is also longer at 63.5mm as opposed to the newer polished magnets at 60mm.
The magnets are made individually and cast in sand, the magnetic axis are then ground for a flush fit up to the pole shoe on one side and slugs on the other.

There are various claims of benefits of unpolished over polished/ground magnets but for me the slightly longer length imparts a more balanced response from the pickup. It's particularly noticeable in the unpolished Alnico Vs we use, probably because they're the most powerful, the tone isn't as hard/blunt as a polished magnet and string sustain is better too.

Also they're nicer to work with :)
Title: Re: Mags
Post by: motormouth on April 08, 2005, 05:09:18 PM: Quote from: Tim
Unpolished magnets where used in all the early P90s and PAFs-predominantly Alnico II, III,and IV-the move to using alnico V didn't come till about '61.
An unpolished magnet has a rough finish to it and is also longer at 63.5mm as opposed to the newer polished magnets at 60mm.
The magnets are made individually and cast in sand, the magnetic axis are then ground for a flush fit up to the pole shoe on one side and slugs on the other.

There are various claims of benefits of unpolished over polished/ground magnets but for me the slightly longer length imparts a more balanced response from the pickup. It's particularly noticeable in the unpolished Alnico Vs we use, probably because they're the most powerful, the tone isn't as hard/blunt as a polished magnet and string sustain is better too.Jesus!!See,thats why BKP whipps the horned one,No bullshitee!

Also they're nicer to work with :)
Title: What's the story with unpolished magnets?
Post by: TwilightOdyssey on April 08, 2005, 05:13:27 PM: Uuuuh, okay.
I think you forgot to post, man.
Title: What's the story with unpolished magnets?
Post by: B3 on April 13, 2005, 08:17:34 PM: It's funny but lots of things you wouldn't think would affect the tone of a pickup do in practice. Unpolished magnets is one of those. Maybe the fact that they are cast individually rather than cut from a larger block, and that the rough surface grips the baseplate better have something to do with it. Anyway, the best old Gibson pickups used them and that's good enough for me!
Title: What's the story with unpolished magnets?
Post by: Tim on April 13, 2005, 08:22:39 PM: Welcome B3, glad you've come along for the ride, your input will be invaluable and no doubt enlighten us all.
Now if only you could get a strap on that Hammond and jump around a bit :D