I have a few 6 pole humbuckers and strat type. Mainly interested in Non 6 string instruments.i know they will function but any ideas in converting the look to 4 or 3 poles? Something put on top that won't interfere with the magnets and kinda cover the poles that don't use a string. I'm not sure maybe better to let em be as the are?
Would be nice to hear or see conversion looks and ideas. Thanks
You need to be a member of Cigar Box Nation to add comments!
You can really have fun with 6 string single coils. Remove the pickup cover and pull the two outside poles completely out with pliers.Grind them down on a bench grinder/sander until flush with the top of the bobin. Now you can make a custom veneer to glue on the top with the remaining 4 raised poles showing through the top or mount under the top of the box leaving only the poles visible. I've only done it with bar magnet type with no damage to the sound. The ones with magnetized alnico poles may be weakened or ruined by grinding.
You can alter the pickup characteristics by adding magnets. I did this on an early build, by gluing down 3 sub-dime sized rare earth disk magnets to the top of a 4-pole pickup. It definitely made the pickup stronger, but made it brighter, too. The end effect is I didn't have to get the pickup as close to the strings for good output...
I'm a bit late to this discussion, but when I use 6 pole mag pickups on a 3 or 4 string build, I mount the pickup on an angle, so the outside strings run over the outside poles, or between the "1 & 2" and "5 & 6" poles. This way, I have all 3 or 4 strings running over the 6 poles. My experience shows me that strings don't have to be directly over a pickup pole, and that by running 3 or 4 strings over the 6 poles, I get good sound. I think that when the strings run in the vicinity of the pickup poles, the vibrational excitement gets snatched up by the magnetic field. Adjust the height of the mag pickup to your liking, and let 'er rip. There are many examples of angle mounted, as opposed to perpendicular mounted pickups on many CBG builds in the photos within this very website. My $.02.
If your pickup's poles are the magnets(most Alinco magnet type), then removing a pole or 2 will weaken the pickups overall magnetic field which will weaken the pickup's output. Removing 1 will have little effect, but will become weaker the more you remove. If your pickup has a strip magnet across the bottom(Alinco or Ceramic), removing a pole or 2 will not have an effect. Didn't think of the 2 different kinds of pickups earlier.
I would just cut some thin pieces of plastic to cover the top of the pickup and attach with a dab of glue. Something that isn't too strong so you can remove it if you want.
Leaving the pickup alone will sound the same as it would in a 6 string guitar.
Replacing the poles with metal screws will result in the screws becoming magnets later and can alter the pickups strength/performance. Brass/aluminum screws or wood dowels won't become magnetized. Removing poles will alter the pickups strength, but it worked for Keith Richards who uses 5 strings on his Tele and removed the pole in the pickups.
I put a piece of metal cotter pin on some poles on a couple of my guitars to experiment with. Put them across the poles for the wound strings to see if it improved the sound like the Railhammer pickups. It sounded better to me, but there was a slight drop in output volume because it weakens the magnets.
So leaving the poles in and putting a plastic cover without holes on the pickup would be the better choice.
Replies
You can alter the pickup characteristics by adding magnets. I did this on an early build, by gluing down 3 sub-dime sized rare earth disk magnets to the top of a 4-pole pickup. It definitely made the pickup stronger, but made it brighter, too. The end effect is I didn't have to get the pickup as close to the strings for good output...
I'm a bit late to this discussion, but when I use 6 pole mag pickups on a 3 or 4 string build, I mount the pickup on an angle, so the outside strings run over the outside poles, or between the "1 & 2" and "5 & 6" poles. This way, I have all 3 or 4 strings running over the 6 poles. My experience shows me that strings don't have to be directly over a pickup pole, and that by running 3 or 4 strings over the 6 poles, I get good sound. I think that when the strings run in the vicinity of the pickup poles, the vibrational excitement gets snatched up by the magnetic field. Adjust the height of the mag pickup to your liking, and let 'er rip. There are many examples of angle mounted, as opposed to perpendicular mounted pickups on many CBG builds in the photos within this very website. My $.02.
I just used one of these on a new 4 string build seems to work well and looks good
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Telecaster-style-neck-pickup-/14189463497...
Electrical tape comes in different colors and prints too.
If we're brainstorming here, how about the handyman's secret weapon, DUCK TAPE.
not only will it disguise the number of poles in the pickup, it adds to the 'home made rustic' look
If your pickup's poles are the magnets(most Alinco magnet type), then removing a pole or 2 will weaken the pickups overall magnetic field which will weaken the pickup's output. Removing 1 will have little effect, but will become weaker the more you remove. If your pickup has a strip magnet across the bottom(Alinco or Ceramic), removing a pole or 2 will not have an effect. Didn't think of the 2 different kinds of pickups earlier.
I would just cut some thin pieces of plastic to cover the top of the pickup and attach with a dab of glue. Something that isn't too strong so you can remove it if you want.
Leaving the pickup alone will sound the same as it would in a 6 string guitar.
If you got the room and really thin plywood you could build a box around your pickup.
Replacing the poles with metal screws will result in the screws becoming magnets later and can alter the pickups strength/performance. Brass/aluminum screws or wood dowels won't become magnetized. Removing poles will alter the pickups strength, but it worked for Keith Richards who uses 5 strings on his Tele and removed the pole in the pickups.
I put a piece of metal cotter pin on some poles on a couple of my guitars to experiment with. Put them across the poles for the wound strings to see if it improved the sound like the Railhammer pickups. It sounded better to me, but there was a slight drop in output volume because it weakens the magnets.
So leaving the poles in and putting a plastic cover without holes on the pickup would be the better choice.
-
1
-
2
of 2 Next