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Source for short pole toaster magnets wanted
Posted: Tue Oct 13, 2020 1:41 pm
by Hotzenplotz
Exactly:
In a lot of threads I read that these are quite common. Unfortunately there was never a company named selling them.
What I'm looking for are alnico 5 magnets, 1/2" diameter and 3/8" height.
Now I know that a ratio of 1:4 for diameter:height is needed for the magnet completely working. Below that the magnet starts "to fight against itself".
- Maybe that's part of the recipe to realise that special capri sound?
But still I don't know where to buy...
- Here in Germany we still have got the metric system...
BTW: Any guess which size the long pole magnets have got?
As usual: Every input ist highly appreciated!
Re: Source for short pole toaster magnets wanted
Posted: Tue Oct 13, 2020 2:23 pm
by collin
The only reason these are rare is that they've never been sold as spare parts from RIC, and were only available on guitars during a few different periods of production (late 50s, late 60s and then 2004 onwards for C-series reissues).
While I have not personally done this, I have heard of people cutting the magnets on a long pole toaster. It's certainly possible I just don't know the procedure.
In my opinion, the tone of a Capri is mostly because of the body shape/depth, not the pickups.
Re: Source for short pole toaster magnets wanted
Posted: Tue Oct 13, 2020 3:18 pm
by jdogric12
collin wrote:I have heard of people cutting the magnets on a long pole toaster. It's certainly possible I just don't know the procedure.
In my opinion, the tone of a Capri is mostly because of the body shape/depth, not the pickups.
If someone does this, are they long enough to make a spare set?
Re: Source for short pole toaster magnets wanted
Posted: Tue Oct 13, 2020 5:54 pm
by collin
jdogric12 wrote:collin wrote:I have heard of people cutting the magnets on a long pole toaster. It's certainly possible I just don't know the procedure.
In my opinion, the tone of a Capri is mostly because of the body shape/depth, not the pickups.
If someone does this, are they long enough to make a spare set?
I don't believe so. From what I recall, the length that sticks into the bobbin is like 2/3 of the total magnet length, so the remainder cutoff of each one would be too short to use elsewhere.
The magnets pop out, there is just a small dab of glue holding each one in the bobbin.
Re: Source for short pole toaster magnets wanted
Posted: Wed Oct 14, 2020 9:05 am
by jdogric12
collin wrote:the remainder cutoff of each one would be too short to use elsewhere.
That's a bummer, man.
Re: Source for short pole toaster magnets wanted
Posted: Wed Oct 14, 2020 9:13 am
by jps
collin wrote:jdogric12 wrote:collin wrote:...the remainder cutoff of each one would be too short to use elsewhere..
Refrigerator magnets!
Re: Source for short pole toaster magnets wanted
Posted: Wed Oct 14, 2020 10:37 am
by maxwell
Here's an ebay store with a variety of magnets for sale, a few with a 1/2" diameter, 3" long, which means you'd have to section these yourself:
https://www.ebay.com/str/erickmagnahold ... 7675.l2563
This same store, however, seems to imply that there is some customization available regarding length:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Alnico-grade-5 ... SwH5NcomWW
You get five pieces of varying diameters, but likely you could request/substitute all the same 1/2" diameter.
You could always ask the seller a question, tell him what you're looking for dimensionally. This guy seems to be specializing in magnets, as that is only what he sells. Occasionally I need something a little different from an ebay seller; they accommodate you, send (email) you an invoice. Well, seems worthwhile checking out; precisely cutting off sections seems like a big PITA, and ending up with a product that probably won't be as nice as this pro can provide.
Re: Source for short pole toaster magnets wanted
Posted: Thu Oct 15, 2020 2:23 am
by espidog
Wouldn't 1/2 an inch diameter be a very, very fat magnet - fatter than it was long and far too fat to fit into a toaster pickup? I'm wondering if Hotzenplotz means 1/4 inch.
However, at 3/8 inch length, even that would mean that the magnet was only 1.5 times longer than its width. That's not much, and certainly nowhere near the ratio of 1:4 he quotes.
To achieve a 1:4 ratio, a 1/4 inch diameter magnet would need to be 1 inch long, and a 1/2 inch would need to be 2 inches long!
Take a look at the photos in this thread:
viewtopic.php?f=33&t=176878
There's no way those magnets are 1/2 inch diameter. If they were, the pickup would be enormous!
Hotzenplotz, if you're used to working in metric:
1/2 inch = 12.7mm
3/8 inch = 9.525mm
1/4 inch = 6.35mm
Re: Source for short pole toaster magnets wanted
Posted: Thu Oct 15, 2020 11:38 am
by maxwell
FYI - I did not study these:
https://www.stewmac.com/electronics/pic ... gnets.html
Related Google search. You can do this yourself (enter your own search terms in your search engine) and get more locally available (Germany, EU) magnets.
https://www.google.com/search?ei=8WqIX7 ... ent=psy-ab
https://www.google.com/search?q=alnico+ ... AHoECAQQAQ
https://www.mojotone.com/guitar-parts/Alnico-5#/
http://pickupbuilders.com/alnico-5-rod- ... t-top-187/
Typical guitar magnets are mostly just under 0.200 inches (1/5"). An average diameter, say, of 0.190 in. = 4.8 mm.
BTW, I was visiting threads over on the RIC website, and an awful lot of those now have a half page of error messages, and all the dialog is missing from all the individual posts.... bad news.
Re: Source for short pole toaster magnets wanted
Posted: Thu Oct 15, 2020 12:18 pm
by Hotzenplotz
espidog wrote:
There's no way those magnets are 1/2 inch diameter. If they were, the pickup would be enormous!
Hotzenplotz, if you're used to working in metric:
1/2 inch = 12.7mm
3/8 inch = 9.525mm
1/4 inch = 6.35mm
Absolutely right, Sir!
I was wrong, of course I meant a 1/4" diameter. I am very sorry for this confusion! Kinda typo mistake: the 2 is closer to the left index finger than the 4.
@ all: I'm impressed! Thank You all - a lot of knowlwdge, background links and ideas! I'm sure that will help very much.
Now I want to dive into that input and start some more reasearch.
- I'll keep You informed.
Thanks again!
Re: Source for short pole toaster magnets wanted
Posted: Thu Oct 15, 2020 12:23 pm
by maxwell
I forgot to include this link:
https://www.creamery-pickups.co.uk/cust ... ckups.html
I was hoping that there would be some information here. It seems that all the magnets are LONG 1/4", even on the vintage style pickups.
There are a lot of smart guys here. Maybe one will pluck out a short magnet, measure and post the dimensions.
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P.S. -
Here you go, with the 1:4 ratio.....Alnico Grade 5 Rod Magnet, 1/4" diameter x 1" length:
https://www.magnetshop.com/alnico-grade ... -2116.html
Here's the link for the basic ordering page, where you can specify your desired diameter and length. Maybe you'll end up needing or wanting something else:
https://www.magnetshop.com/alnico-rod-magnets.html#1
Re: Source for short pole toaster magnets wanted
Posted: Sat Oct 17, 2020 2:55 pm
by iiipopes
I also prefer Alnico V for bridge pickups. Anybody try Alnico II for the neck pickup magnets? In other guitars I own where I had a choice, I like the subtly softer tone of Alnico II for neck pickups.
Re: Source for short pole toaster magnets wanted
Posted: Mon Oct 19, 2020 3:30 pm
by Hotzenplotz
So far I decided to got two ways:
1. I'll call a few pickup shops that offer restoration work for pickups.
2. Obviously there's no click and pay solution. So I have to find somebody that offers some affordable custom work.
- Well, the next evenings a few mails to write...
Thank You for the links and tons of input!