Dumb question about the horseshoe

[markyl]

Having no idea about this and being the inquisitive type, I thought I'd ask.

Does the fact that the horseshoe PUP cover having a gap in the middle make any difference to the sound? If you were to swap a horseshoe cover with a solid cover and vice versa would there be a tonal difference?

This coming from someone who has neither!!

[aceonbass]

The two pickups are completely different and the covers are not interchangeable. The solid one is actually just a plastic handrest/cover, while the one with the gap is a pair of non-magnetic horseshoes that the pickup bobbin actually sits within.

[markyl]

Aha! So a completely different beast then. But is the horeshoe part removable or is it an integral part of the pick up assembly?

[aceonbass]

The shoes are removeable, but washers to replace it's thickness need to be installed between the baseplate and pickup. I think they look cool and provide a great handrest while I play what I think is the sweet spot just in front of them.

[markyl]

Cool thanks! I agree they do look great and very individual.

[egosheep]

Just stating the obvious to most, but if the horseshoes are vintage, then they are an integral part of the pickup. They are the magnets that magnetize the screw polepieces, whereas on the new horseshoe reissues the horseshoes are purely cosmetic and the pickup inside has magnetic polepieces like a toaster would have.

[woodyng]

one more question,which i never really thought of till now. are the RIHS shoes metal or chrome-covered plastic like the higain cover? (since Dane mentioned the new shoes are non-magnetic...)

[aceonbass]

The RIHShoes are chrome plated steel. I don't know why they don't pick up magnetism from the pickup poles that must be making contact with them though.

[egosheep]

The RIHShoes are chrome plated steel. I don't know why they don't pick up magnetism from the pickup poles that must be making contact with them though.

Apparently the RIHS's do not even pick up magnetism if you charge them in the way that you would recharge an older horseshoe. To hold a charge, the steel has to be hardened after it's bent. The hardening makes it more brittle and makes it able to hold a charge. Then it has to be chromed. Then magnetized.

So maybe the new shoes are a different kind of alloy, or maybe they just skip the hardening process? The old ones were Tungsten Steel I believe.

[cjj]

The exact alloy has a lot to do with whether or not a particular material can be magnetized - either temporarily or permanently...

[egosheep]

See my icon? These babies hold a charge.

[cjj]

Yeah, I'm familliar with those, O1 Tool steel if I remember right. I'd like to hear more about them though, doesn't seem to be much info on his site though...