Supro Pickup Magnet Orientation

Alan Kirk · Post by **Alan Kirk** » 8 Nov 2004 9:45 am

In an earlier thread (http://steelguitarforum.com/Forum11/HTML/004878.html), the orientation of the external magnet and aluminum block in a Supro pickup was discussed. Rick Aiello said: "By the way, putting a second magnet in place of the aluminum block (in your case the wood) ... Correctly oriented ... both (N) poles up and both (S) poles down (or visa versa} ...."

Let's assume that some unnamed dummy got his parts mixed up and wanted to put his Supro/Silvertone pickup back together correctly.

I have two questions:

1: How do you tell which is the magnet and which is the aluminum piece. Both items on my Silvertone/Supro pickup seem to be magnetized.

2. How do you tell which pole on the exterior magnet is which, N or S?

Also, my Silvertone has about half the output of my Bronson with the same style pickup. What's up with that?

Thanks.

--Alan Kirk[This message was edited by Alan Kirk on 08 November 2004 at 11:30 AM.]

Jason Lollar · Post by **Jason Lollar** » 13 Nov 2004 9:30 am

Call me up and I will talk you through it if you still need help.

Alan Kirk · Post by **Alan Kirk** » 13 Nov 2004 9:38 am

Jason,

Thank you. I just sent the magnets off to Rick Aiello for rezapping.

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Rick Aiello · Post by **Rick Aiello** » 16 Nov 2004 3:34 pm

I just got them ... you are in for a serious treat.

The magnet ... was basically completely degaussed ... couldn't get any kind of steady reading with my gaussmeter probe.

It charged up to 350 gauss (surface) ... typical for those Supro jobs (in comparison ... a Fender Trap will charge to 800-850 gauss).

The other one ... wasn't aluminum ... nor alnico. It was ferromagnetic and rust free.

My guess ... 400 series stainless steel. I hit it with the electromagnet ... charged to 50 gauss ... but already was loosin it as I was bubble wrapping it back up.

So now I've seen ... on those Supro types ..

1) 2 alnico magnets per pickup
2) 1 alnico magnet .. 1 aluminum slug
3) 1 alnico magnet ... 1 stainless steel (martensitic) slug
4) 1 alnico magnet ... 1 wooden slug

How's that for consistancy

Alan, you'll have a "New" steel in a couple days.

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Aiello's House of Gauss


My wife and I don't think alike. She donates money to the homeless and I donate money to the topless! ... R. Dangerfield
[This message was edited by Rick Aiello on 16 November 2004 at 03:36 PM.]

Jason Lollar · Post by **Jason Lollar** » 18 Nov 2004 11:38 am

never seen any like that but I have seen them with no magnets

Alan Kirk · Post by **Alan Kirk** » 28 Nov 2004 3:12 pm

Got my supro/silvertone magnet back from Rick. The pickup is back to full power now and has about twice the output as it did before the remag, equal to the Bronson now. It's like getting a new guitar.

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