Are There Any Musicman Pickups WITHOUT So Much Magnetic Pull??????

[Bruce Johnson]

It sounds like there's something wrong with that particular pickup. Check to see that the magnets are all facing the same direction (all North Up or all South Up). If it was assembled wrong, with one or more of the magnets installed backward, that can create a convoluted magnetic field shape. Which can create some weird sound effects. Parts of the signal can go in and out of phase with the other pickup, and that can mess with the pre-amp.

 

[JKos]

I thought of using a high powered reel-to-reel tape head demagnetizer ... and would never demagnetize all 8 equally.

But you said you don't use the neck pickup so why would it matter?

To keep the looks, you could replace the pole pieces with something other than magnets.

 

[walterw]

I thought of using a high powered reel-to-reel tape head demagnetizer, but I figured that would melt the plastic before it actually would demagnetize alnico magnets, and would never demagnetize all 8 equally.

That’s actually an interesting thought!

do de-maggers get all that hot? Or is it like an induction stove?

you can use strong neodymium magnets and totally weaken or even reverse alnico magnets. A quick tap with a neo magnet that’s set to repel can immediately weaken an alnico polepiece. You’d figure out which side repelled, quickly touch one row of magnets with the neo mag, then flip it and do the same for the other row (which will be opposite pull)

 

[HearNoStevil]

It sounds like there's something wrong with that particular pickup. Check to see that the magnets are all facing the same direction (all North Up or all South Up). If it was assembled wrong, with one or more of the magnets installed backward, that can create a convoluted magnetic field shape. Which can create some weird sound effects. Parts of the signal can go in and out of phase with the other pickup, and that can mess with the pre-amp.

They are all facing the proper direction. And, it doesn't have a preamp; it's a passive bass.

 

[HearNoStevil]

But you said you don't use the neck pickup so why would it matter?

To keep the looks, you could replace the pole pieces with something other than magnets.

The pickup is totally sealed in epoxy from the bottom. I don't know how I'd get the pole pieces out. Good idea, though.

 

[HearNoStevil]

you can use strong neodymium magnets and totally weaken or even reverse alnico magnets. A quick tap with a neo magnet that’s set to repel can immediately weaken an alnico polepiece. You’d figure out which side repelled, quickly touch one row of magnets with the neo mag, then flip it and do the same for the other row (which will be opposite pull)

Could you explain this in greater detail? How would I weaken every polepiece the same amount?

The only Neo magnet I have is a giant Peavey Black Widow Neo speaker magnet; a bit big for this application haha...

 

[walterw]

Could you explain this in greater detail?

these are the ones i'm talking about, from stewmac in this case

i haven't actually tried this in your situation, but if they're strong enough to charge up or even reverse the polarity on regular strat magnets then i imagine one of them might be enough to weaken music man-style magnets if it was turned to repel and pushed against the poles momentarily, maybe even just near them.

 

[b/o 402]

Here's what I don't understand:
In any normal humbucker, one coil has magnetic polarity opposite to the other. This is why you don't get the string pull problem like you do on a single coil with strong magnets, like a strat. Does this pickup not have that magnet structure?
I've been hoping a Music Man pickup expert will chime in.

 

[Joybass]

I don't care how it sounds as I never use the neck pickup really, and I love the way the stock bridge pickup sounds. I never run two pickups together.

Why not buy a cheap ceramic MM type pu and remove the ceramic bar magnets that are usually exposed on the cheaper ones? If you don't actually use the neck pu you wouldn't even have to wire it up. Cut the wires and screw it in. Problem solved.

 

[HearNoStevil]

Why not buy a cheap ceramic MM type pu and remove the ceramic bar magnets that are usually exposed on the cheaper ones? If you don't actually use the neck pu you wouldn't even have to wire it up. Cut the wires and screw it in. Problem solved.

That's what I will probably do. I just thought with so many Musicman players on this forum someone would know of the problem and have a recommendation for pickups that don't have excessive pull.

 

[bassdude51]

I've never liked the idea of 4 coils with massive magnets on a bass. So, I can sympathize with your issue.

Another thing to check out would be a Jazz Bass with humbucker pickups. There are many choices. Here's a Duncan set.

Seymour Duncan Announces the Apollo Jazz Bass Linear Humbucker

 

[abarson]

In all the photos I've seen, the reverse Jaguar pickups have exposed poles. Are you sure it was new?
If you plan to use it, any pickup will be better than what you've got. But since you like the tone look into getting a replacement from Fender.
If you're not going to use it, install an empty pickup cover. No need to demagnetize, sweat the alnico vs ceramic details, etc.

 

[Alivefor5]

If it were me and I'd done all the experimenting that you have, I'd route out the neck pickup hole by about 3/8 of an inch. Nothing lost, if it doesn't work you just fill in with additional foam and longer screws and continue forward with the next idea.

 

[HearNoStevil]

If it were me and I'd done all the experimenting that you have, I'd route out the neck pickup hole by about 3/8 of an inch. Nothing lost, if it doesn't work you just fill in with additional foam and longer screws and continue forward with the next idea.

What would any of that accomplish? The neck pickup, even when installed nearly flush with the body, still pulls the strings.

Are you suggesting lowering it more by removing 3/8" more of wood????!!!???

I don't understand what your post would accomplish.

 

[Alivefor5]

What would any of that accomplish? The neck pickup, even when installed nearly flush with the body, still pulls the strings.

Are you suggesting lowering it more by removing 3/8" more of wood????!!!???

I don't understand what your post would accomplish.

Obviously gets the pickup further from the strings. Isn't that what you want?

 

[HearNoStevil]

Obviously gets the pickup further from the strings. Isn't that what you want?

It would be below the top of the bass if I sunk it another 3/8".

 

[Alivefor5]

No prob, just a suggestion.

 

[jazzyvee]

I don't know if both pickups are the same and interchangeable, but have you tried swapping the pickups round and see if it still happens with the bridge pickup in the neck position. Just a thought.

 

[Bobby13]

Same problem here. Reverse Jaguar, E string sound weird and out of tune with itself. Flatwounds on, maybe I should try rounds. I have lowered the neckpickup as much as possible, even removed the fram.

 

[Geri O]

It sounds like there's something wrong with that particular pickup. Check to see that the magnets are all facing the same direction (all North Up or all South Up). If it was assembled wrong, with one or more of the magnets installed backward, that can create a convoluted magnetic field shape. Which can create some weird sound effects. Parts of the signal can go in and out of phase with the other pickup, and that can mess with the pre-amp.

This. Absolutely this. Friggin’ this.

I’m not buying the overly-strong magnets idea. If that were the case, there would be way more reports about this than the first two I’ve ever heard of. And they would have appeared long before 2020.

And lowering the pickup all the way down and still having the the problem? I don’t think so….