Noobish pickup question

[GunslingingBird]

I'm making a whamola, and for the pickups I'm going to use the stock ones that came with my bass (I just ordered new ones). So, I took out the pickups and they each have a big rectangular magnet glued on the back. With the magnet, I'd have to make my bridge and fretboard a lot higher, along with adding a nut. Does anyone know if there's any point to these magnets?
It's a J. Reynolds bass, if anyone's heard of it. The electronics are terrible in it, the ground wire somehow came soldered when I removed the pickguard.

 

[A9X]

Without the magnet, the pickups won't work.

http://www.stratcollector.com/pups.html

There are cheap Wilkinson pickups on ebay all the time if you need something lower.

 

[GunslingingBird]

Thanks.
One more question: I'm using steel instead of aluminum tubing, will that affect the pups? I'll just cut slots for the pups, so the permanent magnet would be floating there.
I wish I had learned more about electromagnetism in school..

 

[codyAllen191]

with steel tubing, you're gonna risk alot of feedback, as the pickup turns the steel pipe into a magnet......but since you say the pickup will be free floating I wouldnt worry about it too much....other than being heavier.

 

[GunslingingBird]

Would having a wood base/case on the inside help at all?

 

[meev992]

Would having a wood base/case on the inside help at all?

I'm having a hard time following your modifications, what exactly did you want to do to your bass?

and if I'm following correctly, I don't think wood would help, but I would like to know more about what you are doing.

 

[A9X]

Not sure it'll work that well, but there are steel bodied guitars, so it might.

 

[GunslingingBird]

I'm having a hard time following your modifications, what exactly did you want to do to your bass?

and if I'm following correctly, I don't think wood would help, but I would like to know more about what you are doing.

It's not my bass, I'm making a whamola, which is basically just a pole with one strings connected to a lever at the top to change the pitch.
Crap, I knew there had to be some reason for aluminum instead of steel, besides steel being ten times harder to work with. My dad suggested ceramics, but if nothing else works, I'll just cut out that section and replace it with wood or something. If anyone cares..

 

[meev992]

I just googled "whamola", and the first few hits lead to some archives in TB. Have u checked them out? Haven't read the threads, but it might be a good read for you, and might clarify any other issues that come up.

http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?t=289398

http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?t=120387

 

[gabethedestroyr]

I'd go for making it out of wood, I have one made from redwood and it works great.