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Author
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Topic: Supro Pickup Magnets...
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Ron Bednar
Member From: Rancho Cordova, California, USA
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posted 12 January 2006 11:20 AM
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Love that old Supro pickup! But I'm wondering about the various configurations when it come to the small side magnets. Seems some pickups have two, one on each side and some have only one with a wood block painted to match on the other side. Also the magnet is sometimes on the treble side and sometimes on the bass side. Anyone know the rhyme or reason to this? Sure am curious as to why this is. Whatever it is, it's a great pickup...
Cheers, Ron |
Rick Alexander
Member From: Florida, USA
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posted 12 January 2006 01:21 PM
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Ron, yes it's a great pickup. Some of them had one dummy and one magnet, I guess to save the company money. The pickup even works with no side magnets, though not very well.
If you install 2 fresh magnets, Rick Aiello remags or NIBros - you'll be amazed at the difference in the sound. |
Bill Leff
Member From: Santa Cruz, CA, USA
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posted 12 January 2006 02:41 PM
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Question for you Supro lovers:I know these are treasured for their great sound through an overdriven amp, but how about clean? I tried a Supro for Hawaiian style and found it kind of lifeless compared to my Ric and Fender.
It may have just been that guitar. What's your opinion? |
Ron Bednar
Member From: Rancho Cordova, California, USA
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posted 12 January 2006 06:10 PM
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So I take it that more is better and I can add two of Rick's magnets to any of them? Sounds like a plan to me...Thanks guys!
Cheers, Ron |
Dan Tyack
Member From: Seattle, WA USA
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posted 12 January 2006 11:56 PM
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Lifeless????
Bill you played the wrong Supro.The right Supro/Valco sounds amazing through any amp. ------------------
www.tyack.com |
Rick Alexander
Member From: Florida, USA
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posted 13 January 2006 01:25 AM
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Yep, a good National/Supro/Oahu/Mickinney will kick butt. If it's set up right, it will scream. But if the magnets have degaussed over the years it can sound lifeless. Rick's remags or nibros will fix that.
There are other factors that affect the sound of course - I've played quite a few of them and some are WAY better than others . . |
Philip Tamarkin
Member From: California, USA
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posted 13 January 2006 05:15 AM
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Hi, Ron! Long time! I just put a set of Rick's magnets in my '57 Supro/Silvertone, which had the single mag w/wood block, and no sound at all. The instrument kicks butt now! You can't go wrong with a set... |
Stephan Miller
Member From: Silver Spring, Maryland, USA
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posted 13 January 2006 10:18 AM
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Bill-- the Aiello NIB magnets worked a huge change on my '60 Supro w/ the 3+3 pickup. I've played several of Rick's bakelites and the Supro now rivals them for clean tone.--Steve |
Tom Baylis
Member From: Portland, Oregon
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posted 13 January 2006 11:21 AM
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Lifeless would not be a typical description of the Supro/Valco's I've played either (I currently have 3). But I agree with Rick that regaussing the mags resolves any age/degauss issues nicely, and replacing with Rick Aeillo's awesome NIB's bring these pickups to a new (dare I say unparalleled?)level of output and frequency response.The height adjustment on the pole screws are another integral point that can either make 'em lifeless or lively. Also, some folks also unknowingly have the magnets turned/mounted wrong...with the result being the "north-south" magnetic properties are cancelled out. |
Doug Beaumier
Member From: Northampton, MA
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posted 13 January 2006 06:51 PM
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Rick, Thanks for the info about the “dummy” magnet in some Valco lap steels. Last week I was cleaning my ’60s National lap steel and when I removed the magnets I thought one was Dead!  ------------------
My Site | My SteelTab [This message was edited by Doug Beaumier on 13 January 2006 at 06:51 PM.]
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Rick Alexander
Member From: Florida, USA
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posted 13 January 2006 07:20 PM
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Yeah, a while ago I thought I was going to be sending 4 sets to Rick for remag-ing, and it turned out 2 of the guitars had dummies (even my NY8). So I only sent 3 sets. Good thing he makes those NIBros! |
Jim Peter
Member From: Mendon,Mich USA
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posted 16 January 2006 10:50 AM
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My wife got me a set of Rick’s NIB magnets for Christmas that I installed in my Oahu lap steel this weekend. The difference was incredible. Tone like I never imagined and bass response that was almost too much for my amp. All of the sudden I want to play my lap steel more, thanks Rick. Jim
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Jim Palenscar
Member From: Oceanside, Calif, USA
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posted 10 May 2006 07:42 AM
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I recently sold a double neck Supro and the customer compalined that the volume on the 4th string on one of the necks was less than the others and, sure enough- he was right. Adjusting the poles did not help however simply swapping the magnets side for side remedied the situation nicely. Go figure! I'm sure there was a reason for this but I do not know what it was. Also- I am looking for a replacement pickup for a Supro that I have in stock as it costs $130 to have them rewound (I have a dead one). |
Alan Kirk
Member From: Santa Barbara, CA, USA
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posted 10 May 2006 12:04 PM
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I heard today that Seymour Duncan in Santa Barbara is fixing old Supro pickups for a guy here in town. You could inquire:
http://www.seymourduncan.com/ [This message was edited by Alan Kirk on 10 May 2006 at 12:10 PM.] |
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