The Steel Guitar Forum Store 

Post new topic National, Supro etc string through pickups
Reply to topic
Author Topic:  National, Supro etc string through pickups
Bob Bowman

 

From:
Staffordshire, England
Post  Posted 27 Dec 2017 3:38 am    
Reply with quote

Just plugged in my 1946 (ish) Supro Supreme after quite a while and the string-to-string balance is very uneven. Swapping the magnets around produces variations on this and the magnets themselves seem very weak. Also, the output is much lower than I remember.

I've picked up from other members' postings that a possible solution is to install NIBro magnets but can't find out where to get them


Does anyone have any ideas, please?

Cheers and Happy New Year
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail

Noah Miller


From:
Rocky Hill, CT
Post  Posted 27 Dec 2017 6:43 am    
Reply with quote

It's possible that the magnets are out of phase; try flipping one over.
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail

Lee Holliday


From:
United Kingdom
Post  Posted 27 Dec 2017 10:12 pm    
Reply with quote

Jason Lollar can supply these.

Lee
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail

Bob Bowman

 

From:
Staffordshire, England
Post  Posted 28 Dec 2017 3:14 am    
Reply with quote

Advice much appreciated ...

I've tried the original magnets in every possible orientation with the result that the string balance transfers to other strings and in some configurations, the output is even lower.

Nothing on Jason Lollar's website so I've emailed to ask

Cheers, Bob
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail

Jon Light


From:
Saugerties, NY
Post  Posted 28 Dec 2017 3:34 am    
Reply with quote

Jason is certainly the man. I don't know if you know of this guy and I have no idea if he offers tech help or magnet work but just fyi, he is closer to home:

https://www.mojopickups.co.uk/


Last edited by Jon Light on 28 Dec 2017 4:03 am; edited 1 time in total
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail Visit poster's website

Bob Bowman

 

From:
Staffordshire, England
Post  Posted 28 Dec 2017 3:49 am    
Reply with quote

Thanks Jon - I've contacted Marc at Mojo. He does make complete Valco style pickups at about the same price as Jason Lollar.

Does anyone know if Rick Aeillo still makes NIBro magnets?

Cheers
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail

Jon Light


From:
Saugerties, NY
Post  Posted 28 Dec 2017 4:06 am    
Reply with quote

Bob Bowman wrote:
He does make complete Valco style pickups......


Right. That's why I thought of him. But whether he works on or sells magnets....don't know.

Certainly you should contact Rick. No idea if he's offering services at this time.
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail Visit poster's website

Rick Aiello


From:
Berryville, VA USA
Post  Posted 28 Dec 2017 5:44 am    
Reply with quote

I'll make you a set this week ....
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail Visit poster's website

Lee Holliday


From:
United Kingdom
Post  Posted 29 Dec 2017 12:48 am    
Reply with quote

Bob where in the UK are you.

Lee
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail

Bob Bowman

 

From:
Staffordshire, England
Post  Posted 30 Jan 2018 8:27 am     National, Supro etc string through pickups
Reply with quote

Got some new side magnets from Mojo in the UK and before fitting them I noticed that the pole adjusting screws were seized. (Fixed now)

Under the pup assembly I found 4 magnets as in the photo(my pencil markings 1-4) with nothing holding them to the assembly base apart from magnetism.

Magnets 2 & 4 both fit over the centre polepiece adjusting screws but 1 & 3 appear to have wandered off.

So, here are the questions - are they in the right place and do they need a spot of glue?

Lap steel is a 1946(ish) Supro Supreme

Cheers
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail

Noah Miller


From:
Rocky Hill, CT
Post  Posted 30 Jan 2018 8:32 am    
Reply with quote

I'm not sure what's going on, except that those magnets don't belong there. They're probably the reason for the imbalance in the first place.
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail

Lee Holliday


From:
United Kingdom
Post  Posted 30 Jan 2018 12:38 pm    
Reply with quote

Yes the Magnets are somebodies handywork, take them away and trust the original design.

Lee
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail

David M Brown


From:
California, USA
Post  Posted 31 Jan 2018 4:50 am    
Reply with quote

Get rid of the extra magnets, and use the little screws for string-to string balance adjustments.

I love those old Supros and Nationals!
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail Visit poster's website

Ian McLatchie

 

From:
Sechelt, British Columbia
Post  Posted 31 Jan 2018 12:58 pm    
Reply with quote

Yes, raising the pole pieces can improve output enormously. On almost all of the many Supros I've owned the pieces have been set too low. Make sure they turn without resistance before you begin adjusting them, though. They break very easily!
View user's profile Send private message

Bob Bowman

 

From:
Staffordshire, England
Post  Posted 2 Feb 2018 2:25 am    
Reply with quote

Pole pieces freed up from underneath with pliers and GT85, extra magnets removed and now all is well.

Screw adjustment is VERY sensitive and makes a massive difference

Thanks for all of the good advice - SGF is sooo good

Cheers
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail


All times are GMT - 8 Hours
Jump to:  

Our Online Catalog
Strings, CDs, instruction,
steel guitars & accessories

www.SteelGuitarShopper.com

Please review our Forum Rules and Policies

Steel Guitar Forum LLC
PO Box 237
Mount Horeb, WI 53572 USA


Click Here to Send a Donation

Email admin@steelguitarforum.com for technical support.


BIAB Styles
Ray Price Shuffles for
Band-in-a-Box

by Jim Baron
HTTP