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DiMarzio Hex polepieces - where to buy? *** SORTED ***


mcnach
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I want to replace the black polepieces in my Model J pickups with nickel ones... part SDSPP

Does anyone where I could buy these in the UK?

Edit: sorted. DiMarzio US sent me some, see post below.

Edited by mcnach
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  • 1 month later...

[quote name='BigRedX' timestamp='1402043924' post='2469416']
And what did they say?
[/quote]

They said, and I quote:

[quote]" "[/quote]

Well, that's not exactly true. DiMarzio in the US replied rapidly saying that so and so in the UK will get in touch with me with the info I needed. That did not happen. I tried again, and then I got nothing.

I know some people have been able to buy them, something like $10 for a set. But they seem elusive.

I am tempted to remove one and find a match from some hardware store, but most seem stainless steel and there are many grades, with many being poorly magnetic, and I would not know what to get.

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I'd get back in touch with DiMarzio in the US and gently mention that you still haven't heard anything from their UK distributor. That might get things moving.

Otherwise, the UK distributer is Headstock and they can be contacted on 0121 508 6666

Edited by BigRedX
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[quote name='BigRedX' timestamp='1402055345' post='2469565']
I'd get back in touch with DiMarzio in the US and gently mention that you still haven't heard anything from their UK distributor. That might get things moving.

Otherwise, the UK distributer is Headstock and they can be contacted on 0121 508 6666
[/quote]

Thanks! :)
I'll give the UK distributor a call, probably best, and phone calls often work better than emails.

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[quote name='Meddle' timestamp='1402176476' post='2470818']Stainless is non ferrous, so probably would make a good pole piece.[/quote]
Um, I think you said that backwards - "ferrous," of course, means iron, and the primary element in stainless steel is iron. The problem is that the other metals that are added to the alloy to make it stainless, besides nickel, can actually lessen a stainless steel's magnetic reactiveness. The optimal would be nickel plated or chrome plated mild steel which has the most magnetic interaction so they can be adjusted to suit the player.

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[quote name='Meddle' timestamp='1402176476' post='2470818']
You will find them in Schaller JBX pickups! Schaller copied the Model J design, but use chrome coloured polepieces, rather than black ones.

[url="http://www.touchstonetonewoods.co.uk/products/bass-261/schaller-electric-bass-guitar-pair-of-pick-ups-jbx-series-1228.aspx"]http://www.touchston...eries-1228.aspx[/url]

Larry Dimarzio used those hex poles, I guess, because he went to the hardware store near his shop and purchased the first thing he could find. These are not a specialist part, they are 5mm diameter hex bolts. Ebay is full of M5 hex bolts, but the bulk of them are stainless steel. The ones I've used are tensile steel, but they are black! Stainless is non ferrous, so probably would make a good pole piece.

If you get really stuck I can give you the ones out of my Schaller pickups... I need to check that the replacement bolts in my collection actually work.
[/quote]

Yeah, the decreased magnetic properties of various stainless steels is what worries me. I do not understand about tensile steel or the various grades...
I found this,, where it states that grade A2 is still magnetic (how much, I don't know)... so at least I can search for A2 grade grub screws. They're cheap enough that if they don't work well, I didn't really lose much, and it's fast and easy to replace a couple of poles and check the output and sound on one string.

If you don't need your Schaller-derived poles, I would love to buy them off you... but only if you're sure you would not need them! (I can give you my black ones if you wanted to). At least I know those ones work well on pickups... but like I said, only if you're sure you don't want them :)

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[quote name='Bassassin' timestamp='1402265775' post='2471596']
DiMarzio pole pieces have imperial-sized hex sockets (3/32) and I would expect the thread is also imperial.

Unfortunately I seriously doubt they're interchangeable with metric Schaller poles.

Jon.
[/quote]


Dang, you're right!!! Pesky imperial vs. metric... :unsure:

ah well, I'll train myself to like the black :P

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Before the previous message I had ordered some M5 screws... (metric). After the message, I ordered the correct imperial measures in two different threads (they're cheap enough to try). All stainless steel A2.

The M5 arrived today. I already knew they would not fit... close, not not the right ones. However, the disappointment came when I found that they were barely attracted by the magnets. The original polepieces are attracted very strongly.

It doesn't look like I'll be able to get a solution after all...

Ah well, I tried!!!

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[quote name='Beer of the Bass' timestamp='1402529734' post='2474580']
If you can find the correct size in zinc plated steel rather than the stainless, those should use a grade of steel with decent magnetic properties. I'm not sure how easily you'll find those in imperial size though...
[/quote]

... and just when I'm giving up and at peace with myself, you give me something else to look for. You cruel cruel man. :lol:

Thank you! I'll see if I find something like that, but it's coming to the point that it's just not worth the time it takes me to find this thing.

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  • 8 months later...

Well... after a while I tried emailing DiMarzio in the US, again. This time, instead of promising someone will contact me from the UK, they simply ask me to paypal $15 and include the details with the payment: what pickup it was for, what colour, and my address. That was last week. Today, the polepieces arrived. :)

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