Can pickups be stored next to each other with no ill effects?

[bobouz]

I'm no electronics wizard, but love electric guitars. I have two single-coil Gibson pickups (P94R & P94T) that will eventually be replacing humbuckers in one of my guitars. Until I get around to installing them, is it okay to store the pickups essentially right next to each other (about a half-inch apart)? The 'R' pickup was purchased new & came in a case that's large enough for both pickups. I was finally able to find a slightly used 'T' pickup to go with it that didn't come in a case. I started wondering about any possible ill effects from magnetic fields. Of course I can easily store them separately, but I'd prefer to keep them together & know right where they are so one doesn't get misplaced. Thanks in advance!

 

[Wilmywood]

I don't know, but I found this

4 Common Things That Ruin Guitar Pickups (Ft. Magnets, Dust)

Several factors that can impact your guitar's pickups include dirt accumulation, humidity, and exposure to magnets. Pickups are designed to take years of use, but having these elements near your guitar can reduce their life or even ruin them.

strummingbars.com

 

[bobouz]

I don't know, but I found this

4 Common Things That Ruin Guitar Pickups (Ft. Magnets, Dust)

Several factors that can impact your guitar's pickups include dirt accumulation, humidity, and exposure to magnets. Pickups are designed to take years of use, but having these elements near your guitar can reduce their life or even ruin them.

strummingbars.com

Very interesting - Thanks!

 

[Guildedagain]

Laying electric guitars to close to speaker cabs could weaken magnets or so I heard, but maybe weakened magnets are part of the vintage tone.

Pickups sell in boxes where they're next to each other, LP/SG Customs have there humbuckers crammed together without ill effects, for years I stored pairs of humbuckers stuck to each other, never affecting the magnetism.

The info in the article is in line with "informational collapse", sometimes wrong, sometimes ridiculous.

"The solder joints of a pickup tend to become weaker over time and can even break, which can not only impact the sound but can ruin your guitar’s pickup. "

BS

"Pickups are incredibly delicate and sensitive. The coil is about the thickness of human hair and can be easily damaged. "

Utter BS


At this point, Chat GPT could probably do a better job writing about this.

 

[GAD]

A Basic Guide to Packing and Storing Magnets | Apex Magnets Blog

Magnets differ in size, strength, and purpose, but those aren’t the only variables to consider. They also have different sensitivities and shelf-lives, some requiring more careful, deliberate storage than others. It’s not entirely clear whether the length of time a magnet goes unused – like...

www.apexmagnets.com

Pickups absolutely do have very tiny easy to damage wires. Those wires are usually out of the way and taped up, but I’ve seen many with broken wires.

 

[lungimsam]

I don;t know the answer but I keep mine apart a few inches at least.

 

[Wilmywood]

A Basic Guide to Packing and Storing Magnets | Apex Magnets Blog

Magnets differ in size, strength, and purpose, but those aren’t the only variables to consider. They also have different sensitivities and shelf-lives, some requiring more careful, deliberate storage than others. It’s not entirely clear whether the length of time a magnet goes unused – like...

www.apexmagnets.com

Pickups absolutely do have very tiny easy to damage wires. Those wires are usually out of the way and taped up, but I’ve seen many with broken wires.

In addition I think they're talking about the wire in the coil winding which is miniscule.

 

[Maguchi]

Very interesting - Thanks!

Verry interrestink!

 

[adorshki]

In addition I think they're talking about the wire in the coil winding which is miniscule.

Right, but the quote @Guildedagain posted said "coil" not "windings". 2 different parts, the sturdy one being misidentified as the fragile one, Typical of a lot of amateur "how things work" stuff I see. It might actually be a ChatGPT post. Thing's woefully under-educated in special knowledge areas.
(EDIT): Technically the correct term for what I casually called a coil is "core", as there are both the the fiberglass tube style which are commonly called "coils" as well as toroids. So a coil is actually a core and its windings.