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Topic: Anybody winding their own p'ups? |
Rick Hanzlik
From:
Utah, USA
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Posted 24 Dec 2008 8:14 am |
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I'm in the process of designing and building a double neck eight string steel similar to the stringmaster I had in my youth. I would like to wind my pick-ups but I am not finding a lot of information on this subject targeted at the steel guitar player. Most of what I have found is for your standard electric guitar. Now I realize that most of that is applicable to the steel but I would like to know if anybody is doing their own pickups for steels and if they would care to share some information?
Thanks
Rick |
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Donny Hinson
From:
Glen Burnie, Md. U.S.A.
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Posted 26 Dec 2008 10:25 am
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my2cents...
I made one pickup...about 45 years ago. I still can't figure out why people want to do this. By the time you buy wire, magnets, and cobble together some sort of winder, and make the forms and plates, you will probably have expended many hours of work and a minimum of $25-$50 in materials. That means you'll save $25-$50, and wind up (no pun intended) with something that is, in all liklihood, nowhere near as good as what you could have bought for only a few bucks more.
If you intend to become a pickup winder/rebuilder, it's a good and necessary experience. But if you just want a pickup or two for a guitar you're building or restoring, IMHO you'll probably be far better off just having a pro do it.
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Mark MacKenzie
From:
Franklin, Tennessee, USA
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Posted 29 Dec 2008 6:39 am
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I wound a new coil for my '37 National Electric Hawaiian.
I did it on my drill press on the lowest rpm setting. I used a piece of 1/4" plywood notched for the guide. I used #42 wire.
I did it because the old one was missing. I had to do it. Would I do it again? Absolutely!
It turned out great. It shimmers and sounds fantastic. It took a little time but well worth it. I used 1/4 of the spool of wire that I got on Ebay for less than 20 bucks. The other parts were already there.
There is alot of information on the web.
You know what is cool.... is when I play this guitar and people interested in it come up and say how cool it sounds and I tell them... I wound the pickup myself. Most won't get it but its worth it when some one does.
I say go for it and good luck!
Mark |
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