Looking for some tips. I am just finishing up a guitar that spoke to me late last night, requesting some magnetic pickups. I would prefer not to cut holes in the box, and thus would like to try my hand at some fairly flat pickups. Anyone have any tips?
I did, for the record, try the search box, but so far it and I do not get along well...
Thanks all!
Replies
http://www.cigarboxnation.com/video/thin-cigarbox-guitar-pickup
I prefer ceramic over neo magnets for sound for this style pickup. To much string pull with Neo and can be too bright and shrill.
Good Video!
Skeesix, thanks! Those links are what I am looking for!
And RTS, I will for sure be careful, although a quick look at the pictures of my builds will show that I will not be too careful... (Insert evil grin here)
Make damn sure the bobbins are well attached to the magnets such that the windings don't push the bobbins off the poles. I think it's why most poles go all the way through the bobbin material, which gives them more purchase.
The main thing is to get flat magnets and then go from there. Neodymium or ceramic button magnets would fit the bill. Then get a thin but strong material such as fiberboard or plastic, and epoxy the magnets in the middle to make your bobbin. Wind the magnet wire around that.
This design would be similar to the second photo on my pickup workshop http://cigarboxguitars.com/resources/workshops/pickup-workshop
42 gauge wire would give better results than the thicker Radio Shack wire I was experimenting with. You'll need to come up with a pickup winder if you're working with 42 gauge.
By the way, I have a group on here called Skeesix CBG pickups, where we discuss pickups. http://www.cigarboxnation.com/group/skeesixcbgpickups