Hello everybody! I'm not good at talking about myself, but here goes...
Not sure if this is the place for this, but...
First of all, I'd like to thank all of you for your contributions to this place.
I am an old medically retired fellow that needed a hobby, so here I am, and I am having the time of my life! I just did something that I swore I'd never do again, but this place is irresistable now, so I joined. I initially found info from videos made by Del Puckett, (Shoutout!), the first and definitely not the last video builder that I found, then came videos from Glenn Watt and Shane Speal. If it weren't for these three guys, (I did more research and found this place), I would probably be doing something a lot less rewarding. THANK YOU guys!
I have had an aversion to social media. (No facebook, no twitter, etc.), but then I found this place. I've snuck around these pages for a couple of years and, thanks to all you kind folks as well, I have built around 15 cbgs, including one for destructive testing. (I always have to know the limits of things... and I like to break things sometimes) I have been spending the bulk of my free time lately, researching pickups and electronics. Been making crude pickups in many configurations and types of materials for about a year now. Half my cbgs have them in them now. I bought a humbucker off Craigslist for $5 about a year ago and it still doesn't have a home. I am having too much fun with these homespun scatterwounds. I built a crude winder from a manual drill. Neodimium buttons on each pole or computer magnets draped across them, they aren't very loud, (livingroom loud), but we like the sound. You can get a lot more volume with a boost, or buffer of some sort.
My wife and I have Schecters, but they never get played any more. Next up? Been researching amps building. I am wanting to try my hand at building them pretty soon. Then dulcimers, fifes, drums...
Thanks again!
Ray
Replies
Well, I show the one I built from scrap wood, a hand drill and a bit of hardware I had laying around. No counter, no guides, no frills, just a jury-rigged eye-sore that works for what I need it for. Best of all, it cost me nothing but a little time. .
I tried a flat-pup with some improvised materials. The pup was a miserable failure, but I learned from it, making the project worthwhile. That and I perfected an attachment to try again with my homemade winder.
I'm glad to hear that SR,
I love the feeling of enjoyment sometimes it makes want to smoke a cigarette. LOL
I've been researching youtube videos of people making flat pickups. Bought some magnets and magnet wire on ebay. I think I will look up some coil winders and see if I can make one. I have a old sewing machine motor with a foot pedal.
I got a good start on that bad blog this evening. I'll be adding to it as the next few days go on. Hope it helps.
Ray
I have been gathering pictures and taking a few more for that "builder's log" you requested, Myron. Kind of enjoying it. I have approximately half of it written. Should be coming soon.
Ray
Nice introduction, Ray. Welcome.
Okay, so now that I have everything figured out I can reply.
I want to welcome you to CBN and say that it is great that with all aversion the you have about the internet. You still choose to apply for membership here, we should be thanking you not you thanking us. There are hundreds of different instraments you can get started on building.
Like you I'm retired since 2016 and my motto is "active mind active body" I fish,tie flies, flint knap, make bow and arrows. For the last six months or so been making cigarbox guitars and they fascinate my mind always something new to try. And that's why I am making such an effort on replying to you. You mentioned experimenting on making single coils. I for one would be interested in you making a builders log on how you do it. I tore apart one of CB Gittys black ice single coils and a humbucker off of ebay both times all I could think of was wow that's a lot of wire wraps.
Well once again Welcome, and lets see if I can get this to post.
Myron
Hello, Myron!
Thanks for the welcome and kind words!
Good that you have finally broken through the twilight zone. I'm a bit taken aback by your efforts to contact me. I feel a bit flattered. Thank you!
I tied a few flies in another lifetime, would like to do that again someday. Can't afford to fish here. Fees on top of fees, license, wilderness permit, camping fees, even if you don't camp... etc. I always did want to learn flint knap and make bows and arrows - someday.
Build log for pickups? I have made quite a few oddball pickups with weird configurations. I made one of the induction pickup that members here made with a large gauge wire and wall wart. After that neat experiment, I used the magnet as the core for a few. The pickup in my "Killer" build is one of these. Partagas has one that has two 3/8 x 3/8 x 1/4 ceramic pickups about a quarter inch apart, wrapped in wall-wart wire. I also have tried and will try again soon to build more conventional style pickups. I want to try a blade style one of these days.
Since you tried so hard to get ahold of me and welcome me to the fold, and because I have learned so much from this forum and you all have welcomed me so warmly, I'll try my hand at a picture-laced post on the conventional style pickup I have been tweeking in experiments. I have never done anything like this before, so please be patient and be prepared for it to be a crap presentation, but I think I can at least explain the process well enough to be helpful. This will take me a little while.
Hope this posts!
Recommendations for where to put this endeavor here? Be nice.
Thank you again!
Ray
Darn! Missed ya again!
Testing, this is only a test, beeeeeeeeeeeeeep