Wanting to make my own pickup just for the heck-uv-it and because my hands are big. (I'm using .5" string spacing.) Can someone point me to info on building a single coil for three string?
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its the length of wire really, a four string pup, by virtue of being 'longer' than a three string one, will take less wraps to make the same resistance (or inductance) because each wrap is more wire. Also, as the coil fills up the later wraps will use more wire to go around than at the beginning because the coil is getting larger. People count the winds because its much easier than counting wire in meters, feet, ounces or grams. Counting the wraps still gives you a benchmark so you can repeat and get something pretty much the same. 42 AWG is indeed what most people use. This is the american gauge, there are others. The main thing to know about AWG is that as the number gets higher the wire gets finer, not thicker; so 48 AWG will be thinner than 42AWG. If you just search ebay for guitar pickup wire you'll find plenty.
Mel Ristau > The Phrygian KidFebruary 24, 2014 at 12:05am
So, if its length, is there some general amount of resistance that's a good average? (I have an ohm meter.) I've ordered some 42 AWG. Possible to sand off a bit of insulation during the winding process to check resistance? My bobbin is currently 3/4 x 1-3/4" w/ three centered 1/4" dia. magnets. I understand that there's no right way but any suggestions on placement of two pups as questioned in the attached pdf?
Bernie Mango > Mel RistauFebruary 27, 2014 at 9:56pm
It depends on how "hot" you want your pickup--you'll hear that term come up. Hotter means more output. Some of the electric "shredders" like overwound pickups because they put out more (insert crude joke here).
The more windings--the hotter the pickup.
I used to love those high output pickups. In fact, I favored them for many years...until recently.
I went back to medium output humbuckers on my electrics, and ditched the gain machines.
The reason is--those high output pickups slam the amp's input and a bunch of the natural tone gets sucked out.
Medium and vintage output pickups let your amp do the work--and that's crucial. All of my sweet tube amps now sound a whole lot better due to the swaps.
Just go with what works best for you, as stated by others--there is no magic formula.
The less windings you have, the sweeter your amp will sound.
Mel Ristau > Bernie MangoFebruary 27, 2014 at 10:08pm
it would be almost impossible to sand of a bit of the coating and make a reading mid-winding without breaking it. Make a pickup that looks about right, and wind it til its full. when you manage to get that far without breaking the coil, it'll work.
heres a few tips to minimise breakages:
1. don't expect the big heavy spool of wire to turn on an axle, stand it on its end a few feet directly below your winding mechanism (e.g. on the floor) so that it comes off cleanly.
2 . the spools I work with will only play nicely standing on one of their ends, the other end gives me nothing but trouble. The end which goes 'up' is the opposite end from the one where the coil was started, i.e. you can see the inside end if the coil, a tiny wire poking out in the inside of the spool, put this down, toward the floor.
3. start slow. I use a hacked sewing machine, at the start i used to jam a screwdriver into the end of the speed pedal, governing that pedal so i couldn't push it down much past half way.
Mel Ristau > The Phrygian KidFebruary 26, 2014 at 2:52pm
Thanks to kid of the Anatolian kingdom. My wire should arrive by Friday. Will see how many times I break over the weekend.
Richey Kay > Mel RistauFebruary 26, 2014 at 3:09pm
A more accurate measurement is how often you swear! Make sure the surfaces of the bobbin are perfectly smooth. The slightest burr can snag and break the wire.
Good luck!
thats great advice. Some tape can help with this (around the bobbin, before winding, i.e. inside the coil), but wrap it tight, if it has movement in it, that can lead to microphonics, which is bad...
Richey Kay > The Phrygian KidFebruary 27, 2014 at 12:44am
...oh yeah, and you'll also want to pot it in wax... not too difficult.
Replies
its the length of wire really, a four string pup, by virtue of being 'longer' than a three string one, will take less wraps to make the same resistance (or inductance) because each wrap is more wire. Also, as the coil fills up the later wraps will use more wire to go around than at the beginning because the coil is getting larger. People count the winds because its much easier than counting wire in meters, feet, ounces or grams. Counting the wraps still gives you a benchmark so you can repeat and get something pretty much the same. 42 AWG is indeed what most people use. This is the american gauge, there are others. The main thing to know about AWG is that as the number gets higher the wire gets finer, not thicker; so 48 AWG will be thinner than 42AWG. If you just search ebay for guitar pickup wire you'll find plenty.
So, if its length, is there some general amount of resistance that's a good average? (I have an ohm meter.) I've ordered some 42 AWG. Possible to sand off a bit of insulation during the winding process to check resistance? My bobbin is currently 3/4 x 1-3/4" w/ three centered 1/4" dia. magnets. I understand that there's no right way but any suggestions on placement of two pups as questioned in the attached pdf?
CBG1ristau.pdf
The more windings--the hotter the pickup.
I used to love those high output pickups. In fact, I favored them for many years...until recently.
I went back to medium output humbuckers on my electrics, and ditched the gain machines.
The reason is--those high output pickups slam the amp's input and a bunch of the natural tone gets sucked out.
Medium and vintage output pickups let your amp do the work--and that's crucial. All of my sweet tube amps now sound a whole lot better due to the swaps.
Just go with what works best for you, as stated by others--there is no magic formula.
The less windings you have, the sweeter your amp will sound.
Thanks to all. Very helpful to a nube.
I'll report back when #1 is finished.
it would be almost impossible to sand of a bit of the coating and make a reading mid-winding without breaking it. Make a pickup that looks about right, and wind it til its full. when you manage to get that far without breaking the coil, it'll work.
heres a few tips to minimise breakages:
1. don't expect the big heavy spool of wire to turn on an axle, stand it on its end a few feet directly below your winding mechanism (e.g. on the floor) so that it comes off cleanly.
2 . the spools I work with will only play nicely standing on one of their ends, the other end gives me nothing but trouble. The end which goes 'up' is the opposite end from the one where the coil was started, i.e. you can see the inside end if the coil, a tiny wire poking out in the inside of the spool, put this down, toward the floor.
3. start slow. I use a hacked sewing machine, at the start i used to jam a screwdriver into the end of the speed pedal, governing that pedal so i couldn't push it down much past half way.
Thanks to kid of the Anatolian kingdom. My wire should arrive by Friday. Will see how many times I break over the weekend.
Good luck!
thats great advice. Some tape can help with this (around the bobbin, before winding, i.e. inside the coil), but wrap it tight, if it has movement in it, that can lead to microphonics, which is bad...
...oh yeah, and you'll also want to pot it in wax... not too difficult.
Hope we're not putting you off here!
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