I love brass all nice and shiny.  Here is a completed prototype of my version of the Thin Pickup.  This is one of a few sizes I ended up designing.  This one is wide enough for a 6 string and measure in at slightly over 1/4" thick.  For my typical builds, it is not a problem mounting this on right on top of the box.  Like this one.

The bobbin is notched out so that the lead wire can be run through a small hole at the bottom corner of the pickup. A better detail is below.

I started with sheet brass that I picked up at the hardware store.  I got two thicknesses .010 and .016

There is an advantage to using the .010.  If you don't have a bender or good strait metal shears, the thin brass is easy to cut on a paper cutter or even heavy duty scissors. I used a paper cutter for the thin stuff and a pair of strait sheet metal shears for the thicker material.  I use the same paper cutter to cut the fiberboard I use to make the pickup bobbins.

I have found that if you are going to do something over and over again, the thing that helps best is a pattern.  I like to draw everything out so that I can print as many as I need.

The other tip I have is my use of Elmer's repostitionable glue.  It's like post it note glue.  Sticks to the piece while I lay it out then peels right off.  This is the .016 brass so its the tin snips to cut this one out.

Cut then bend.  I used to use a variety of pliers, vise and jigs to perform my bending tasks but recently picked up this Grizzly 12" pan and box brake.  Very handy indeed.  Now I get nice crisp edges to my bending work.

One more bend and this one is ready for clean up and polishing.

The Nickel Silver I ordered isn't going to be in till next week so I had to make all the prototype covers in Brass.  I'll post an Album on my profile page once I get the Nickel done and install a few into some instruments.

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Comment by 3 String Blues on March 24, 2011 at 8:44am
very awesomely suductively amazingly homemade coolness!
Comment by Dan Sleep on March 21, 2011 at 1:39pm
That turned out real nice!
Comment by Don Goguen on March 21, 2011 at 1:27pm

That is traditional plastic binding stock from Stew Mac.  You can find cheaper on Ebay but the quality make working with it a pain.  Well worth the small premium to get square edge cut binding from SM.

 

Comment by The Phrygian Kid on March 21, 2011 at 1:02pm
yeah man, pimpin..
whats the binding material on your fingerboard there? real nice
Comment by Glaze on March 20, 2011 at 5:12pm

Awesome work.

 

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