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Trying to make as much as possiblel.

1. Any tips on making pickups for 3 string? Ive made a couple. Experimenting with different magnet setups , winding thickness and number of winds.
2. DIY tuning pegs.
I imagine im overlooking an important video here somewhere. Ive watched alot of youtube videos on pickups and feel like o have an understanding of the how. What magnets have you used? Where did you get them?

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Permalink Reply by Southern Ray on September 1, 2020 at 7:07pm

Hello,

I have been building low-z pickups from wall-wart wire, machine screws, nuts and slices of hardwood from an old surgical drill. I did a blog: https://cigarboxnation.com/profiles/blogs/pickup-winding-troglodyte... on how I make them. I since made one from some 42 AWG that a member graciously gave me, but I had some problems with the thinner wire and had to set it aside for other projects for now. There are also a couple of sound files on my profile page in "Videos". if you like.

Magnets; I have used old computer hard drive magnets with good results. Neodymium button magnets work fairly well as well as some ceramics.

Tuning pegs: Have used eyebolts with good results. They can be more work, but I haven't had as much trouble with them as some people have.

Let me know if you have any questions. I have tons of guesses.

Ray

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Permalink Reply by Titch the Clown on September 2, 2020 at 7:16pm

I have made home made zither pins by hammering the end of a nail flat and putting a small hole in it. Pre drill a pilot hole smaller than the diameter of the nail and hammer it in.

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Permalink Reply by BrianQ. on September 3, 2020 at 6:52am

Have a pocket knife?

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Permalink Reply by Southern Ray on September 7, 2020 at 7:21am

Thanks for the tips, guys! I have a bunch of old nails and a good old 35 year old Buck Stockman that will chew through a piece of hardwood pretty well...

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Permalink Reply by ILL GREEN on September 17, 2020 at 2:48am

I have mastered 4 pole P90 pickups. 42 AWG or even 43 AWG are your typical manufacturer's choice for coil, but I have used 41, 40 and 38 with interesting tone results.

41 AWG is great for dark tones and making bass guitars for some reason. Alot easier to wind too.

38 AWG gives a lush twangy sound, almost underwater-like. Too easy to wind without breakage.

Of course, depending on what capacitors you decide to use on a tone pot, the sound can get darker or brighter.

Rule of the thumb is the lower the capacitor rating (.01uF, .022uF), the brighter. And higher the cap (.047uF, .068uF and .1uF), the bassy and dark it gets.

One last thing, when winding. Read up and checkout sewing videos on winding ribbons. The same concept applies to winding coil and will save you heart and headaches with breakage.