DIY pickups

[brianloco]

So I've been thinking about trying to make my own pickups but have no idea where to get started, what materials to use etc. what's the difficulty with making them I get the basic concept wire spun around a bobbin and magnets. Anyone have any tips or know of any good resources I kind of feel that if I'm making my own guitars I'd like to have my own pickups in them too. Is hand winding plausible or would it be better to make some sort of winding device. I think I read that the more winds makes a hotter pickup, now does that mean a louder pickup, i like real nice clear warm tones kind of like how David gilmours playing sounds , I know there's a lot more than just pickups to achieve that kind of sound though.

[dnic]

Stew Mac has kits for making your own pups. Might be a good way to get your feet wet. Also, there are tons of videos on YouTube about building winders.

John of course is the resident expert so whatever he chimes in with is gospel.

More winds = more resistance which means louder but more harsh. Magnets and wire type and diameter also make a difference.

I've had this discussion on here before and for me personally I don't feel the need to be really good at anything else. And you have to build and try out out a lot pups before you get really good at it and craft the sound you want from it. So the easy way for me to say that is, it's to much of a crap shoot for me at this stage of the game. There are a lot of guitars builders that source there pups and a lot that build there own. I was able to design a very cool coil tap on P90s ( that John calls P45s cause they're like half a 90) and that John made.

Finally, the only reason I've ever wanted to wind my own pups is to change the shape of the standard types that are the norm. Guys like Pageli and Tofulle have done some very cool designs by breaking the mold on pick up shape. Check um out.

[Deleted]

Yeah I too at one time was going to try and make my own. But after looking into it, I just didn't see the need to go in to making them my self. There are a lot of things to know. If I was in my 30's, I would dive into it. But being in my 60's I just don't see where it would help me.
Like anything there is a learning curve. Learning curve means, you have got to expect to make mistakes. Mistakes cost money. There is an old saying around us old Rod, drag racing guys. If you want to play you have to pay.
this is how I feel about learning how to make pickups. If you can afford to mess up a few then I would say don't get into it. BUt hey maybe you could be the next big name in pickup building.

EB

[hoz]

Guitar Attack website has a lot of great info. On youtube you can watch people actually winding. And you'll see why you need some machine to wind with.

I built my winder using the Jason Lollar book diagram. Used a $9 sewing machine. The counter probably cost a little over $100 after I burned up a couple proximity sensors (one melted, literally. The ebay seller accidentally sent me a 78 volt power supply. Really, I should have tested the voltage first, ha. They sent me the correct one later. I built it over a 3 year period. Eventually I want to buy a Schatten winder.

After you have a winder, wire and some coil tape, the stewmac pickup kits have enough instruction to guide you through your first pickup wind.

My first couple of winds went smooth. But since then, I have made a few bad coils, a couple pickups that don't sound good, and growing a bag of knotted up wire!

My reply is intending to both scare you and encourage you!