As previously promised here is a glimpse into the time and effort that it takes to produce one of my flagship pickups ... the Masterwound Bean-0. Note these were requested to be fitted with modern Gibson style covers, but I also supply super accurate 59 pattern nickel silver covers to order.
The Bean-0 being a late 50s PAF style unit I start with Butyl Butyrate bobbins
With modern bobbin materials you can drive the pole screws straight into the plastic and let them cut their own thread. With Butyrate wou should tap the bobbins or you risk splitting them. It's quite laborious :-)
The start wire pigtail is soldered to the 50s spec 42awg PVA coated 'plain enamel' wire ... a cow to work with as it's dark in colour and practically invisible in all but super strong lighting. Many modern humbuckers, even so called PAF types don't use a start wire pigtail ... but that's how it was done in the 50s so that's how I do it!
All wound ... and with a technique that duplicates that caracteristic wedge shaped and slightly uneven wind pattern of the vintage original.
Somwhat confusingly Early PAFs had coil leads that were both black... so even though its unlikely that anyone will ever see them on this particular pickup (it was ordered with a nickel cover) this is what this Bean-0 gets too. And of course exactly the sort of black, paper 'Toyo' tape used in the fifties ... it's actually nicer to work with than modern products.
Next a nickel silver base-plate is prepared with a vintage style braid and core hookup cable attached. A concession to modernity and in fact the law ... is that I am using lead free solder as required by the EU.
A magnet is selected ... in this case a rough cast alnico IV ... as was fitted to fifties Gibson pickups. There is a subtle but not undetectable difference between rough cast magnets and polished ones: the top end is slightly more rounded and smooth with rough cast ... and smooth and creamy tones with plenty of harmonic sparkle are what we are after here :-)
Time to fit the slugs to the slug coil. These are different to the ones used in my more modern designs ... and are of the original composition steel and lacking a chamfer ... again exactly like a 50s slug. They are a very firm push fit!
Notice the rougher, slightly textured surface of real butyrate bobbin tops .... I still mask them till the last moment to prevent unintentional scratches ... even if a cover will hide them.
To be continued ...
Comments
Formerly TheGuitarWeasel ... Oil City Pickups ... Oil City Blog 7 String.org profile and message
Formerly TheGuitarWeasel ... Oil City Pickups ... Oil City Blog 7 String.org profile and message
Formerly TheGuitarWeasel ... Oil City Pickups ... Oil City Blog 7 String.org profile and message
Formerly TheGuitarWeasel ... Oil City Pickups ... Oil City Blog 7 String.org profile and message
Formerly TheGuitarWeasel ... Oil City Pickups ... Oil City Blog 7 String.org profile and message
I'm trying my best to get to that this week if I can, honest!
Incidentally, its a Heritage H-535 actually.....sorry to disappoint
Formerly TheGuitarWeasel ... Oil City Pickups ... Oil City Blog 7 String.org profile and message
Eqd Speaker Cranker clone
Monte Allums TR-2 Plus mod kit
Trading feedback: http://www.thefretboard.co.uk/discussion/60602/
Formerly TheGuitarWeasel ... Oil City Pickups ... Oil City Blog 7 String.org profile and message
Eqd Speaker Cranker clone
Monte Allums TR-2 Plus mod kit
Trading feedback: http://www.thefretboard.co.uk/discussion/60602/
Formerly TheGuitarWeasel ... Oil City Pickups ... Oil City Blog 7 String.org profile and message