Have any of you guys that have built your own guitars actually tried winding your own pickups also? I know there is a bit of an art to it but I am trying to decide whether or not to give it a try. Didn't know if you guys have tried it and decided to just buying the pickups was less frustrating or not.

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the vacuum store is a lot like the guitar store. but they do not attract the same clientele as the guitar store, cause if they did, the vacuum store would be loaded with a bunch of broke guys who just wanted to run the new vacuums.

Hi cfl2005: in short, yes. Quite recently as it happens. Now that I've had a bit of a go at it I plan to do a few more and run a thread about it here with plenty of photos, if that would be of interest.

But I'm up to my eyes with work just at present, so it won't be for a couple of weeks or so. Can you wait?

Anyhow. It's perfectly do-able, though I'm not entirely sure there's a good reason. I can't see there's anything we can do better or significantly different to the offerings of the professional makers. But some of us just have to have a go anyway, don't we...?

A good place to get started would be Stew-Mac's pickup kits, if you want to look at those. Useful info on their site too.

Cheers - C

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I figured if anyone had given it a go, it would be you Ceri. I have looked at the Stew-Mac kits and that is kind of what has sparked my interest. After initial expenses seems to be a very cost effective way to get new pickups. Just thought it could be a interesting new hobby. I really don't have the room or the money to do the woodworking aspects of building.

I'm sure, as with most of your build threads, you'll have an large following with it. I hope the work goes smoothly. I'll look forward to the thread when you get the time.

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the vacuum store is a lot like the guitar store. but they do not attract the same clientele as the guitar store, cause if they did, the vacuum store would be loaded with a bunch of broke guys who just wanted to run the new vacuums.

Yes - and at least to begin with there's no need for the expensive winding machine either. Part of what I'll be intending to share with a thread on the subject.

Stew-Mac's kits are good: I've got some of their humbucker and P90 kits. Only significant issue is that they don't currently offer AlNiCo II magnet slugs for their single coil kits. I'd love to buy sets of non-staggered AlNiCo II slugs but haven't found any as yet. I wonder if anyone knows a source for those?

Also, with amazing help from Forum user Nutter we (he) discovered that you can buy copper winding wire significantly cheaper from specialist manufacturers than the stuff offered by Stew-Mac. Nutter found me a supplier in our country on Ebay, and I'm sure the same will be true elsewhere.

You need miles of wire, so it's well worth shopping around for that particular item.

Happy hunting! - C

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I have but as has been said (paraphrased), "Why bother reinventing the wheel?", as there are so many manufacturers out their making exactly what I required vs. the time, expense and materiel involved.

Ceri,

Check these people out:

http://cgi.ebay.com/AlNiCo-2-Rod-Magnet ... 336492978a

I've bought from them myself and I'm sure they can supply you with what you need. They are a pleasure to deal with too!

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You dig?

I'm thinking of trying it, not to reinvent but improve the wheel. If everybody had just settled with what the other guy, did all those pick up companies wouldn't be there. I'm not looking to "take over the pickup world" just something to do as a hobby for myself. Pickups can get really pricey. Why spend more when you can do it yourself and the pride when someone asks "what kind of pickups are those?" you can there are mine, I made them.

Then again they could suck horribly and could be a monumental PITA to make. Can't hurt terribly bad to try though.

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the vacuum store is a lot like the guitar store. but they do not attract the same clientele as the guitar store, cause if they did, the vacuum store would be loaded with a bunch of broke guys who just wanted to run the new vacuums.

Probably not either of those. On the one hand, I can't see how to significantly improve on traditional design, given all the wealth of options already out there. And people such as Lace and EMG have taken pickups in alternative directions if that's what one wants.

On the other hand, as electronics go magnetic pickups are pretty basic and there's not much to get wrong, provided you can wind the wire at a reasonably consistent tension and your soldering is OK. I doubt yours will "suck horribly", so have at it!

Still, as I think everyone's saying, it's only for the fun and satisfaction of doing it ourselves. Not much that's new or different to be done, I suspect.



Thank you kindly for that! Very helpful indeed.

Cheers - C

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I saw a lot of stuff on the youtube about how to do it, i.e., DIY winders, how to pot, how to wind, etc.., however there are only a very few who post their DIY pickups on the you tube. Something tells me it may be more difficult than it looks to build a great sounding pickup.

The cost of the parts are inexpensive, and the art of hand winding is a difficult and costly skill to learn and you might get it right after a few. But with the cost of pickups going for $100-$200 a set, I prefer to buy them. More cost effective.

However if you become great at winding them, you could start a buisness.

I would be interested in hearing about your adventures!

I did a thread a long time ago in the Pickups section of this Forum. I described my success at rewinding a 1975 single coil strat pickup using the DIY method you can find at the Stew-Mac web site.

I had enough wire left over to make a few more pickups, but I haven't had a need for any.

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Member #26797
My other guitar is a Strat.

Hi Orville: (not for the first time) it's all your fault! Your own adventures stuck in my mind and ever since I've been thinking; "Must try that sometime". It hadn't occured to me to have a go till you talked about it.

I'll run that thread when I get round to it and anyone else's photos and experience will be more than welcome!

Cheers - C

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You are still blaming me for that nice red MIJ vintage reissue you had to buy?

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Member #26797
My other guitar is a Strat.

Yes, that - and the blue one I had to make...

Cheers - C

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You (and those Japanese makers) can sure do a nice job!

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Member #26797
My other guitar is a Strat.

I remember someone posted his youtube clip of homemade guitar complete with crude homemade pickups with nails etc, just wouldn't be beaten, wonder how far he's progressed

What a promising thread you have here, gents! I'll keep my eye on this one. Even though my name made it into the credits - quite undeservedly, I should say; search engines did all the hard labour!

Anyhow, chaps, carry on!



Cheers

Nutter