Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Ron "Oily" Sprague on August 9, 2014 at 1:20pm

Both bobbins will work. Finer 42 AWG wire and lots of it will solve much of your output problem. Also get a multimeter, and measure the impedance of your coil, once you get it wound. You should get something between 2000 and 6000 ohms resistance, if you've got enough wraps. Multimeters are cheap and easy to use.

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Permalink Reply by JL on August 10, 2014 at 1:42pm

The poles of the magnets need to all be pointing the same way.

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Permalink Reply by Amanda Potter on August 12, 2014 at 3:10am

Dang. That means the magnets I have aren't going to work, unless the smaller ones will work with a more coiled pick-up. 

I'm considering just purchasing the pick-up at this point. Probably this one, unless there are other options out there: http://www.cbgitty.com/cigar-box-guitar-parts/pre-wired-4-string-si...

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Permalink Reply by Richey Kay on August 12, 2014 at 3:20am

Don't let this put you off Amanda, making pickups is really good fun and the results can be very rewarding. I'm happy to share my techniques with you, just let me know if you need some help. I'm by no means an expert, but I've made at least 20 working pups now and to my ear they sound pretty nice.

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Permalink Reply by Dan Sleep on August 12, 2014 at 6:29am

Or you could get one of my ThinBucker surface mount pickups. They are only 1/4 inch thick. You screw them to the lid, and drill a small hole for the wires.

http://www.cigarboxnation.com/photo/four-string-flatpup?context=user

You can get covers in brass, aluminum, copper, and others.

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Permalink Reply by The Phrygian Kid on August 12, 2014 at 8:54pm

Heh there's always someone wanting to sell the answer...

Amanda. You can do it with the little rare earth jobbies, I know how they wanna fight you on it. Stick a (bigger) magnet temporary on the other side of the screws, it'll charge the ions so those little buggers don't flip while the glue sets up.

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Permalink Reply by Dan Sleep on August 13, 2014 at 1:08am

She already broached the possibility of buying a pickup herself, I merely offered another option that might make it easier to install.

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Permalink Reply by Amanda Potter on August 13, 2014 at 2:11am

Thanks everyone for the encouragement. I'll give it a third try and if that doesn't work, I'll track down a pre-made one. 

Thanks for the alternative option Dan.

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Permalink Reply by JL on August 12, 2014 at 3:54am

Here is a nice link about making your own coil PUP that may help.

http://www.instructables.com/id/Make-A-Guitar-Pickup/step8/Finishin...

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