Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Eric Kasten on October 18, 2014 at 8:45am

Yes, system is grounded as it should be.  I'm wondering if I should run a separate ground straight to the jack.  I need to order some more mag wire before I can start a new pickup... so I have time to experiment.

Coil is potted with poly acrylic, which is what I use on all my pickups.  You think the wires are vibrating deeper inside the coil?  That would suck.

Thanks.  I will update if I solve the problem... or end up just making a new pickup.

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Permalink Reply by The Phrygian Kid on October 18, 2014 at 12:28pm

yeah mate I'm not talking about what you want, I'm talking about what (i suspect) you've got.

consider things from the coil's point of view; this is where the current is born.

if the coil is able to move around inside (and independently of ) this tin, then to the coil it appears the tin is moving.  No matter that you've padded the tin right out.  It doesn't matter if the tin sings along.  What matters (because this tin is ferrous, covers on PAFs, telecaster neck pups etc are not )  is that when the tin moves the coil moves right along with it, the thing is a solid unit.

i'd pot the entire thing.  turn that tin over and fill the bastard with wax / pouring epoxy resin etc... You need something that's quite liquid (but will still cure and set up) so it can penetrate the coil.

seems to me that noise is not the issue, you've grounded properly and thats all good.  If touching the tin does not introduce a loud buzz then don't concern yourself with that, its a red herring.

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Permalink Reply by Eric Kasten on October 18, 2014 at 2:19pm

Hmmm.... I see your point.  If its the wire in the coil vibrating, then there's probably not much I can do... I can try some epoxy... I let the hot glue overlap the coils when I used it...  I can see if the epoxy will penetrate.  Other than that there may not be anything else I can do, save for making a new one.

I've made quite a few PUs and never had this problem.  I wonder why it is showing up now.

Time to order more mag wire.

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Permalink Reply by Eric Kasten on October 18, 2014 at 8:52am

Here's a crude drawing of how it is wired...

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Permalink Reply by RTZGUITARS on October 19, 2014 at 4:12pm

neat idea and looks cool, this kind of thing is why I have a lapsteel to test pickup ideas mag and piezo.

it's better to test before you install.

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Permalink Reply by Eric Kasten on October 20, 2014 at 10:16am

Yeah, I have a jack connected to alligator clips so I can test things.  But like I said, this is the 2nd one I made like this so I didn't expect it to be funky...  oh well.  LIve n learn.

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Permalink Reply by BUGGY (C) on October 22, 2014 at 11:22am

Fill the tin with old scrunched plastic carrier bags not too tightly packed?

I did this to my cookie tin thinking the tip off was bonkers, but it does improve the sound.

It might not completely solve the problem but would be my recommended thing to try.

if you are using a piezo try potting it in silicone or into a beer bottle cap first. 

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Permalink Reply by BUGGY (C) on October 22, 2014 at 11:27am

Aha looks like one of the legs of the pot should be grounded to its body and then earth?

as technically you are using feed and earth for the volume whereas you are using 3 legs..

Guys is that not the perhaps issue?

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Permalink Reply by BUGGY (C) on October 22, 2014 at 11:29am

Where is the magnet inside the tin?

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Permalink Reply by BUGGY (C) on October 22, 2014 at 11:43am

Is the magnet glues to the lid or the tin base. If there is a slight clearance then the top  will act like a microphone membrane, as it moves with sound it will induce a current in the could.

Did this with my radio tin design with the pickup 1-2mm under the lid, if you touch the guitar it gets a sound. (almost like how a ribbon mic works)

If the magnet is glued to the under side of the lid it may help stop this.

I would pot the whole dam thing with silicone and see what happens... or carrier bags. 

If you run some steel bolts through the lid to touch the magnet they will act as pole pieces.

that may also help.

Which way is North? and the magnet positioned?

I designed a pickup once with a floating magnet on an spring arm once, that picks up the guitar vibration and induces a current in the coil. It may be what you lid is doing in reverse.

You can then fit them anywhere in a guitar and they work,like a piezo but with magnetism..

 using old buzzer coils...with a ni magnet on the arm.

They then do either magnetic or vibration...so can go under a string or anywhere..

1) Plastic bags

2) Pot it -  silicone

3) Pole pieces to the magnet and then under each strings.

Good luck 

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Permalink Reply by Eric Kasten on October 22, 2014 at 12:31pm

Magnet is inside the bobbin and the wire is wound directly around it.  All is epoxied together and the mag wire is potted with PolyAcrylic.  The PU is then epoxied to the underside of the altoids lid.  The lid is secured to the surface of the guitar with 4 screws.  During troubleshooting I added more hot glue underneath and some soft foam underneath as well.  No improvements....

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Permalink Reply by Eric Kasten on October 22, 2014 at 12:32pm

You know.... I have NEVER done that and have not had any problems... knock on wood.

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