Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by MrRandomWritings (Backwater Bri) on October 11, 2010 at 5:33am

Hi Craig - I have started making them from chargers/adaptors. Will be doing a demo at the UK fest next wekend but I suspect you won't be there! I make them for a few pennies - there is a video in my list about the first one I did which I have refined a bit since. Might be a starting point for you

Permalink Reply by David L. on October 11, 2010 at 9:12am

Hi Craig,

There is a good summary of single coils and humbuckers here http://www.ultimate-guitar.com/forum/showthread.php?t=88517

If you go to the Seymour Duncan site you can compare different pickups sounds - Though to stick in a cigar box I doubt you would want to spend so much ;O) http://www.seymourduncan.com/support/audio-samples/ just click on humbucker strat or tele for a list of audio samples.

If you want a review of pickups try here http://reviews.harmony-central.com/reviews/Electric+Guitar+Pickup

I live in the UK and so cannot comment on the best place to buy in the USA. This ebay seller is based in Canada and sells good quality items for a great price http://stores.ebay.ca/bezdez

You might want to ask for the best place to shop in the main forum as more people will see it.

Regards,
David

Permalink Reply by Craig Cox on October 11, 2010 at 9:58am

cool. we have a drawer full of those things. just don't know anything about electronics (scary invisible force and all)


MrRandomWritings said:

Hi Craig - I have started making them from chargers/adaptors. Will be doing a demo at the UK fest next wekend but I suspect you won't be there! I make them for a few pennies - there is a video in my list about the first one I did which I have refined a bit since. Might be a starting point for you

Permalink Reply by Skeesix on October 11, 2010 at 8:52pm

You can buy cheap Chinese pickups all day long on eBay. But they're going to sound like cheap Chinese pickups. In other words, they'll make noise, but it will be kind of harsh and sterile sounding. This is due to the type of magnets and machine winding.

Pickups like mine or Ted's, which are handwound and use alnico magnets, are going to sound a million times better, but it will set you back $40 or so.

You can experiment with various "found" pickups. In general, they sound ok, but they tend to be not as loud as "real" pickups.

Check out my pickup workshop, maybe it will give you some ideas:
http://cigarboxguitars.com/resources/workshops/pickup-workshop

Permalink Reply by Dustin Smith on October 25, 2010 at 5:53am

Yeah, it's a real "shame" to be using a cheap Chinese pickup. I mean who would use such a thing? Well, except all budget line guitar companies like Epiphone, Fender, Yamaha, etc. In fact, the entire guitar except Fender (Mexico) is made in China. They sound fine...remember it's just a box with a stick.

Permalink Reply by MichaelS Country Boy Guitars on October 25, 2010 at 8:19am

Not to knock China, but many decent guitars are made in Korea, not China including my Epiphone. They seem to make a decent quality instrument.

Dustin Smith said:

Yeah, it's a real "shame" to be using a cheap Chinese pickup. I mean who would use such a thing? Well, except all budget line guitar companies like Epiphone, Fender, Yamaha, etc. In fact, the entire guitar except Fender (Mexico) is made in China. They sound fine...remember it's just a box with a stick.