I love brass all nice and shiny. Here is a completed prototype of my version of the Thin Pickup. This is one of a few sizes I ended up designing. This one is wide enough for a 6 string and measure in at slightly over 1/4" thick. For my typical builds, it is not a problem mounting this on right on top of the box. Like this one.
The bobbin is notched out so that the lead wire can be run through a small hole at the bottom corner of the pickup. A better detail is below.
I started with sheet brass that I picked up at the hardware store. I got two thicknesses .010 and .016
There is an advantage to using the .010. If you don't have a bender or good strait metal shears, the thin brass is easy to cut on a paper cutter or even heavy duty scissors. I used a paper cutter for the thin stuff and a pair of strait sheet metal shears for the thicker material. I use the same paper cutter to cut the fiberboard I use to make the pickup bobbins.
I have found that if you are going to do something over and over again, the thing that helps best is a pattern. I like to draw everything out so that I can print as many as I need.
The other tip I have is my use of Elmer's repostitionable glue. It's like post it note glue. Sticks to the piece while I lay it out then peels right off. This is the .016 brass so its the tin snips to cut this one out.
Cut then bend. I used to use a variety of pliers, vise and jigs to perform my bending tasks but recently picked up this Grizzly 12" pan and box brake. Very handy indeed. Now I get nice crisp edges to my bending work.
One more bend and this one is ready for clean up and polishing.
The Nickel Silver I ordered isn't going to be in till next week so I had to make all the prototype covers in Brass. I'll post an Album on my profile page once I get the Nickel done and install a few into some instruments.
Comment
That is traditional plastic binding stock from Stew Mac. You can find cheaper on Ebay but the quality make working with it a pain. Well worth the small premium to get square edge cut binding from SM.
Awesome work.
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