For all those out there that make there own pickups, I have a questions on cost etc.
Do you find it cheaper to buy pickups or build your own? What is the rough estimate cost to make a 3 string pickup, wire, magnet, etc. I looking at making the "flat pickup" or mini humbuckers.
Trying to figure out if it would cost effective to make them myself or to keep buying them, similar to the ones below, 3k or 6k. Thanks
Tags:
Can't speak to this type, but there is a lot of satisfaction to be had by winding your own. My cent and a half. I wrote a blog about how I make mine as of now, but they are the more conventionall style using thin wood stock, wall-wart wire and machine screws.
https://cigarboxnation.com/profiles/blogs/pickup-winding-troglodyte...
There is also something to be said about building rather than buying. I never got much satisfaction out of the buying process. Building, on the other hand is personally rewarding for me.
I guess a lot depends on the volume you are planning to build. There will definitely be some equipment purchased to produce a quality-wound pickup. Then there is the cost for raw materials (magnets, wire, etc).
You might want to look into the cost of equipment and materials and calculate how many pickups you would need to build (and sell) to offset your investment. Another way to look at it is to figure how many guitars / pickups you expect to build in a year and use that to calculate your actual cost per pickup.
Also, do some research on the cost of the pickups you like if purchased in volume.
On the other hand, if you are really into just 'building stuff, then then the investment costs might not matter to you.
In the end, you will be able to determine that best fits your style.
Great advice Tom, those pickups are only $8 ea. And they’re made in the U.S., at that price, I’m willing to let the manufacturer shoulder the overhead costs?
The first flat pickup I made was a single coil flat pickup and I used a cordless drill and a wide paddle bit. I used a grinder to knock the point and the spurs off the paddle bit then used a fairly large magnet to hold the metal plate of the coil base on it attached to the drill and started winding. You will not have a count on the winds but it will still produce a signal. It may surprise you. I'll post a picture if you are interested in trying to do it.
I asked myself, "Do I want my cbgs to sound like every other electric cigar box guitar with Chinese pickups?" Is it about the money, or the sound?
I build my own. I do leave myself the option to buy good pickups, though.
Okay, so take this for what it is worth. I just started making my own pickups and I have nothing to compare with but what I have put into it. I love making anything that can and does scratch the inch in my brain cells.
So you can make a winder for around $50 +- Chases workshop on you tube has some excellent videos on a build process. A eight oz. roll of 42AWG coil wire will cost about $20- $30 depending on who you buy from on ebay a two pound roll will cost around $100. Plus you will need magnets, some material to make the coil wire border stops, and some roofing flashing made out of metal or use tin cans so add in another $20 to $50. At this point you have $100 to $130 invested. Not bad for a hobby.
Gitty has flat buckers at just under $15 and $5.99 for black ice single coil pick ups. mbg has flat buckers for $9 and flat single coils for $ 8. So if you are just going to make a few cbgs less than ten you will need to decide how much is to much.
So for myself I choose to make mine. In the year that CBGs have caught my interest I have made over 40 and only 3 have been without pickups. Two have piezo disks and about eight have rod piezos. All the rest have mag pickups. For me it was not too hard of a choice.
Good luck, Happy building
Started by Timothy Hunter in Building Secrets, Tips, Advice, Discussion. Last reply by Southern Ray yesterday. 1 Reply 2 Likes
Started by Timothy Hunter in Other stuff - off topic, fun stuff, whatever. Last reply by Timothy Hunter Mar 21. 11 Replies 2 Likes
Started by Taffy Evans in Building Secrets, Tips, Advice, Discussion. Last reply by Southern Ray Mar 10. 1 Reply 3 Likes
Started by Cigar Box Nation in Feature Articles. Last reply by BrianQ. Mar 9. 4 Replies 3 Likes
Started by Ghostbuttons in Building Secrets, Tips, Advice, Discussion. Last reply by Timothy Hunter Mar 9. 5 Replies 1 Like
Started by Justin Stanchfield in Building Secrets, Tips, Advice, Discussion. Last reply by Taffy Evans Mar 8. 6 Replies 0 Likes
Started by Ken I in Building Secrets, Tips, Advice, Discussion. Last reply by Brian partington Mar 8. 8 Replies 0 Likes
Started by Southern Ray in Cool gear discussion - that's not cigar box related. Last reply by Southern Ray Mar 6. 5 Replies 0 Likes
Started by Taffy Evans in Other stuff - off topic, fun stuff, whatever. Last reply by Taffy Evans Mar 5. 4 Replies 2 Likes
Started by Nomad Jack in Performances, How to Play, Lessons, Concerts. Last reply by Southern Ray Mar 2. 6 Replies 1 Like
Started by Justin Stanchfield in Building Secrets, Tips, Advice, Discussion. Last reply by Carl Floyd Mar 1. 15 Replies 0 Likes
Started by Joe in Performances, How to Play, Lessons, Concerts. Last reply by Carl Floyd Feb 29. 13 Replies 0 Likes
Started by Chance in Building Secrets, Tips, Advice, Discussion. Last reply by Southern Ray Feb 22. 12 Replies 1 Like
Started by Cigar Box Nation in Feature Articles. Last reply by Southern Ray Feb 21. 2 Replies 4 Likes
Started by Brad in Cool gear discussion - that's not cigar box related. Last reply by Southern Ray Feb 19. 6 Replies 3 Likes
Started by Jacob Shook in Building Secrets, Tips, Advice, Discussion. Last reply by Southern Ray Feb 16. 10 Replies 0 Likes
Started by Southern Ray in Performances, How to Play, Lessons, Concerts. Last reply by Southern Ray Feb 16. 2 Replies 0 Likes
Started by Skeesix in Performances, How to Play, Lessons, Concerts. Last reply by Skeesix Feb 6. 2 Replies 1 Like
Started by Timothy Hunter in Other stuff - off topic, fun stuff, whatever. Last reply by Steve M Jan 31. 9 Replies 0 Likes
Started by Mi Rankin in Building Secrets, Tips, Advice, Discussion. Last reply by Justin Stanchfield Jan 27. 5 Replies 0 Likes
Posted by Vlad on March 6, 2024 at 2:32am 5 Comments 2 Likes
Posted by billy jones bluez on February 28, 2024 at 2:09pm 0 Comments 0 Likes
Posted by billy jones bluez on February 17, 2024 at 11:00pm 0 Comments 0 Likes
Posted by Vlad on February 11, 2024 at 1:06am 1 Comment 1 Like
Posted by billy jones bluez on February 8, 2024 at 4:05pm 0 Comments 0 Likes
May 11, 2024 from 11am to 8pm – Speakeasy Grill
0 Comments 0 Likes© 2024 Created by Ben "C. B. Gitty" Baker. Powered by
Cigar Box Nation is presented by C. B. Gitty Crafter Supply, your one-stop-shop for Cigar Box Guitar parts and accessories!