I posted a question about mounting a magnetic pickup inside the cigar box without cutting a hole through the lid. As I saw it, this setup offered a number of advantages, one being the box top didn't get chopped up.
Well, I couldn't let it go so where is my update.
I made mounts for both a single wound and mini humbucker. This set the pickups on springs so it could slide up and down.
The pickup mount is then attached to the neck assembly with a single screw.
Since there is no hole in the box lid, the single screw allows the pickup to be easily moved up and down the neck or angled to enhance certain strings.
With the cigar box lid installed the pickup presses directly against the box top under spring pressure.
So, how does it work? While the guitar is not completed, I couldn't resist stringing it up with a couple of strings and attaching it to my amp via some jumpers. I fired up the amp and turned the volume to the same position I always use. Then the moment of truth.
I picked a few notes and was rewarded with a familiar tone from my amp. I haven't recorded any tracks on Audacity to compare, but just listening, I think the volume is every bit as strong as my regular player. I guess a magnetic field just isn't impressed by a little cigar box top.
This is really encouraging. I can have the warm sound of a magnetic pickup without having to cut up the box top. I can also drive my self crazy trying different locations and angles of the pickup. Should keep me busy and confused for months. I'll pass along any interesting findings as I get her finished and playing.
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Now that's a cool way keeping my eyes on this .
This is sooo interesting. Always hate cutting through a pretty top and also getting the danged hole just exactly right! Def trying this on future builds. "Old Goat" aka Alan Dillard
There are some "hot" humbuckers (15K ohms) on ebay. They are in a single coil size and would work well for this. You may have to thin the box in the inside (just a bit) and keep the strings fairly close to the box top, but it definitely is a workable solution.
Nice looking build Tom! Having the ability to move the pickup around to get the tone you want is a real benefit. Just as a side thought, Have a leaver with notches. Secure the pickup between two sets of springs. You now have a stick shift tone control! The springs would hold the pickup in place as you choose what gear you want to play in. : )
I have a few high output distortion pickups from years past. This would be the best way to tame them monsters.
The idea of rapid easy movement is high on my list. I've not got the pickup held in place by the springs between it and the sub-mount. No screws needed to attach to the neck. Now adding some kind of lever to make it movable is a real possibility. Hummmmmmmmmmmmmm...
It's Alive!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I'm still fiddling around with the action height. I have a lot of different diameters of piano wire and have tried several different sizes in the zero fret.
Now that it's assembled, I can do some comparisons of pickup volume between it and my regular player with the same pickup. Initially, I think that the mag-in-the-box is about 15~20% less loud than the regular player. This is based on where I have to set the volume knob to get the same sound from both.
I put the pickup 3 1/2" from the bridge, but think it will sound warmer around the 4" mark.
While there is still a lot of sorting out to do, I'm pretty pleased so far. The volume is totally acceptable as is. I may try the metal plate suggestion to see if it actually adds volume.
This one should keep me off the streets and busy for many weeks to come.
Thanks for all the suggestions posted in response to the original idea.
picked up some nice 10 mm round magnets today at Home Depot. Though I would try the magnets on the outside of the box suggestion posted earlier here.
Well I sat a magnet on the box top in the area where the pickup was located and it instantly found the pickup and positioned itself. I did the same two more times and had a magnet under each string.
Turned on the amp and gave it a try. Wow! It really added to the volume from the pickup. I mentioned that I had lost maybe 15`20% of the volume I got from the same pickup mounted through the box in the conventional way. I gained every bit of that lost volume back with the magnets, maybe a bit more.
The nice thing is that I can still move the pickup up and down the neck and just reposition the magnets when I do. Cool.
Another thing I noticed is that if I use strings a bit heavier than the small ones that came with the pickup, the spring pressure alone will hold the pickup in place. No need for the mounting screw. With this setup I can switch from a single wound pickup to the mini-humbucker in about five minutes. Since I soldered an audio jack To each pickup, I just unscrew the audio jack and slide the pickup from its location between the neck and box lid.
This is totally awesome! Opens up a whole new world of cool.
Seems to me you could just use hot melt glue to stick the pickup to the lid (assuming you knew which position you wanted it in beforehand).
Why take the simple solution when you can Rube Goldberg it..............
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