Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Michael Gajeski on October 31, 2009 at 9:55pm

There is literally tons and tons of info on this site about making your own pickups, but here are the basics. An electromagnetic pickup consists of a pole piece for each string held together by a top and bottom piece, all of which form what is called a bobbin. Around the bobbin is 7 or 8 thousand wraps of a very thin gauge copper wire, with the 2 ends left free. A magnet is secured to the underside of the pole pieces to magnetize them, and then the whole thing is "potted," or dipped in paraffin wax. Some people don't pot their pickups, but instead wrap some sort of tape or give the wire a coat of some sort of sealant every so many turns.

The other option is a piezo pickup, which is simply a piezo element from an electric buzzer. These buzzers can be found at radio shack for just a few dollars. These elements work as is, just secure it somewhere to the underside of the top of your guitar. Some people seal these in silicone or put them between to pieces of leather or wood to cut down on the microphonic qualities of this type of pick up.

If you have specific questions, Ted Crocker is a good guy to talk to who has loads of experience making his own pickups (Stonehenge pickups) and he is always happy to enlighten us.

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Permalink Reply by Fergus Morris on November 1, 2009 at 1:04am

I have never made pickups before, but when I finally get round to it, I think this looks like a good beginner method.... http://www.instructables.com/id/SRUUJRLFBHXCY7D/

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Permalink Reply by Mortimer Snerd on November 1, 2009 at 6:42am

http://www.buildyourguitar.com/resources/lemme/index.htm

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Permalink Reply by Skeesix on November 1, 2009 at 12:52pm

My pickup winding workshop http://cigarboxguitars.com/workshops/Pickup_Workshop.php will give you some ideas. A piezo pickup is another option. There's tons of info on how to do that around the web.

Or you can buy a pickup from me at http://skeesixcbgs.com/index.html (there's a link to my eBay auctions there).

Or you can buy pickups from Ted Crocker. Or you can use any guitar pickup; it will just have extra polepieces if you are using less than 6 strings.

Skeesix

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Permalink Reply by HENRY LOWMAN on November 1, 2009 at 3:20pm

I use piezos, as they are the easiest to make (if one knows how to solder them properly). Ted Crocker has posted some diagrams on the photo page that should help you immensely! Good luck! Remember, no rules, no limits...

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Permalink Reply by Jkevn on November 1, 2009 at 3:27pm

Must be the eloquent way you ask for help......maybe five quality responses will dial back the frustration level a bit. I may have missed it, but out of the six discussions you've started, only this one asks about pups. I'm not a mag-pup expert, but I, like everyone else here will do what we can to help.

Play nice :)

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Permalink Reply by Kevin M. Kraft on November 1, 2009 at 3:51pm

Yep. Drifters should be up any day now. Sometime this week, I'm hoping.

Ted Crocker said:

Hi Kevin, I haven't ignored you but you asked a millionteen questions that require more time than I've had lately and a lot of answers and links I've already posted.

I did point you to a Pickup discussion in Ted's Mad Scientist Lab and if you have specific questions not answered there just post a question there. I'm happy to help, but moving my shop and home has taken a big bite out of the time I have to answer one on one questions that are already answered here. Sorry, but if you ask here, me and others who are knowledgeable will jump in and help.

The search feature here works great!!

Hope this helps, but if not let's open it up here to discussion...

Ted

Kevin, what's up with Drifters? Should be any day now right?

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Permalink Reply by Kevin M. Kraft on November 1, 2009 at 3:52pm

And I guess I didn't receive your notice pointing me to Mad Scientist forum for some reason. Thanks for not ignoring me affter all. :)

Ted Crocker said:

Hi Kevin, I haven't ignored you but you asked a millionteen questions that require more time than I've had lately and a lot of answers and links I've already posted.

I did point you to a Pickup discussion in Ted's Mad Scientist Lab and if you have specific questions not answered there just post a question there. I'm happy to help, but moving my shop and home has taken a big bite out of the time I have to answer one on one questions that are already answered here. Sorry, but if you ask here, me and others who are knowledgeable will jump in and help.

The search feature here works great!!

Hope this helps, but if not let's open it up here to discussion...

Ted

Kevin, what's up with Drifters? Should be any day now right?

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Permalink Reply by Kevin M. Kraft on November 2, 2009 at 5:07am

I did.

Naz Nomad said:

... did you check your invites?

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Permalink Reply by BUGGY (C) on December 9, 2011 at 7:14am

Just made one and for the first time it works, see my video.. its quiet but doesnt hum and  works

used 3 maplins magnet and wire..

I'm now trying to perfect them..

There is a great book on pickups on amazon I could highly recommend.,

you need 7000-8000 winds of very thin wire, the magnets all need to be facing the same way a base plate of steel to help the magnetic flow, wax to pot it afterwards, and dont forget to scrape the wires before you solder them to remove the invisible protective coating..

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Permalink Reply by mike anderson Blues Box Guitars on December 9, 2011 at 8:53am

sorry, i'll try and help, i aint smart but, my pups work good. all my knowledge was gained here at the nation, and some on you-tube. if you want i could send you one to examine.

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Permalink Reply by Dan Sleep on December 9, 2011 at 9:02am

You guys realize this thread is over 2 years old, right?

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