I'm thinking of giving it a try--making my own single coil pickup. I've watched a vid a few times where I guy takes a magnet from a speaker that was in a toy, glues it between two plastic disks that he cuts out to make the bobbin, and winds the wire around that. It works! I have a really small disk magnet, but I'm thinking it would be too narrow to be able to wind enough wire around it. Would I work to put it into something, like a nut, and glue the plastic disks to the nut to make a big enough bobbin?
Should I just buy a bigger cylindrical magnet? I found out they're really cheap.
A friend of mine is a farmer, and he raises hogs and a few cattle. Should I see if he would sell/give me one of those "pill" magnets they give to cattle to pick up any metal they might eat? Would that work, or would it be too big?
Should I just plain buy a one-string single coil pickup? If I do, where do I find them?
Thanks!
Tags:
Magnets for pickups have to be just the right strength, too strong and they will pull too hard on the strings, too weak and they will result in a weak pickup.
Pickup magnets can be had for cheap these days and they're all over the internet. Mojotone.com - Stewmac.com sell the Alnico and Ceramic types and there's plenty of Neodymium magnet suppliers.
Do some research on them to make the right decision.
Do you mean too narrow (diameter of the circle) or too thin (height of the cylinder)?
lids from Chinese take-out soup ought to have plenty of flat real-estate for the disks, lots of how-to/how-it-works/history-of-gits videos show that even a hundred turns will produce enough volume for an amp to do something with.
Can't wait to hear the results.
Thanks for your post, JL. I'm referring to its height--too thin. But...it sounds like you're encouraging me to use take-out lids and give it a shot. OK then!
One more Q: Specifically what copper wire should I buy--what gauge? I saw spools of copper wire at Lowe's (LOVE Lowe's--a CBG builder's playground!) but I'm guessing that's too thick.
Thanks!
Most likely the wire at Lowes is too thick,pup wire used in commercial pick ups is very fine, around 42 gauge, you can use thicker of course, and get good results, but as to how many winds, that varies with thickness and tone you are trying to get
turtlehead's videos on youtube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jgCEzGvBElg
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-F4SBlQqQAM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XH-rxzURxNo
his photos:
http://www.cigarboxnation.com/photo/low-z-pickup?context=user#!/pho...
http://www.cigarboxnation.com/photo/low-z-pickup?context=user#!/pho...
http://www.cigarboxnation.com/photo/low-z-pickup?context=user#!/pho...
Yes I am. or plastic coffee lids from smaller tins or the lids on pre-boxed lunchmeat, or other that is big enough to cut down.
One hint, do not 'coil' it on, spool it on. coiling twists the wire, you want the pickup to spin to take on wire and you want the source wire to spin to feed it.
Ever hand-wind the trimmer string on your edger and get frustrated it starts twisting itself into tight loops between the spool and your winding hand?
Started by Bill Andy in Performances, How to Play, Lessons, Concerts. Last reply by Taffy Evans 3 hours ago. 6 Replies 0 Likes
Started by Bill Andy in Performances, How to Play, Lessons, Concerts. Last reply by BrianQ. 6 hours ago. 4 Replies 0 Likes
Started by BrianQ. in Performances, How to Play, Lessons, Concerts on Tuesday. 0 Replies 2 Likes
Started by J. D. Woods in Performances, How to Play, Lessons, Concerts. Last reply by Southern Ray Apr 26. 8 Replies 1 Like
Started by Southern Ray in Other stuff - off topic, fun stuff, whatever. Last reply by Southern Ray Apr 26. 6 Replies 0 Likes
Started by J. D. Woods in Performances, How to Play, Lessons, Concerts. Last reply by BrianQ. Apr 25. 4 Replies 0 Likes
Started by Rich Butters in Building Secrets, Tips, Advice, Discussion. Last reply by Crazed Fandango Apr 22. 4 Replies 0 Likes
Started by Nomad Jack in Performances, How to Play, Lessons, Concerts. Last reply by J. D. Woods Apr 17. 7 Replies 2 Likes
Started by Moritz Voegeli in Building Secrets, Tips, Advice, Discussion. Last reply by Southern Ray Apr 14. 6 Replies 2 Likes
Started by Timothy Hunter in Other stuff - off topic, fun stuff, whatever. Last reply by Timothy Hunter Apr 10. 14 Replies 3 Likes
Started by Tom T in Building Secrets, Tips, Advice, Discussion. Last reply by Southern Ray Apr 9. 9 Replies 0 Likes
Started by Southern Ray in Building Secrets, Tips, Advice, Discussion. Last reply by Southern Ray Apr 4. 7 Replies 1 Like
Started by Timothy Hunter in Building Secrets, Tips, Advice, Discussion. Last reply by Southern Ray Mar 27. 1 Reply 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
Posted by Vlad on March 31, 2024 at 11:48pm 0 Comments 1 Like
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
May 11, 2024 from 11am to 8pm – Speakeasy Grill
0 Comments 0 LikesMay 30, 2024 from 6:30pm to 10pm – The Casual Pint of Huntsville
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!