Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Skeesix on November 21, 2009 at 7:17pm

Yes - get the microphone and speaker out of the handset too. There are some possibilities there, definitely for the speaker, not sure about the microphone.

When he says add a magnet you can either put a rod magnet down the middle, or if you can't find anything the right size, put a ferrous bolt or screw down the middle and one or two magnets touching it on the bottom. Ferrous means it has iron in it and will stick to a magnet.

By the way, that's my pickup workshop.

Skeesix

David Lloyd said:

Hi Paul,
Cigarbox guitars.com has a workshop section and has this all about homemade pickups http://cigarboxguitars.com/workshops/Pickup_Workshop.php
Regards,
David

Paul Doug said:

Ok, I'm a dummy but what do you mean just add a magnet? Do you unwrap and re-wrap? Take the top apart and push in a magnet? I don't have one handy to look at so I don't understand. By the way, that old dial might look cool on a guitar.....

Also, are there mics in that hand piece that would work like piezos?

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Permalink Reply by Skeesix on November 21, 2009 at 7:32pm

Where would you get old relay switches from? Are there any particular appliances where they could be found?

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Permalink Reply by David L. on November 22, 2009 at 1:45am

Hi Skeesix,

Congrats on producing such a good article - Sorry if I had realised I would have checked with you before posting the link. You should be less shy and promote your workshop info more :o)

Regards,
David

Skeesix said:

Yes - get the microphone and speaker out of the handset too. There are some possibilities there, definitely for the speaker, not sure about the microphone.

When he says add a magnet you can either put a rod magnet down the middle, or if you can't find anything the right size, put a ferrous bolt or screw down the middle and one or two magnets touching it on the bottom. Ferrous means it has iron in it and will stick to a magnet.

By the way, that's my pickup workshop.

Skeesix

David Lloyd said:

Hi Paul,
Cigarbox guitars.com has a workshop section and has this all about homemade pickups http://cigarboxguitars.com/workshops/Pickup_Workshop.php
Regards,
David

Paul Doug said:

Ok, I'm a dummy but what do you mean just add a magnet? Do you unwrap and re-wrap? Take the top apart and push in a magnet? I don't have one handy to look at so I don't understand. By the way, that old dial might look cool on a guitar.....

Also, are there mics in that hand piece that would work like piezos?

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Permalink Reply by Paul H (PRH) on November 22, 2009 at 3:59am

I've read that Les Paul used the parts from an electric clock to make the pickups for his "log" (nicec pix at http://mixonline.com/Online_Extras_Main_Page/Les_paul_photo_gallery/ ).
I don't have details on which parts of the clocks he used but it has to be either the alarm or clock mechanism (think about what kind of clocks they had in those days).
Good luck,
PRH

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Permalink Reply by Skeesix on November 22, 2009 at 7:02am

Electric clock - probably the motor.

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Permalink Reply by Astrochimp on November 27, 2009 at 6:07am

Old washing machine is one- use the coil from the water input.

Skeesix said:

Where would you get old relay switches from? Are there any particular appliances where they could be found?

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Permalink Reply by Jerryrig240 on December 4, 2009 at 7:27am

Well, I had a break through today on the pickup building. I was reading some stuff on the internet about transformers that are used in electric apliences....so I had one siting in the garage, took it apart, got out the copper coil, added a bolt and magnet and tried it out. It worked! Not great, but better than my past attemps of wrapping. Anyhow....I had a old dc converter in the garqge, took it apart, added a magnet and it worked! better than the first....so now, 6 of the strong small magnets I have fit real nice and neat stacked in stacks of three in the middle...I have added some tape and a jack and so far, I am Impressed....I have found that it has to be really close to the string, or it's not that great...but this is the first of all of my tests of "Junkt pick ups" I get any kind of a dirty sound out of. I think I might whip up some sort of a diddley bow so I can can do more tests and take the pickup in and out with out any regret. I will get pics up as soon as I can.

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Permalink Reply by Bob Harrison on January 26, 2010 at 3:03pm

Hi Skeesix,
As I have been going around getting parts for my winder machine I have seen many relay type coils, they look like sewing thread bobins wound with copper wire.
The military surplus stores here in San Diego has at least several pounds of them. I think they sell them by the pound. If you are intrested in them let me know.

regards
Bob

Astrochimp said:

Old washing machine is one- use the coil from the water input.

Skeesix said:

Where would you get old relay switches from? Are there any particular appliances where they could be found?

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