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Vintage threads from the first ten years

Compiling pickup specs data

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9/8/2002 11:40 PM
SK	Compiling pickup specs data I've started putting up a bunch of pickup "data" that I'm compiling. Corrections, additions, comments etc. ? http://mywebpages.comcast.net/skgs/sk/pickup_specs.htm

9/9/2002 5:29 AM

Tony@Mastertone

SK

Looks great.....

Although the first thing I thought of when I first saw your data page is, it looked confusing... and I know what the abbreviations mean. Like the 42PE for instance, maybe space it out a bit and have the full descriptions, ie.. 42AWG Formvar Magnet Wire.. or whatever. Anyway... its a great idea. I'm sure I will frequent it for repairs..and the like.

Hey, love your little lathe winder...thats cool.

Cheers

Tone

9/9/2002 7:24 AM

Steven,

Yes very useful for the hobbyists but would it be a good idea to state which surface of the bobbin goes closest to the winder?

For example assuming a Gibson is wound CCW it would be reversed if you mount the bobbin bottom to winder as opposed to top to the winder.

I tend to use TTW and BTW for shorthand when making notes for "Top to Winder" and "Bottom to Winder"

Great idea though!

Andy

9/9/2002 12:07 PM

Thanks guys,
I may break it out a bit better with "headings" or something. Right now just trying to get it all "down". I don't like using designations on how the bobbin should be placed in relation to the winder as not all turn the same way. Mine's reversible. I may make a note somewhere that CW/CCW is based upon viewing the bobbin from the top.
Anyone want to give me any help/info I'm lacking? (and there's plenty)

I didn't try to make it an all inclusive page for "all" the specs on vintage pickups. I "could" add all the additional info such as specific year stagger patterns, pics of forbon colors and dating, pics of coil wire colors etc etc. But I'm not really sure I want to get into that...Opinions?

9/9/2002 12:14 PM
SK	anyone else having trouble getting the page to load correctly? Moving servers again #%&**%##!!!

9/9/2002 3:32 PM

Dr. Strangelove

Anecdotal stuff here.

** TELE pickups:

The early "No-caster" guitar pickups were rumored to use Alnico III magnets, odd critturs that sound softer (more compressed) than Alnico II. Good thing for a Tele, IMO.

** Rickenbacker pickups:

Spec'ing the Rickenbacker Toaster(tm) pickup, a single coil, is a problem cuz they've varied a lot in the last 40 years.

Good Ric pup history at: <http://personal.nbnet.nb.ca/mccorp/toasters.html>

*!Warning!* Rickenbacker vigorously defends all its trademarks, and where pickups are concerned, "Toaster(tm)" is one of them. Don't waste time cloning a Ric pup -- all you need to do is make a better one. Don't ask me what I think of Rickenbacker, either.

Toaster(tm) Reissues get sold as 7.4k devices. Rickenbacker CEO Mike Hall claims that since the 60's, Rickenbacker never used any wire gauge but #44. The arithmetic sez that a 7.4k pup would have ~2800 winds on it.

The one I bought measured 6.83k suggesting ~2600 winds. Instead of the expected 3/16" dia. x 5/8" pole pieces, it has big 1/4" dia by 3/4" long rods. Since they don't pull as strongly as a smaller Alnico 5 rod, I believe they are most likely cast Alnico II.

The small winds count would make for a bright, clean, low output pickup, but the bigger Alnico slugs give it a useful signal level.

-drh
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9/9/2002 3:47 PM
SK	Thanks, FWIW, alnico3 is actually weaker than alnico2. Larger, alnico2 poles which are still weaker than smaller alnico5 would not give it usable strength (no increase comparatively) I don't work with 44 often, but that low a winding count doesn't seem like it would give those readings.... I'd have to check... Thanks for the link!

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