Wal-like pickups...Anyone thought of this?

[isher1992]

I realize that Wal pickups are TM'ed...but has anyone thought of trying to re-coil a pickup to where there's separate coil per pole-piece? Seems like that would be a good idea on some pickups. Mainly, MusicMan pickups. something where the pole pieces are right under the string. Probably wouldn't get that Wal tone, but it seems like it would be a good idea to really clean up the pickup.

...Or maybe I'm just crazy cause I'm tired and it's 11:18 Central time, and I'm getting older.

[tubby.twins]

You're not crazy. In fact, at least one very talented pickup builder has been working on such a pickup recently.

Link: Won the Wal pickup on ebay!!!

[mg.audio]

I am taking a lutherie class this fall, will be my entrance to the world of building basses (and eventually guitars, as well). In addition to a custom preamp, I have plans to produce a pickup based on the Wal design, as far as the multi-coil approach is concerned.

However, money is the one thing that is holding me back from experimentation, R&D and so-forth. Once I figure out how to MAKE money, I'll be able to set up a little creation station and begin collecting all the materials I need to get started. My mind is full of ideas and they're practically spilling out onto the floor, but as Roger Waters said, "Money, so they say, is the root of all evil today."

Anyways, it looks as if my ideas won't be making their way into the physical realm anytime soon, so for now I say just keep track of what's going on in the thread mentioned in the previous post. That guy knows what he's doing and I don't doubt that he will have a fantastic pickup by the time he's finished with his "Wal-a-like" project.

[isher1992]

Originally Posted by mg.audio

I am taking a lutherie class this fall, will be my entrance to the world of building basses (and eventually guitars, as well). In addition to a custom preamp, I have plans to produce a pickup based on the Wal design, as far as the multi-coil approach is concerned.

However, money is the one thing that is holding me back from experimentation, R&D and so-forth. Once I figure out how to MAKE money, I'll be able to set up a little creation station and begin collecting all the materials I need to get started. My mind is full of ideas and they're practically spilling out onto the floor, but as Roger Waters said, "Money, so they say, is the root of all evil today."

Anyways, it looks as if my ideas won't be making their way into the physical realm anytime soon, so for now I say just keep track of what's going on in the thread mentioned in the previous post. That guy knows what he's doing and I don't doubt that he will have a fantastic pickup by the time he's finished with his "Wal-a-like" project.

I was thinking of something more along the lines of taking an existing passive pickup, like a MusicMan ('Cause I'm sure I can't afford a recreation of a Wal pickup, since I can't even afford the original) and I guess the word would be...'convert' it, to be Wal-like?

[jgroh]

Im going to be getting the SGD Lutherie Wal pickups in my G&L 2000...just need to find the time/money. Not cheap as far as pickups go but a tiny fraction of a real Wal.

[mg.audio]

Originally Posted by isher1992

I was thinking of something more along the lines of taking an existing passive pickup, like a MusicMan ('Cause I'm sure I can't afford a recreation of a Wal pickup, since I can't even afford the original) and I guess the word would be...'convert' it, to be Wal-like?

I don't think you would be able to modify an existing MM to Wal specs, mostly considering the massive size of the pole pieces. The wal pickups have a coil for each individual pole piece (just in case you didn't know), so I would guess that the coils would have to be physically huge and the pickup cover would have to be larger to accommodate that.

OR you could find a MM replacement that doesn't have the exposed poles, take it apart, and if it doesn't have those huge pole pieces then you're in business. All you gotta do is find or make some bobbins, wind 'em up (making sure that they are wound with the appropriate number of turns/wire gauge to get that Wal sound), wire 'em all together correctly, and then you're in business. However keep in mind that the Wal pickups were designed in tandem with an active preamp. Those electronics are a big part of what makes the pickups sound the way they do.

Originally Posted by jgroh

Im going to be getting the SGD Lutherie Wal pickups in my G&L 2000...just need to find the time/money. Not cheap as far as pickups go but a tiny fraction of a real Wal.

+1. Talk to that guy (SGD Lutherie). He seems to know what he's doing.

[fullrangebass]

SDG really knows his stuff

[MPU]

You mean something like this?
My version of WAL-style pickup
The pickups are easy to make, they just need a lot of work. Bobbins can be made of nylon washers and acrylic tube, magnets are easily available. I use drill press and bicycle odometer as winding machine. Covers take some more time if you don't want to use closed MM covers which are nice but not deep enough. I'm making covers like the ones on the 5-string Wals have (wood figured black plastic) for my second set of these pickups.
Marko

[isher1992]

Originally Posted by MPU

You mean something like this?
My version of WAL-style pickup
The pickups are easy to make, they just need a lot of work. Bobbins can be made of nylon washers and acrylic tube, magnets are easily available. I use drill press and bicycle odometer as winding machine. Covers take some more time if you don't want to use closed MM covers which are nice but not deep enough. I'm making covers like the ones on the 5-string Wals have (wood figured black plastic) for my second set of these pickups.
Marko

I might look into making one myself...but to wind them, I may do the Tim Commerford method...slow, meticulous, and making sure each coil is carefully stacked.

[SGD Lutherie]

Originally Posted by isher1992

I realize that Wal pickups are TM'ed...

They aren't trade marked or patented.

I will be doing a very accurate copy as far as tone, but in MM style covers.

At some point I'll do Wal style covers.

[isher1992]

Originally Posted by SGD Lutherie

They aren't trade marked or patented.

I will be doing a very accurate copy as far as tone, but in MM style covers.

At some point I'll do Wal style covers.

MM-style covers would be awesome!

I was looking at a set up on a P-bass, with a P-bass pickup and a MM bridge pickup...

But if I can afford your Wal pickups, when you get the P finished, I may just have to do that instead.

[SGD Lutherie]

Originally Posted by isher1992

But if I can afford your Wal pickups, when you get the P finished, I may just have to do that instead.

The Wal will be first, because I have keep people waiting too long. I'm working on a few P ideas, and a Wal style pickup was one of them. The other P is a dual blade unit based on my soapbars.

I can't say when, but soon.

[ryansalmond]

Originally Posted by SGD Lutherie

They aren't trade marked or patented.

I will be doing a very accurate copy as far as tone, but in MM style covers.

At some point I'll do Wal style covers.

I realize this may be an obsessively specific question, but does that mean exposed poles? or like how bartolini does MM-style pickups that are the same shape but covered poles.

[SGD Lutherie]

Originally Posted by ryansalmond

I realize this may be an obsessively specific question, but does that mean exposed poles? or like how bartolini does MM-style pickups that are the same shape but covered poles.

The real Wal pickup has exposed poles, so the clone will also.

I'd also like to do one with blades, so it can accommodate different string spacings.

[ryansalmond]

Sorry I mean the MM style ones.

[SGD Lutherie]

Originally Posted by ryansalmond

Sorry I mean the MM style ones.

It will have exposed poles, but they are not as large as a MM pickup. They are adjustable and more like the size of a Jazz pickup.

[ryansalmond]

Awesome. Thanks!

[PilbaraBass]

Originally Posted by SGD Lutherie

The real Wal pickup has exposed poles, so the clone will also.

I'd also like to do one with blades, so it can accommodate different string spacings.

Blades? Do you mean short blades? as in little oblong winds

[SGD Lutherie]

Originally Posted by PilbaraBass

Blades? Do you mean short blades? as in little oblong winds

Short blades.

[FunkMetalBass]

Originally Posted by SGD Lutherie

Short blades.

That would be interesting, to say the least. I imagine they'd have to run parallel to the strings to work.

I really need to go check out that other thread.