My jazz with my own handwound pickups

[4snaar]

I would like to show you my jazz bass which I have assembled. It started with the idea to have a jazz like the basses Tim Commerford used to have. So, a jazz bass with a precision neck and with overwound pickups. I wanted to make these pickups by myself.

At first I used some alder bodies, but I finally obtained a nice swamp ash body which I took from a jazz bass that I bought from another bassplayer. The body does not have a mark, I only know from the previous owner that this body has been made in Japan. The body already had a thin satin finish and is a nice resonating piece of wood. I also was able to acquire a very nice Allparts precision neck with an ebony fingerboard.

I had a set pickups from a fretless Fender Jazz (Mexico) and I decided to rewind these pickups completely by hand. So without any machine. I deliberately wound these pickups as scatter wound as possible. I took me some time to do this. I had several problems, but finally I finished these pickups. I have placed these pickups in my bass and I am satisfied with the sound.



The bass has been changed several times (other bridge, pickquards), but I really liked the following setup:









However, the bass has been changed again. I don’t use the precision neck anymore on this bass, but I have bought a beautiful Allparts jazz neck. I currently use the precision neck to assemble an Allparts precision bass.

So, the jazz bass is currently like this:





I am very happy with this bass. Perhaps I want to make some more pickups, but then I have to have a good pickup winder.

[Splods]

That looks nice. Just like the real deal.

[4snaar]

Thank you.

I was wondering. Are there forummembers here that also wind their own pickups? Perhaps I want a little winding machine and I was curious about what kind of equipment others are using. I have used a sewing machine. However the motor was too strong. In fact, also by winding by hand I had some troubles with breaking of the wire.

[Stealth]

I'm just starting with winding and I used a variable-speed power drill. It's a tough one to control but it's doable.

You might get more info at the Music Electronics Forum - quite a few winders from there are also present on TB.

[4snaar]

Thanks for your reply.

[rdrr]

Originally Posted by 4snaar

Thank you.

I was wondering. Are there forummembers here that also wind their own pickups? Perhaps I want a little winding machine and I was curious about what kind of equipment others are using. I have used a sewing machine. However the motor was too strong. In fact, also by winding by hand I had some troubles with breaking of the wire.

I picked up a sewing machine on freecycle and ripped the motor out to build my winder. I use a dimmer switch to control the speed and it works pretty well.

You should check out the Music Electronics Forum though.

Rob

[pacojas]

sound clips please?!!

[rocmonster]

Originally Posted by pacojas

sound clips please?!!

"Runnnunnunnunnunnunnunnunnunnunnunnunn"

Oh wait, you mean the bass...

[Gtripdub]

jason lollar has a book out...winding pickups..part sources etc..check him out

[SBassman]

Excellent. Always wanted to experiment with making my own pickups.

[delta7fred]

This guy uses an old sewing machine.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3LWaYFPX1No

[Stealth]

Seymour Duncan allegedly started by using a record player.

[4snaar]

I am sorry, I do not have good recording equipment and so no good sound samples.

Thanks for mentioning the book and the other forum. I still have a lot to learn about it.