Anybody making wood pickup covers?

[DiabolusInMusic]

I am looking to get a couple purpleheart covers made for a set of Lindy Fralin jazz pickups. I have the cover specs from Fralin but the builder I am using to make the body isn't set up to build pickup covers. I thought I would see if any of the locals here are capable or if they had a recommendation for a builder.

I apologize if this was posted in the wrong forum, this seemed like the best place to start.

 

[HaMMerHeD]

Unfortunately, the TalkBass Commercial Users Policy prevents any luthier from promoting himself in response to a question like this.

But us non-commercial users can recommend people, and given what I've seen of his work in the workbench thread, I can't think of anybody better to recommend than @Rodent from Link Removed.

 

[charlie monroe]

I think Rodent is set up for production work and not commission stuff.

On the possibility that he isn't interested, the name I see put forward most often for custom and one off stuff is @Bruce Johnson's friend Keith Horne.

Tagged Bruce for you, I'm sure he will weigh in sooner or later.

 

[Bruce Johnson]

Thanks for mentioning Keith and I, Charlie. Yes, we have the technology to do wooden pickup covers and/or build wood caps and shells right onto an existing pickup. But we're both very busy developing our own "production" instruments, and neither of us have much time for custom work. Keith has asked me to stop recommending him so often here on TB!

 

[DiabolusInMusic]

Unfortunately, the TalkBass Commercial Users Policy prevents any luthier from promoting himself in response to a question like this.

But us non-commercial users can recommend people, and given what I've seen of his work in the workbench thread, I can't think of anybody better to recommend than @Rodent from Link Removed.

Well I did not know that. I suppose I cannot just say "PM me" then?

I will drop a line to @Rodent since it sounds like @Bruce Johnson won't be building a set for me any time soon. I am still listening to recommendations though.

 

[Rodent]

Thanks for the referrals everybody - very much appreciated

Depending on production workload, we can offer wooden covers in many cases ... but we limit this to soapbar style covers with non-exposed poles.

Our preference is to epoxy cast the pickup coils into the cover to create a singular unit that has the best possible opportunity for the cover to endure the life of the pickup and not crack due to environmental, installation, and/or usage conditions. Because we epoxy cast the bobbins into the wooden covers, exposed pole pieces are not an available option on the covers we make.

We also don't off those cover shapes with 'ears' (Jbass, Pbass, and most MM style), as we believe there is potential risk for the ears shearing off under load under specific conditions.

All the best,

R

 

[DiabolusInMusic]

Thanks again for the help here. I am still looking for a builder. Just to be clear, I would like something like the following for my pickups:

I would like them to be rectangles but with the ability to screw them down, like regular pickups. I am not opposed to going without the screw holes but then I don't know how I would mount the pickups. I have no familiarity with wooden pickup covers so I may be missing something here...

 

[DiabolusInMusic]

I thought I would give this one more bump before I start looking outside of TB.

 

[Ruckus_Instrmts]

Any adroit luthier worth their weight in sawdust should be able to produce wooden pickup covers without a problem.

 

[Joshua]

I just wanted to say that I learned a new word today; "adroit".

 

[DiabolusInMusic]

I just wanted to say that I learned a new word today; "adroit".

You and me both.

 

[DiabolusInMusic]

It actually turned out to be much harder than I anticipated getting a set of covers made. I contacted a pile of builders including some custom pickup manufacturers and none were interested or knew who to ask. I ended up going with a local fellow who seemed eager for the challenge. I am pretty satisfied with how they turned out.

 

[Stonetown Lows]

Do you mind me asking how much you were charged? We were considering doing it.

 

[DiabolusInMusic]

Do you mind me asking how much you were charged? We were considering doing it.

Not at all, I paid 80 Canuck bucks.

 

[Stonetown Lows]

Thanks for the response! That was a good deal.

 

[flon_klar]

I made these...

It wasn't too difficult, basically just little open boxes. (Well, the P cover was a little tricky.) The hardest part was trying to make the wood as thin as possible without making it too weak.

 

[Huw Phillips]

I am cheap and made these from 1/32” or less tha 1mm veneer, the round parts are faked in with a black and brown fine sharpie.

 

[Huw Phillips]

I made these...View attachment 2475113

It wasn't too difficult, basically just little open boxes. (Well, the P cover was a little tricky.) The hardest part was trying to make the wood as thin as possible without making it too weak.

That is one serious work of art you have there I assume you built it ?

 

[flon_klar]

That is one serious work of art you have there I assume you built it ?

Thanks. Yeah it's my design and build. It's the 3rd out of 13 so far. I like doing things a little differently!

 

[huwnyc]

Stunning work is there a threadto you other builds ? What’s your inspiration for the curves, there v beautiful