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Magnets & Copper Wire: A Pickup Building Thread

#1,161
Snert said:
^^ Is that a tune by a popular band?
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fyvz.gif
 
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#1,166
I started making my version on EB-DS pickups. I got an Epiphone EB3 for free. My plan is to make the long scale neck short scale by replacing the headstock and fretboard, replace the bridge with Babicz one, replace the tuners with Schaller M4light I have in my drawers somewhere and make dual Dark Star-like pickups in mudbucker covers. I’m 3d-printing the rest of the bobbins tonight or tomorrow.
Keeper bars are made of transformer core steel, 9 pieces each one. I used a jig where I drilled the holes and cut the pieces all in one time.

61A4F867-A518-4F13-888D-24F1E2069542.jpeg
 
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#1,167
slowburnaz said:
I slapped 'em on in and made a little sound sample (I start with both pickups on, then to just the neck, then to the bridge, and finally back to both):

I did a quick setup on the bass (though there's still some buzzing in places I need to address), stock strings are still on there, and this is with an Audere Jazz 4-band Preamp, everything set flat. There's some compression from the T-Racks White 2A compressor plugin, but otherwise is basically just a DI signal.
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Sounds great!
 
#1,169
MPU said:
I started making my version on EB-DS pickups. I got an Epiphone EB3 for free. My plan is to make the long scale neck short scale by replacing the headstock and fretboard, replace the bridge with Babicz one, replace the tuners with Schaller M4light I have in my drawers somewhere and make dual Dark Star-like pickups in mudbucker covers. I’m 3d-printing the rest of the bobbins tonight or tomorrow.
Keeper bars are made of transformer core steel, 9 pieces each one. I used a jig where I drilled the holes and cut the pieces all in one time.

View attachment 4667904
Click to expand...

Curious about the threaded poles... do they thread into the "bottom" layer of the laminated core? Or the fiberboard maybe?
 
#1,171
MPU said:
I started making my version on EB-DS pickups. I got an Epiphone EB3 for free. My plan is to make the long scale neck short scale by replacing the headstock and fretboard, replace the bridge with Babicz one, replace the tuners with Schaller M4light I have in my drawers somewhere and make dual Dark Star-like pickups in mudbucker covers. I’m 3d-printing the rest of the bobbins tonight or tomorrow.
Keeper bars are made of transformer core steel, 9 pieces each one. I used a jig where I drilled the holes and cut the pieces all in one time.

View attachment 4667904
Click to expand...

A cool idea....I think there's more room for experiments and development of the basic EB-Dark Star style pickup.
 
#1,173
@MPU Great looking pickups!
I have a few questions about your 3D printed parts: What material do you use it? What infill rate do you use? And do you print the threaded holes or do you thread them afterwards?

Since I'm having difficulties producing steel keeper bars with threaded holes for the pickup I'm building, I'm looking into 3D printing it. But I have no experience with threading 3D printed parts or how good are the mechanical properties of such threads.

Thanks!
 
#1,175
Bruce Johnson said:
Yep, that's me. I'm about the only person who has been messing with Mechanical Percussive style pickups. It's cool to see Rudy giving them a try. I'm still developing the idea. I have a whole new version in the works for my (someday) upcoming Series V AUB-2 Scroll Bass. Some new tricks in the design.

I plan to someday start a special thread just about Mechanical Percussive pickups. But, I haven't gotten to it yet.
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Bruce,

Is there a solid timeline you have given yourself for the Series V AUB-2 Scroll Bass? To me, that is a model that would be killer in your new/old walnut/cherry scheme and be perfect for the music that fits the vibe you are creating.

While I'm at it, is there a good timeline for the completion of #018?
 
#1,176
Ed Bloom said:
Bruce,

Is there a solid timeline you have given yourself for the Series V AUB-2 Scroll Bass? To me, that is a model that would be killer in your new/old walnut/cherry scheme and be perfect for the music that fits the vibe you are creating.

While I'm at it, is there a good timeline for the completion of #018?
Click to expand...

Hello Ed;

I answered you over on the Love of Ampegs thread.
 
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#1,178
BishopJP said:
Noob question for pick-up winders...

Are there any considerations for storing a bunch of pickups? Once magnetized, do I need to keep them separated so the magnets/magnetic fields don't interact?
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As far as I know, you should be okay keeping pickups that use ceramic or neodymium magnets in close proximity. AlNiCo magnets, however, can be easily de/re-magnetized, so it's probably best to keep pickups with those separated.
 
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