Sidewinders, Multi-coils and other hard to find pickups

[Bruce Johnson]

I agree that "single multi-coils" (one coil per string) work very well. All the multi-coils I've built have been that configuration; one coil per string. Alternate wind/alternate magnets to make the group humbucking. I made my coils long ovals along the line of the string to get more wire in, and surround three round magnets each. For power and output, because I made mine to run passive only.

 

[mrperkolator]

I have. Didn't like the results, though, as fitting them into a cover sized like a Jazz made it so the coils were small…. I actually made them elliptical to get more winds on them.

If I were to do it again, I would sacrifice the cover size to maintain the size of the coils.

I can say I do like the sound on my standard multicoils when one column of coils is selected. I've been tempted to make a version that is just a single row, though I imagine the size would be something like the Bartolini "candy bar" covers.

This is more a curiosity due to the news release of the New version (re-release) of a Epiphone Newport....

Have you played with mudbucker and Thunderbird sized pickups? It would be real cool to get a clean, mellow, woody tone from a neck mudbucker. Clearly you'd have a lot more space to do all sorts of stuff than on a typical J pickup size.

Edit: only asking because the mudbucker aftermarket pickup selection is thin....

 

[edwinhurwitz]

This is more a curiosity due to the news release of the New version (re-release) of a Epiphone Newport....

Have you played with mudbucker and Thunderbird sized pickups? It would be real cool to get a clean, mellow, woody tone from a neck mudbucker. Clearly you'd have a lot more space to do all sorts of stuff than on a typical J pickup size.

Edit: only asking because the mudbucker aftermarket pickup selection is thin....

I have. Here's a '68 EB-3 with Dark Star pickups. It's way more clear sounding than the original pair of pickups.

 

[mrperkolator]

@edwinhurwitz I thought the Dark Star pickups were single coil. Or is it a version of the originals?

 

[edwinhurwitz]

They are single coils. I haven't found any sidewinders or humbuckers that I would prefer, although I have thought about installing Alembic pickups.

 

[Freekmagnet]

Edit: only asking because the mudbucker aftermarket pickup selection is thin....

Curtis Novak makes a few different mudbucker replacements. A single coil*, an HB, and the "stock" sidewinder. That's pretty much the whole pickup gamut, unless you count multi-coils.

*He used to make a Dark Star model that fit in a mudbucker slot. I don't know if he still does.

Products – Curtis Novak Classic Pickups

 

[deepestend]

There are these replacements too:

Also, Sentell: https://www.sentellpickups.net/bass

 

[sunbeast]

This is more a curiosity due to the news release of the New version (re-release) of a Epiphone Newport....

Have you played with mudbucker and Thunderbird sized pickups? It would be real cool to get a clean, mellow, woody tone from a neck mudbucker. Clearly you'd have a lot more space to do all sorts of stuff than on a typical J pickup size.

Edit: only asking because the mudbucker aftermarket pickup selection is thin....

I can't speak to the mudbucker options, but EMG35-sized pickups fit in a Thunderbird route which opens up the door to lots of different non-custom pickup options. Rickenbacker pickups also fit a TB route. There is a little space left around either of those pickups in a TB route, but you can get (or make) custom TB-style pickup rings that fit more snugly

 

[slowburnaz]

The sidewinder I was making at one point would have fit into a Mudbucker-sized shell, but I've decided not to make that model anymore... at least for the time being.

 

[BTL]

I spent today fabricating baseplates for Fralin Big Singles (sidewinder) in (up to) 5-string format.

The split magnet is just for visualization...the pickups are built with an unbroken magnet. I'm proud of the fact that these exist because of my relationship with Lindy Fralin Pickups and, to some small degree, to this thread.

I still have the first-ever Big Single.

 

[D.M.N.]

I spent today fabricating baseplates for Fralin Big Singles (sidewinder) in (up to) 5-string format.

The split magnet is just for visualization...the pickups are built with an unbroken magnet. I'm proud of the fact that these exist because of my relationship with Lindy Fralin Pickups and, to some small degree, to this thread.

I still have the first-ever Big Single.

That reminds me that I wish someone would do a recreation of the 70s Gibson Thunderbird pickups, the 3-screw sidewinders...

 

[BTL]

Another little detail that I'm excited about…the Fralin Big Single for Lowe Custom Guitars now has its own custom winding fixture.