Hey!

[Jim Wagner-WCR]

So, THIS is where ya'll hang out........

[NightWinder]

Sometimes its cold, sometimes its hot. Lots of cool dudes.

[Mystic]

Bout time you showed up. Don't you ever work?

[Jim Wagner-WCR]

Bout time you showed up. Don't you ever work?

Gave it up for lint...

[WolfeMacleod]

Jim! Nice to see ya here man, it's about time.
I've been meaning to send the URL to Tom Holmes lately, but kept forgetting. Didja call him yet?

[Possum]

Hey Jim.....

Remember I told you about this place probably 6 months ago? :-) Only the URL is new now and a new forum format that most of us hate, have fun navigating it, you get used to it after awhile, the old forum was dead simple easy to use etc. What you been up to?

[Dave Kerr]

display mode

Not to veer off-topic, but IMVHO, it's much easier to view this forum if you switch display mode to linear form threaded - there's a drop-down at the top of each thread to switch your preference.

[Jim Wagner-WCR]

Jim! Nice to see ya here man, it's about time.
I've been meaning to send the URL to Tom Holmes lately, but kept forgetting. Didja call him yet?

Yeah, finally.... lol Hey, age takes it toll......=-)
Nah, no Holmes yet. I am just going ahead with the chassis stamp, and molds for P90s, Strats, etc. Bobbin molds SHOULD be ready by Jan. 1st. If not then, soon afterwards, as I will just have the local guy finish them up. I already have screws and slugs covered. I've just finally had enough with the current, usual supplier. Parts not right, out of stock, etc. It'll all be made right here in the U.S.A., and I'll only have to drive about 10 minutes to choke someone instead of waiting impatiently on Japan to screw things up again.........
As to what I've been up to: Just winding non-stop, scrambling for parts, learning to fly gliders, haulin' kids to school and sporting events,,,, just normal kinda stuff I guess. Thinking about scoring a PRS, etc.
How and what are ya'll doin' ?

[Mystic]

So...........
gonna sell parts?

[Jim Wagner-WCR]

So...........
gonna sell parts?

Yep.

[Norcal_GIT_r]

Yep.

Right on!!!..

[Possum]

parts.....

Man, it looks like there's going to be a few of us offering parts here next year. As far as I'm concerned AllParts, Guitar Jones, WD, and even StewMac all shot themselves in the foot these last 6 months by not keeping stock in and all running out of the same parts at the same time, does THAT tell you anything? WD doesn't even respond to wholesale order RFQ's anymore. At least StewMac ships quick when they say they will. I have come so close to quitting this ridiculous business a couple times this year because of all this. Its forced me to reconsider what I sell and what I make. I may be dumping all my unique pickups unless I can get stuff laser cut and figure out how to have parts made for them cheap. Profit margin on this stuff is really low compared to other retail endeavors and while my unique pickups get real high marks with customers they don't pay the bills here. Anyway I'm going to start a thread on laser cutters to see what others are finding, I"ve seen one on Ebay for $3000, maybe its time to max out a credit card or two........

[Jim Wagner-WCR]

I'll also be making a stamp for Strat and Tele bobbins, and Tele base-plates.I am definitely on it. The Tele stuff will, by the way, be correct on the bottom flange and base plate, un-like what a certain company is selling right now.It's always been my work ethic when making a part or something for somebody that it is right. If it's wrong, I make it right. These guys just plain do not give a shit.
I have a REAL hard time understanding that.

[Possum]

parts.........

Jim: when do you think you'll have this stuff available? Do you have pricing structure set up yet, and will there be minimums?
On bucker stuff what pole spacings are you going to use? Will this be PAF correct parts or an "interpretation?"

Have you done research into correct alloys for PAF parts for slugs, screw and keeper bars? This stuff is vitally important, I am having my own screws made because no one even sells the right stuff.

I'm for minimum orders within reason, main reason for that is the burnout problem on your end in shipping stupid small orders that are more expensive to pack than the profit made on the parts. I just hope you know what you're getting into with this. Anyway if you want to email me off list to discuss stephensdesign@opendoor.com

[Jim Wagner-WCR]

Jim: when do you think you'll have this stuff available? Do you have pricing structure set up yet, and will there be minimums?
On bucker stuff what pole spacings are you going to use? Will this be PAF correct parts or an "interpretation?"

Have you done research into correct alloys for PAF parts for slugs, screw and keeper bars? This stuff is vitally important, I am having my own screws made because no one even sells the right stuff.

I'm for minimum orders within reason, main reason for that is the burnout problem on your end in shipping stupid small orders that are more expensive to pack than the profit made on the parts. I just hope you know what you're getting into with this. Anyway if you want to email me off list to discuss stephensdesign@opendoor.com

Yeah, the chassis should be happening in 6-8 weeeks, should have at least bobbin samples on the 1st or so. Those molds have been a long time in the works. They will be just like what I get from you-know-who right now, with an improvement on quality I hope. The chassis will be correct except for one small item, which I may change anyhow. I will have the current long legged, and some with the legs half as long. Correct alloy. Tuff to get, and not cheap either. Now I see what they get Japan and China to do it.... lol But that's OK with me. Man, if Japan had a tsunami, I would be chokin' all the way over here. Parts local made should be a nice change, and make some people a lot more comfortable due to locality and availability.
I don't plan on burning out, I plan on hired help..... ;-) I'm just going to keep on doing what I do now. I know what I'm getting into. I have been a Millwright most of my life. So mass production like that is nothing new to me at all. Pretty expensive to start off, but that's life. Time and motion have been my companions since I was just a kid (started at 11 ) working in my Dad's conveyor plant(s). Funny how it all just boiled down to this. Still trips me out....hahaha
I'll work out the prices before the hard tooling is done. Material prices change by the day right now, but once I'm on a schedule, it should even out pretty well.