How do I wind a bright neck humbucker?

[paulyy]

Im trying to get a bright paf style neck humbucker but I seem to always come up short. I use 42 PE and The pole side has 500 winds more then the slug side. Both bobbins have loose scatterwind patterns. Any ideas would be great and thanks for the help.

[belwar]

PAF's are not traditionally loose, or scatterwound so start with that... The few PAF coils ive seen up close were quite tightly wound. Plus all the pictures i've seen indicate that as well. You can really change the pickup with the parts though. The keeper, screws, and magnet play an enourmous role. I tried something like 10 different screws before I found one that sound "right" to me. The mojo ones were particularly dark.

[paulyy]

PAF's are not traditionally loose, or scatterwound so start with that... The few PAF coils ive seen up close were quite tightly wound. Plus all the pictures i've seen indicate that as well. You can really change the pickup with the parts though. The keeper, screws, and magnet play an enourmous role. I tried something like 10 different screws before I found one that sound "right" to me. The mojo ones were particularly dark.

All the part come from mojo and Iv heard that their polescrews have a dark sound to them. I'll try winding them tighter and see if that helps. Thanks for the info.

[David Schwab]

How many turns are you winding?

[paulyy]

How many turns are you winding?

5700 and 5200.

[David Schwab]

5700 and 5200.

That's too much wire for a bright neck pickup. Try like 4500 & 5000.

That should get you a bright and snappy pickup!

[belwar]

That's too much wire for a bright neck pickup. Try like 4500 & 5000.

That should get you a bright and snappy pickup!

That sounds about perfect to me too.

[belwar]

All the part come from mojo and Iv heard that their polescrews have a dark sound to them. I'll try winding them tighter and see if that helps. Thanks for the info.

Are they just for yourself or for sale? If they are for you I can send a set of bright screws. PM your address if you are in the states.

Also, IIRC the mojo long leg baseplates didnt sound so hot either. If your bobbins fit try the stewmac/allparts baseplate .. They are the same.

[Shepherd]

Wow, I did'nt those parts had that much effect on the sound. I've got alot to learn. Thanks for the info.

[Possum]

....

David said they changed the metal in the baseplates, they used to be real brassy looking, I didn't like those either. Will try some of his new ones...

[belwar]

I had the metal in all the standard available base plates analysed.. Those Mojo ones were half the standard nickel of a PAF, and mostly made from copper.

There is one baseplate available out there that is VERY PAF accurate metal wise.

[paulyy]

Are they just for yourself or for sale? If they are for you I can send a set of bright screws. PM your address if you are in the states.

Also, IIRC the mojo long leg baseplates didnt sound so hot either. If your bobbins fit try the stewmac/allparts baseplate .. They are the same.

Thanks for the the offer but I'll stick with the ones I have. I use the 2.00 sets from mojo.

I dont use the long leg baseplates, just the short ones. Are they both made with the same metals.

[David Schwab]

Is this bright enough?

PAF Neck

This is a Stew-Mac kit, wound 5,000 turns per coil.

[EFK]

Nice sounding pickup David! Snappy.

"There is one baseplate available out there that is VERY PAF accurate metal wise."

And...... ????

Do we need to play guessing games?

[belwar]

That was cryptic, i suppose.