Single Coil Sized Rail Humbucker Parts

[tonedeciple]

Does anyone have a photo(s) of a disassembled single coils sized rail humbucker? I have a request for some, but I've never taken one apart.

[Magnut]

I'm holding one in my hand. The rail measures 2.29" wide. .84" tall (the top has a radius, that is to the top) and .055" thick.

There is a small step at the bottom on each side. I may be able to post pics later.

*Edit* BTW they were each mounted in a plastic bobbin

[tonedeciple]

I'm holding one in my hand. The rail measures 2.29" wide. .84" tall (the top has a radius, that is to the top) and .055" thick.

There is a small step at the bottom on each side. I may be able to post pics later.

*Edit* BTW they were each mounted in a plastic bobbin

That's what I need to know. Thanks! Now I just have to source the parts

[copperheadroads]

well if you cand find those parts let us know where ok

[David Schwab]

I just got some of these bobbins:

SANHE MUSICAL INSTRUMENT CO., LTD.

You need to add the blade, and the bottom flatwork.

Here's a rail Tele pickup I bought. I mentioned it in another thread... it was $20! You can see how they are made. The blades and magnet pass though the bottom flat work. This pickup has a brass plate on the bottom.

[peskywinnets]

Good work there David!

I've been perusing that site (great site), but can't see the actual blade itself ...I guess this is what you meant when you say "You have to add the blade"?

Does anywhere sell such blades? Or is it a matter of getting out the hacksaw & making some awful looking ones myself?

PS Re their prices....what's a typical MOQ & price for those blade bobbins (or any other bobbin come to that!). Also what do they typically charge for shipping on their MOQ of bobbins. Finally, presumably TT is their only payment option (I dearly wish the Chinese etc would catch on to alternative payment methods!)

[Possum]

...

Yeah I wish the Chinese would get hep to Paypal, there are alot of Chinese companies selling on Ebay and using PP at least. Shipping is a killer, shipping just about anything costs $85 via EMS. Add $40 for money transfer, hardly worth it.

[Peter Naglitsch]

IIRC the bobbins I got from Paxphil were like 30 cents each (both blades and standard bobbins) for small orders. I had some blades done from magnetic stainless steel using a water jet cutter. The material was extremely expensive, but not I have steel for like 1000 pickups

If anyone buys the paxphil (and every else that suply the same make) blade bobbins would like to buy a small amount av blades just let me know. They are magnetic stainless steel with a non polished cutting surface. A different look from commercially availible pickups, but maybe not a bad thing.

Still trying to get the blade pcikups to sound good. Blade pickups are a completely different animal...

[David Schwab]

Still trying to get the blade pcikups to sound good. Blade pickups are a completely different animal...

It might be the stainless blades. I used blades made from 430 stainless in my Jazz bass pickups, and they were very harsh sounding. Switching to low carbon steel was a big improvement.

[automan]

Does anyone have a photo(s) of a disassembled single coils sized rail humbucker? I have a request for some, but I've never taken one apart.

I have one I took apart a few days back to check it out. It has one rail that runs from top to bottom, then on each siide is a ceramic mag in a bobbin wrapped in side winder fashion. I can take pics tomorrow in the shop with a ruler if you want them.

[Peter Naglitsch]

It might be the stainless blades. I used blades made from 430 stainless in my Jazz bass pickups, and they were very harsh sounding. Switching to low carbon steel was a big improvement.

Or simply the fact that I havn't spent enough time winding blade pickups. Anyway, thanks for the input.

[David Schwab]

Or simply the fact that I havn't spent enough time winding blade pickups. Anyway, thanks for the input.

Well that's true, but I'm just letting you know that I did several rounds of prototypes, and even had a set in one of my gigging basses for a week or two before I decided to change the blades, while leaving the rest of the design intact. It went from edgy — bordering on unpleasant — to perfect, with just the blade swap.

So it might be something to try, and is fairly easy to do. It's easier to find 1/16" low carbon steel than magnetic stainless too.

But then you did have a bunch of blades made. You can also try larger wire or winding less. When I did a hot wind with 43 and 44 gauge wire, it was so midrange heavy that it ruined my day! Might be cool for a guitar pickup though, but was bad for bass.

[FunkyKikuchiyo]

David - the 430 stainless was harsh, did you have a chance to try any other alloys? From the 400 series of course (the others aren't magnetic if I remember right), but I'm wondering if that is a trait of all stainless or just that specific kind.

Thanks for this thread, I love blade pickups - low string pull is my friend.

[David Schwab]

I didn't get a chance to try any other alloys, mostly due to available sizes. I wasn't set up to cut a sheet down to size. Can you recommend any other alloys?

[FunkyKikuchiyo]

David - I can't recommend any alloys, I'm just in the "shopping" phase. I haven't found any substantive information on different SS alloys online except that the 400 series is magnetic. I have seen many other types out there, though.

It seems SS would be wonderful given it doesn't need any plating or paint, which many blade pickup manufacturers seem to like to do. The ones I've made with plain steel do rust up a tad, I don't know if it'll actually be bad for the pickup down the road.