Custom-Spaced Fender Style Parts

[Zhangliqun]

I'm learning to make custom-spaced Strat bobbins, so far so good. So I'm looking in particular for tighter spaced Strat covers to match, particularly to work with 49.2 and 50 and 51 mm.

Also, because I'm using humbucker bobbins as a template of a sort, does anyone make a 51mm humbucker bobbin?

[the great waldo]

I'm learning to make custom-spaced Strat bobbins, so far so good. So I'm looking in particular for tighter spaced Strat covers to match, particularly to work with 49.2 and 50 and 51 mm.

Also, because I'm using humbucker bobbins as a template of a sort, does anyone make a 51mm humbucker bobbin?

Harry Haussel in Germany does assorted covers, or at least he used to, I have´nt checked for a while.

Cheers
Andrew

[RedHouse]

I'm learning to make custom-spaced Strat bobbins, so far so good. So I'm looking in particular for tighter spaced Strat covers to match, particularly to work with 49.2 and 50 and 51 mm.

Also, because I'm using humbucker bobbins as a template of a sort, does anyone make a 51mm humbucker bobbin?

Can't you just get the undrilled ones and punch them yourself? thats what I do when I need top make special spaced covers.

Like so:



These are metal, but you can get solid White (PC-0446-025) and Black (PC-0446-023) from both Guitarpartsresource and Allparts.

Guitar Parts Resource: Strat Covers

Guitar Parts | Bass Guitar Parts | Amp Parts | AllParts.com

I made a special jig to index the cover and the spacing and use the arbor press to punch them. Here I'm doing a mini-P90 that fits into a mini-humbucker cover:



Just an idea.

[David Schwab]

Right, or just use closed covers. Wy do we need to see the magnets anyway?

Better yet, use a blade. Then you only need to make one size pickup.

Brad, your arbor press is sitting in a colorless world.

[JGundry]

Can't you just get the undrilled ones and punch them yourself? thats what I do when I need top make special spaced covers.

Like so:



These are metal, but you can get solid White (PC-0446-025) and Black (PC-0446-023) from both Guitarpartsresource and Allparts.

Guitar Parts Resource: Strat Covers

Guitar Parts | Bass Guitar Parts | Amp Parts | AllParts.com

I made a special jig to index the cover and the spacing and use the arbor press to punch them. Here I'm doing a mini-P90 that fits into a mini-humbucker cover:



Just an idea.

I love this idea! Do you have more detailed photos of how you indexed the spacing? Are you punching the holes in one stage?

[copperheadroads]

it's all the look people are after. a strat has to look a certain way ,one word "RELIC" .honestly i like the EMG look sometimes its better when customers don't know the difference in magnet wire & baling wire. but know what tone they are after

[Zhangliqun]

I got some black no-hole covers and figured out a way to use humbucker bobbins as templates for pilot holes, but probably the arbor press is better. (Would look into grabbing one but just did my taxes today and could use a good stiff drink right about now...)

Problem is these no-hole covers (and all the others I've seen) have this rough texture to the top instead of having the same smooth finish as the sides. The manufacturer apparently thinks that's cute but it's a lot of extra work to sand and polish them and they're still not quite mirror like a normal cover. If you know where some black covers are with a shiny top (can't tell from the links you gave me), I'm there.

Dave, it's not about seeing the magnets. If you have staggered magnets as most Strat pickups do, no-hole covers are not exactly practical.

[RedHouse]

I love this idea! Do you have more detailed photos of how you indexed the spacing? Are you punching the holes in one stage?

I didn't take any other pics JG, basically it's a plate that holds the cover and sits/rides along the base plate which is in the picture. The indexing plate has a series of holes down one side that correspond to each hole to be punched. A 1/8" alignment dowel was placed in the baseplate that indexes each hole to be punched, each hole is punched then the index plate is lifted and moved to the next index hole, then punched ...ad infinitum, ad nausium.

[JGundry]

Got it. I figured it was a sort of carriage that rode on a registration pin. Thanks.

[Zhangliqun]

Redhouse, what do you recommend for an arbor press? And the photo appears that the template is just partial, as if a third of it was torn off -- or is that just a lighting thing in the photo?

[RedHouse]

Redhouse, what do you recommend for an arbor press? And the photo appears that the template is just partial, as if a third of it was torn off -- or is that just a lighting thing in the photo?

Mr z, that is just a 1/2 ton press from the likes of Harbor Freight and Tool Town etc.

The weirdness on the pic is just the reflection of the top of the press in the chrome cover which has some black lines on it from a sharpie pen, there is no template in that pic. The black lines (circles) are there to be able to see that the index plate actually punced where I was hoping they would. The circles were done with a actual previously punched cover.

The first few times it didn't, it took some time to get things working "just right" but then that's part of DIY production isn't it?.

Craftsmen can get a lot of mileage out of rudimentary tools if they apply and focus their skills.
(or at least I'm told)

[David Schwab]

Dave, it's not about seeing the magnets. If you have staggered magnets as most Strat pickups do, no-hole covers are not exactly practical.

I hate staggered magnets.

[RedHouse]

I hate staggered magnets.

That's because you're not a Strat guy. If you were, and tried an even-pole strat pickup, you'd not hate staggered magnets.

They are what they are, and have a special sound.

[David Schwab]

That's because you're not a Strat guy. If you were, and tried an even-pole strat pickup, you'd not hate staggered magnets.

They are what they are, and have a special sound.

I have a Strat type guitar. I've had real Fender Strats. To my ears staggered magnets sound uneven from string to string, which annoys the hell out of me. Obviously if I said I don't like them I tried them many many times.

I like the flat poled pickups better, but then Strats don't get only one tone, you know?

[RedHouse]

I have a Strat type guitar. I've had real Fender Strats. To my ears staggered magnets sound uneven from string to string, which annoys the hell out of me. Obviously if I said I don't like them I tried them many many times.

I like the flat poled pickups better, but then Strats don't get only one tone, you know?

Yeah I know also, some stagger more than others. I use a mild stagger that complies with the neck radii.

...To my ears staggered magnets sound uneven from string to string, which annoys the hell out of me. .

It really does depend on the neck, where a 7-/12" (vintage) radius neck really needs that stagger and can sound uneven when using a flat magnet pickup, a 12" radius neck doesn't so much need stagger, and at the other extreme a 10-16" compound neck (Warmoth etc) sounds a little better with flats and can sound real bad with a heavily staggered pickup. Flats can't be flush with the tops of the bobbins (ala Tele style) or you start loosing the Strat character in the tone.