is this book any good?

[kevinT]

Does anyone have this book and can tell me/us whether it's worthwhile to have?

Pickups, Windings and Magnets: ... And the Guitar Became Electric

[NightWinder]

It seems pretty cool. Don't get your hopes up on finding a mysterious formula or something. You seem to have a good grip on what you are doing, and may come off as a little amatureish. The price isn't too high, It might be something to have. You know the saying with us pickup makers...."you never gonna know to you try!" LOL

[kevinT]

Don't get your hopes up on finding a mysterious formula or something.

No book is going to give you the level of proficiency that hands on expereince and good old fashioned R & D can provide.

I would want the book as a reference like the way i use Jason's book and Brosnac's book which i refer to from time to time. Not looking for any magical potion book because it just doesn't exist. Great pickup designs can only come from hard work and trial and error which i'm currently involved with now.

may come off as a little amatureish.

now..now...no cheap shots here....or else...I'll program my winder to give you 50 spins and a good body slam.

[NightWinder]

No book is going to give you the level of proficiency that hands on expereince and good old fashioned R & D can provide.

I would want the book as a reference like the way i use Jason's book and Brosnac's book which i refer to from time to time. Not looking for any magical potion book because it just doesn't exist. Great pickup designs can only come from hard work and trial and error which i'm currently involved with now.




now..now...no cheap shots here....or else...I'll program my winder to give you 50 spins and a good body slam.

I was refering to It may come off amaturish to you....Things you already know?

[Possum]

words for the wise.....

When you see ANY kind of book like this BUY IT. If there's only one word of knowledge in it that you didn't know your money will be well spent. I have a big ass library of guitar books and every pickup related book I could get my hands on. Books like these go out of print very rapidly then they get expensive. I have found in books on Fender history for example SECRETS there in print in black and white, and I bet not one of you guys has read this stuff. When you see bargain books on guitars at Borders or wherever buy those too, I've learned stuff from some books I still won't share with anyone and its there in print for anyone to read if you keep your mind open. Part of being a good pickup maker is RESEARCH. Books are essential....

[madialex]

I just bought one myself...

[Phil m]

When you see ANY kind of book like this BUY IT. If there's only one word of knowledge in it that you didn't know your money will be well spent.

It should be elected 'post of the week' That's the best advice I've seen yet. I own about 12 books on guitar building and about 20 DVD's of the whole process. I spent tons of cash at stewmac's just for learning tools.

[Possum]

yes thanks....

There are a couple of these books available new, Amazon's you have to wait 4 weeks to get one, I'm dying to see whats in this one, how the heck did I miss this one?

Also, there is a new authorized Fender book coming out, Amazon is taking pre-orders for a book on Fender amps by the same guy that did the anniversary strat book, looks like a good one to snag.....

[kevinT]

yep ...i ordered one too.


i just found out that Stew-Mac has it. Last time I looked they had it in stock and ready to ship.

[WolfeMacleod]

Just picked one up myself. Can't hurt to have it around, and it may contain usefull stuff on pickups I'm not overly familliar with.
Should be good reference material, if nothing else.

[mick]

Yeah not too bad , no great big secrets but then that's no surprise , all in all not a bad read...+1 on what Dave said , It was available at Elderly Instruments,
don't know if they have any left but a quick call would remedy that for you guys stateside ,
Mick

[kevinT]

I couldn't wait ...i went to Borders and they had it.

Looks pretty good so far just thumbing through it for a few minutes. It even has pics of Jason's pickups in the replacement pickup section where the color pics are.

[kevinT]

Just picked one up myself. Can't hurt to have it around, and it may contain usefull stuff on pickups I'm not overly familliar with.
Should be good reference material, if nothing else.

hey wolfe,

the book mentions you on page 58.

[WolfeMacleod]

hey wolfe,

the book mentions you on page 58.

What? No Shit? Please scan it an email it to me, or post it here.
Gotta see this...

[kevinT]

What? No Shit? Please scan it an email it to me, or post it here.
Gotta see this...

My scanner is currently off line . Its in Chapter 6 Archaeology and technology.

I'll type some up. "...makers used the old models as an inspiration for tone, but instead of recreating them exactly, took liberty as far as techniques and materials were concerned. With specifications often based on those few pickups which had more output than normal, such as some overwound PAFs, or altering the characteristics to pursue a more personal tone, although applying the same attention to details and quality of materials as on their more historically correct replicas. Some examples of this kind of high quality productions not aimed at exact "vintage" copies came from Wolfetone, Joe Barden, Rio Grande...."

You're also listed in the Pickup Makers in the USA on Page 136. They're may be more references, i haven't read through the book word for word yet.