Essex Plain enamel

[Marco78]

Hey, I have to get a 1-2 lb of Plain Enamel. I have contacted Superior Essex and I ask me about 25 $ for 1 lb. The price is very low in comparison to other seller. (Bae, MSW, Mojo.. etc etc). Is it "real" PE? Do you have tried Essex plain enamel?

[Possum]

I don't think Essex makes plain enamel anymore, not that I've heard, since 2003. You have to be careful as some companies call their wire "enamel" but its a poly coated wire.

[Marco78]

I don't think Essex makes plain enamel anymore, not that I've heard, since 2003. You have to be careful as some companies call their wire "enamel" but its a poly coated wire.

Tnx Dave, the price is too low for PE wire.

[big_teee]

Hi Marco:
You may want to buy the Essex wire, I use a lot of their Red 42 SPN.
It's good All Purpose wire. I use it a lot in Humbuckers.
I mainly use the PE for Vintage Rewinds.
Another thing, if your Hand winding, the Lighter Colors are easier to See and Use.
The Dark Brown PE is my Least Favorite to wind.
I use The Heavy Build HFV on Single Coils, but will probably switch over to HPN, when I get more wire.
Good Luck,
Terry

[Marco78]

Hi Marco:
You may want to buy the Essex wire, I use a lot of their Red 42 SPN.
It's good All Purpose wire. I use it a lot in Humbuckers.
I mainly use the PE for Vintage Rewinds.
Another thing, if your Hand winding, the Lighter Colors are easier to See and Use.
The Dark Brown PE is my Least Favorite to wind.
I use The Heavy Build HFV on Single Coils, but will probably switch over to HPN, when I get more wire.
Good Luck,
Terry

Hi Terry, I want to buy purple PE because I wanti wind vintage PAF. I like this sound. In this moment I don't need to poly wire for modern sound humbucker. I know that Purple PE is difficult to use, I'll be patient.

[big_teee]

Hi Terry, I want to buy purple PE because I wanti wind vintage PAF. I like this sound. In this moment I don't need to poly wire for modern sound humbucker. I know that Purple PE is difficult to use, I'll be patient.

Never seen any Purple, I thought it was Brown.
As My Winding Time Goes on, I'm getting to think more like DS.
Wire is Wire. It's what you do with it that counts!
T

[FunkyKikuchiyo]

I got all excited that another company would be starting to make PE, and my hopes were crushed mightily! Thanks.

My few experiences with Essex is that they make good wire, but if you're set on doing PE you'll have to go for MWS or mojo. If you just want enough wire to try it and settle the PE/poly debate for yourself instead of reading what dorks like me have to say (never a recommended solution - trying yourself is always best), mojo should be fine. At least that way you know you're getting pe and not something else. There are spools of poly out there that are colored to look like PE, though I'm not aware of anyone actually getting ripped off like this - some pickup makers have done this, though.

I wouldn't mind trying essex again - I seem to remember hearing a difference between poly in essex and elektrisola, and didn't find much difference with my micrometer or anything else, except that the essex stuff I had was respooled and kinda brittle.

[FunkyKikuchiyo]

Another thing, if your Hand winding, the Lighter Colors are easier to See and Use.

Terry - I had eyesight issues in my first year or so of winding, and I found that having colored paper on hand helped a lot. I'd tuck it in behind the bobbin so it would give a backdrop and make it easier to see the wire. Have you tried anything like that?

I also gave in and bought drug store reading glasses, but that is another matter.

[Marco78]

Thanks for you advices boy. This forum is awesome.

[big_teee]

I got all excited that another company would be starting to make PE, and my hopes were crushed mightily! Thanks.

My few experiences with Essex is that they make good wire, but if you're set on doing PE you'll have to go for MWS or mojo. If you just want enough wire to try it and settle the PE/poly debate for yourself instead of reading what dorks like me have to say (never a recommended solution - trying yourself is always best), mojo should be fine. At least that way you know you're getting pe and not something else. There are spools of poly out there that are colored to look like PE, though I'm not aware of anyone actually getting ripped off like this - some pickup makers have done this, though.

I wouldn't mind trying essex again - I seem to remember hearing a difference between poly in essex and elektrisola, and didn't find much difference with my micrometer or anything else, except that the essex stuff I had was respooled and kinda brittle.

I don't have the sources to prove it.
If you bought the same exact 42 Ga. wire, with poly, and PE, and they were the same size O.D. and the same Resistance per foot, I don't think you would hear any significant Difference!
That's where I think the comparison ends, Apparently They can't get them the same size, and the same DCR per Foot.
Your Thoughts!
B_T

[FunkyKikuchiyo]

It all comes down to trying it out. Personally I hear a difference. The PE has a cleaner high end to my ears, while poly has a slight rasp to it, and I hear that quality change slightly from brand to brand. If someone else doesn't hear it, I'm not going to waste my time arguing over it. Instrument design is a very personal thing, and this is just one of those instances. If someone gets the same results with two different wires, it really isn't any of my business/concern to convince them otherwise. If someone else needs to have one to get the desired results, then I trust that they've considered their options. Snake oil does indeed exist, but once you get into product design, I think few of us have any desire to make our lives needlessly difficult.

I usually end up in the category of "cork sniffer", but I'm okay with that. I believe my own ears, and I feel confident that it isn't just a placebo effect because I so often discover something that goes against what I expected or wanted.

[big_teee]

It all comes down to trying it out. Personally I hear a difference. The PE has a cleaner high end to my ears, while poly has a slight rasp to it, and I hear that quality change slightly from brand to brand. If someone else doesn't hear it, I'm not going to waste my time arguing over it. Instrument design is a very personal thing, and this is just one of those instances. If someone gets the same results with two different wires, it really isn't any of my business/concern to convince them otherwise. If someone else needs to have one to get the desired results, then I trust that they've considered their options. Snake oil does indeed exist, but once you get into product design, I think few of us have any desire to make our lives needlessly difficult.

I agree, there are sound differences as is.
My Point I was trying to make is, If we could get all things equal (which they are not), wouldn't they sound the same.
If the insulation was the same thickness, the wire was the same wire, and the O.D. was the Same, My curiosity thinks, they would sound the Same.
But, Who Knows.
No Argument Here, Just thinking of the Possibilities.
On the Other Foot, and Yes I am going to try getting some HPN with Clear Insulation and try to replace the HFV that I am currently using.
In Strat Coils I think they will sound very similar.
What do you guys think?
Like someone on here said, if you are trying to sell things, we all become Bean Counters Sooner or Later.
In this Recessed Economy, In my Area, There is very little Market for High End Pickups.
So the Trick is to make a Great Sounding pickup for very little Money.
It's hard to do that in my Area with the more expensive PE.
B_T

[copperheadroads]

Its funny how our Ears/bRAIN/PERSONAL TASTE develops
Im personally not fond of my strat pickups when wound with Poly wire any more
I really like them wound with PE ,But i can get the tone i want from a tele when using Poly wire
& yes....... I AM ON THE LACQUER FUMES

[Jim Shine]

I too would like to find some of that dark purplish colored plain enamel wire.

[copperheadroads]

I don't know if i seen any purple ,But the mws wire has a dark brown color with a touch of cherry
the vintage Gibson wire was dark but more of orange .....not cherry