Go tall!

[Mark Hammer]

Interesting article on restoring/modding a fender Mustang in the current issue of Guitar Player. The builder works with Dan Erlewine at Stew-Mac, hence has access to a lot more parts than many of us would, but it was a clever idea nonetheless.

To get a hotter pickup into a standard Mustang space (inside the plastic cover as well, the guy took some Stew-Mac flatwork, and the tallest polepieces from a staggered set. He fashioned a bobbin that was same-height up top but was a little taller than usual. Then he wound #43 on it to be able to fit more turns in the available space.

I think I may try that.

[Spence]

You can be sure he's not the first to do that. I've been doing things like that for years and I'm confident I'm not the first.

It never ceases to amaze me how many brilliant ideas get attributed to Stew Mac and Dan Erlewine.

[Roy Adams]

Max Frecknall pickups followed this formula.

That was at least 10 years ago.

[Zhangliqun]

I've been using that move for a while myself. Works great to make extra room for hotter winds with 42 wire. It made my most popular Tele bridge model possible.

[Possum]

genius....not

Mine are called Tall Texans, hotter output also very bright because of the taller coil..........

[gilligan]

so there!

Geeeeessssssshhhhh! Lighten up. I feel the stress is infecting my computer, and it's already pissed off!
He just didn't know.......I guess?

[Mark Hammer]

Understood, one and all. Just so you know, I was aware this had been done for awhile and wasn't trying to attribute this to Dan and Stew-Mac as an innovation. It was simply an article that people (beginners especially) could look at. It's also the case that sometimes things you already know about get taken for granted, treated as a given and overlooked for that very reason. Once in a while reminding people about the obvious isn't such a bad thing to do.

We've seen threads/comments in the recent past about polepiece diameter varied across pickup positions. Given Possum's post above, are taller and shorter coils/polepieces a smart idea for tailoring neck/middle/bridge tonal response?

[Zhangliqun]

Given Possum's post above, are taller and shorter coils/polepieces a smart idea for tailoring neck/middle/bridge tonal response?

Could be. If you wanted a Strat middle brighter for better quack, make it a bit taller so the coil is more narrow as one example.

[Joe Gwinn]

Given Possum's post above, are taller and shorter coils/polepieces a smart idea for tailoring neck/middle/bridge tonal response?

I think I've lost the thread. Which way is "taller" and which way is "shorter", in terms of parallel to the axis of the poles or perpendiucular to the axis of the poles? I guess that taller/shorter are parallel to the pole axis.

[black_labb]

theres a local magnet wholesaler near me (sydney australia) who stocks 20mm long 5mm diameter alnico 5 magnets. i bought 20 so at some stage ill use them to make a pickup of some sort. i also bought a variety of ceramic magnets to put under some polepieces to magnetise them. once i finish this guitar i think ill start making pickups for some friends and see how they go. what would you guys suggest for my first pickup? a polepiece with the ceramic or the alnico rods? ill be putting them in the guitar im making.

[Mark Hammer]

Tall = longer polepieces.

[Joe Gwinn]

Tall = longer polepieces.

Thanks. That's what I thought.

[NightWinder]

I say ceramic, just cause most would say Alnico. Make it hot too. Grind their face off, and make them worship you like a GOD!

[black_labb]

I say ceramic, just cause most would say Alnico. Make it hot too. Grind their face off, and make them worship you like a GOD!

i actually started working on the pickup last night and am ready to start winding when i get home tonight

[NightWinder]

What are you going to use?