Cotton Wrapping vs. Tape

[rhgwynn]

Pros and Cons of each, please? Does the cotton affect the tone at all? Why is that done to teles and not strats? Thank you.

-Rob

[big_teee]

Pros and Cons of each, please? Does the cotton affect the tone at all? Why is that done to teles and not strats? Thank you.

-Rob

It's not vintage, but I use clothe tape.
IMO, Neater, and more professional looking, and much easier.
I have used black yarn, but it is pretty fuzzy.
No tonal difference as far as I can tell.
Fender left Strat coils unwrapped, because of the plastic covers.
T

[Mark Hammer]

I use teflon plumber's tape as a first layer. Besides being cheap and very thin, its width is approximately the height of many coils, and it is very pliable and compliant with the shape of the coil/bobbin. You can pull it tighter and it can "tuck in" a looser coil, yet still give a little. The best part is that it has no adhesive, allowing you to lay down a few turns on the outside of the coil, and then apply the tape of your choice, without having to be too concerned about any adhesive decomposing on the exposed coil. The risk of an adhesive-based outer covering damaging the coil (e.g., tugging at a winding and tearing it) may well be the reason why the earliest Teles used cotton string to cover the bridge-pickup coil. Keep in mind that Teles predate Strats.

[big_teee]

I use teflon plumber's tape as a first layer. Besides being cheap and very thin, its width is approximately the height of many coils, and it is very pliable and compliant with the shape of the coil/bobbin. You can pull it tighter and it can "tuck in" a looser coil, yet still give a little. The best part is that it has no adhesive, allowing you to lay down a few turns on the outside of the coil, and then apply the tape of your choice, without having to be too concerned about any adhesive decomposing on the exposed coil. The risk of an adhesive-based outer covering damaging the coil (e.g., tugging at a winding and tearing it) may well be the reason why the earliest Teles used cotton string to cover the bridge-pickup coil. Keep in mind that Teles predate Strats.

The teflon sounds like a good idea.
I instead for a first layer, use black waxed floral tape.
It stretches some, and if warm the wax is tacky, and sticks to itself good.
Then I put a neatly placed layer of black fabric tape, over the floral tape.
Overkill maybe, but it covers it all well.
If they want white cotton string, I charge extra for that.
The extra price usually talks them out of it.
Like Kojak says, "I can do that, but It's gonna Cost You!"
T

[Jim Shine]

Tele bridge pickups were not designed to have a protective cover to protect the fragile winds. So they wrapped the coil in string to protect it. The neck pickup was protected by a cover, so it did not need string. Same goes for Strat and all other pickups to follow.

[Zhangliqun]

I have used black yarn, but it is pretty fuzzy.

Just take a lighter and burn off the fuzz. It's really quick and easy.

[big_teee]

Just take a lighter and burn off the fuzz. It's really quick and easy.

IMO, Cloth Humbucker tape works, and looks much better.
I always offer, and show the customers the choice, and nearly everytime they choose the tape.
I've not had anyone choose the white cotton string.
I only use the cotton string on rewinds on request.
T

[David Schwab]

IMO, Cloth Humbucker tape works, and looks much better.

I agree.