Anyone read "The Guitar Pickups Handbook" by Dave Hunter??

[rhgwynn]

I just ordered this off Amazon. It comes with a CD that demos the different sounds of pickups. It seemed like a good resource to have. When I am done reading it I will come back to talk about what I thought of it. But in the meantime - anyone? What'd ya think of it?

-Rob

[bbsailor]

I just ordered this off Amazon. It comes with a CD that demos the different sounds of pickups. It seemed like a good resource to have. When I am done reading it I will come back to talk about what I thought of it. But in the meantime - anyone? What'd ya think of it?

-Rob

Rob

Dave's book provides a good survey of current and historical pickups with many patent illustrations and black-white photos of these pickups. His book provides a comprehensive overview and orientation about how various single coil and humbucker pickups are made today and have been made in the past. However, it is a little light on the kind of technical discussions that are typically found on this forum. Once you focus on the pickups of your interest with Dave's book and then look up some of the pickup technical references and web links that are posted on this forum and then review the Pickup Makers Forum technical discussions, you should have most of your questions answered.

When you get the book, post your impressions.

Joseph Rogowski

[Bryan Jeppson]

I'd be curious to hear a winder's review of it as well.
I have the Mario Milan book, which sounds similar - great overview of history, and rough comparisons of different makers specs and such. Not a How-To book at all, but a handy reference.

[Peter Naglitsch]

I can verify Josephs opinion. A nice book, but no how-to at all. I think that the sound samples could be even more distinct but that is probably my ears and not the recording... Starting to loose a bit of the top end hearing and I'm only 44!!!

[David Schwab]

I have the book. There are some glaring errors and typos in it. I haven't looked at it in a while, so right off the top of my head I don't remember what they were, but I believe I marked them. He really needed an editor to go over it before it was printed. But it's an interesting book. I like the interviews.

[bbsailor]

Rob, David, Bryan, Peter, and all interested

Read Helumth Lemme's new book "Electric Guitar- Sound Secrets and Technology" for some more technical insight on how pickups shape the sound that we hear. The consequence of obtaining a high enough pickup output to drive early tube-based guitar amps required enough wire turns to form a resonant circuit that created the traditional "electric guitar pickup sound" that continues today. Helmuth explores pickup construction techniques that contribute to the pickup sound we hear.

See this detailed book review.
http://www.elektor.com/Uploads/2013/...udioXpress.pdf

Joseph Rogowski

[Mark Hammer]

I got the book a year or so ago. I'd concur wih many of the comments made above. In its favour, I will say that it is one heckuva lot more thorough and accurate than the effects pedal book he has. Where I like to use it is as backup to threads I'm reading here. It's just easier to look up specific pickups in the book than it is to search for them here. It's also nice to have patent numbers that I can pursue further.

It's a useful book to have. I don't think it will launch any pickup-making careers, but it is handy to have, and a very good book to loan out to folks who want to know more about pickups.

[J S Moore]

This^.

I think it's a good book for what it was intended to do. Educate players on what type of pickup is suitable for their style of playing. I thought his amplifier book was pretty good. Not a DIY but an excellent primer on the basics and how the circuit choices impact the sound of the amp.

[David Schwab]

Yes, it's a book for players, not pickup makers. I got it as a gift, but I did enjoy reading it.

[Mark Hammer]

I will also note that one can use the soundfiles as samples of an actual pickup sound for those instances where you want to try something out and a standard bench tone generator won't do.

[Bryan Jeppson]

Rob, David, Bryan, Peter, and all interested

Read Helumth Lemme's new book "Electric Guitar- Sound Secrets and Technology" for some more technical insight on how pickups shape the sound that we hear.
Joseph Rogowski

You sold me - Just ordered a copy from Amazon.

[Joe Gwinn]

In postings 7-9, which book is "It", Lemme's or the original one of posting 1?

[rhgwynn]

In postings 7-9, which book is "It", Lemme's or the original one of posting 1?

Original post - The Lemme book is much more technical, and may be the more favorable choice.

-Rob

[RedHouse]

... I will say that it is one heckuva lot more thorough and accurate than the effects pedal book he has...

Ain't that the truth!.