Using 1960's Plain Enamel Magnet Wire

[NightWinder]

some old wooden spool wire up on ebay

the cloth wire is whats got me looking,, could be neat stuff just to have a few spools of, I'll pass on the enamel -- check his other auctions

http://cgi.ebay.com/lot-4-vintage-ra...ayphotohosting

Look like the wire is trash...........I see your interest in the cloth though

[WBPickups]

Thanks for the support!

Hello everyone! I am the Will Boggs. I am the guy that has the 67-07's vintage wire pickups. There is a lot of questions here about the wire, the pickups, my future and honesty here it seems.

When I was turned on to this wire. I was offered a little to use to wind with and test before I bought the whole lot. Well, I wound some and they were the best sounding pickups I have ever heard if I say so myself. I bought every box my connection had. All the boxes except for one was sealed and very well preserved. Was it bad stock as someone mentioned?.... NO. It was bought from a former pickup winder from a very well known company and he kept the wire in a air condition room for the last 37 years. He had the wire for that long..

Someone quoted my web site as to I slowly wound these pickups to limit breakage. Yes, I did. After spending a lot of $ for this wire. I wanted to make sure that they didn't break while winding. All wire can break while winding, new or old. Except this wire was extremely costly to me and I didn't want to break a wire mid wind and waste 3000 winds of wire. I don't ever solder wire together and keep winding so that option is out. In fact, all of the limited sets come with a sample of the wire. Because I did break wire while winding. And that's the sample I am giving out with the sets.

Warranty on all my pickups are 10 years on workmanship and materials. Just in time for me to do the next phase of the 67-17's. That's right. I have enough to do another run in 10 years. And I will. that will be the last of that wire. But, I do have a stash of NOS Vintage 42 PE wire that will be announced later..That is also so well preserved that I almost cried when I found it.

Now, as for the price of these pickups. Well if you think I am getting rich of these. LOFL! NO. This wire cost so much that you would be shocked as to how much I am making per set.

Is it great marketing? Well, I haven't done one bit of paid advertising. I have told my customers to play them and to put them up against anything they have and then tell me & others what they think. Are my customers dumb? NO. The 67-07's have been played by quite a few reputable players. They are currently on tour with a quite a few names out there.

Nightwinder, my customers have the optioned to buy these un-potted and they have. Am I worried that this wire will short out? No, my quality and workmanship is top notch. This wire is perfect I am 100% not worried about them at all.

Spence, my wife was not worried about the coating of the wire. She was pissed that I spent a boatload of $ for that wire. After investing so much money into our company, I went and bough this wire when I really couldn't afford it.

Don Mare, I will put my 67-07's up against anything you make with new wire anytime. No disrespect to you. But I would put my regular VTP's made with new 42 PE wire up against your stuff. Let's do it. Insinuating that I would have to lie or shut down once this wire is gone is pretty bold. If any of you would like to do a pickup shootout. Let's do it... It's one thing to talk the talk on these forums, but let's walk the walk. I don't BS my customers with smoke and mirrors and claims of the holy grail. Magnet theories & BS. Hell, I have let my customers try out my stuff before they bought.

Well, I thought I would introduce myself and come on here and thank you all for the support. If anybody would like to buy a set of my 67-07's to take them apart or dissect to copy. Feel free. I would be honored to take your $.

Will Boggs
www.wbpickups.com
Redding, California
530-221-0841

[Spence]

We've all had heated debates on here about pickup shoot-outs. No one's interested.

[David Schwab]

Hey Will, I just want to point out that in the video clip "67-07 Vintage Wire #2" the Gibson has covers on the pickups, while the second guitar does not. That's hardly a way to compare pickups... the uncovered pickups will always be brighter and more responsive, just as they are in the video. This is why people started removing the covers in the first place. They are also two different guitars.

[WBPickups]

Hey Will, I just want to point out that in the video clip "67-07 Vintage Wire #2" the Gibson has covers on the pickups, while the second guitar does not. That's hardly a way to compare pickups... the uncovered pickups will always be brighter and more responsive, just as they are in the video. This is why people started removing the covers in the first place. They are also two different guitars.

OK....

[WBPickups]

We've all had heated debates on here about pickup shoot-outs. No one's interested.

Of coarse not... It's the same old crap as usual. Disrespect a fellow winder and his customers and not back it up. I could care less if no body wants to back their stuff up. But to disrespect someone's customers and to insinuate that one may have to lie to his customers to carry on. That's petty BS.

I didn't come here to have a dick pulling contest. As far as a heated debate regarding pickups. Debate on. But don't insult my customers or me. Especially if you are not willing to back it up without truth..

Like I stated before... Thank you for those who support. I wish you all the best with your debates but I have to go make guitar pickups.

Will

[Dave Kerr]

I didn't see an awful lot of disrespect in this thread, certainly not enough to get worked up over.

[kevinT]

Hello everyone! I am the Will Boggs. I am the guy that has the 67-07's vintage wire pickups. There is a lot of questions here about the wire, the pickups, my future and honesty here it seems.

Hi Will, welcome aboard. It's good to have another pro to provide expertise... without giving away your secrets Jason hardly ever posts anymore..probably too busy as well as Wolfe.

It was bought from a former pickup winder from a very well known company and he kept the wire in a air condition room for the last 37 years. He had the wire for that long..

But, I do have a stash of NOS Vintage 42 PE wire that will be announced later..That is also so well preserved that I almost cried when I found it.

Cool. I wouldn't mind having some of that wire myself. Just curious... why hasn't the pickup maker that supplied you the wire used it themselves?

Now, as for the price of these pickups. Well if you think I am getting rich of these. LOFL! NO. This wire cost so much that you would be shocked as to how much I am making per set.

Pricing is all up to you and what you think these pickups are worth. I don't think you're gettng rich. Making pickups is a hard way of making a living. As Possum mentioned, one can probably make more money collecting and recycling aluminum cans. I have a good paying full time day job and i don't think i will ever quit it to make pickups full time. I don't think i could deal with all the parts supply issues/headaches, filling tons of orders...etc.... i would probably pull out all my hair. I'm a tone freak just like most folks here, however, I really respect those who go out on a limb to do it full time. When i get my shop fully up and running, i want to keep it small and have one on one contact with customers.

Is it great marketing? Well, I haven't done one bit of paid advertising. I have told my customers to play them and to put them up against anything they have and then tell me & others what they think. Are my customers dumb? NO. The 67-07's have been played by quite a few reputable players. They are currently on tour with a quite a few names out there.

Dude ...it's good marketing. Anytime you make a sale and don't have to spend money to get the sale....IMO that is GREAT marketing...and more money in your pocket.

Am I worried that this wire will short out? No, my quality and workmanship is top notch. This wire is perfect I am 100% not worried about them at all.

All that matters is that you're comfortable with it.

Don Mare, I will put my 67-07's up against anything you make with new wire anytime. No disrespect to you. But I would put my regular VTP's made with new 42 PE wire up against your stuff. Let's do it. Insinuating that I would have to lie or shut down once this wire is gone is pretty bold. If any of you would like to do a pickup shootout. Let's do it...

Yeah, i agree with Spence. It's hard to get something like a shoot out coordinated (keeping all the test gear equal..etc...)The only way i see it getting done is to send them to someone/folks (who is/are unbiased to the makers) and let them try them out and let them write a review of the good and bad points of each one and have them provide an overall rating without trashing the runner ups....you have to still keep in mind that tone is still subjective.

It's one thing to talk the talk on these forums, but let's walk the walk. I don't BS my customers with smoke and mirrors and claims of the holy grail. Magnet theories & BS. Hell, I have let my customers try out my stuff before they bought.

As mentioned before in the forum, each pickup maker thinks he makes the best pickups....but no one really touts that theirs are better than anyone else's. There is not much trash talking done here about others. However, when there is...the person usually gets flamed and that usually takes care of it.

I personally ask a lot of questions and want to hear others opinions on matters related to pickups whether it's about parts vendors, pickup contruction, or marketing strategies. That is what forums are for (IMO). ...to bring topics out into the open to be discussed and to share knowledge.

Well, I thought I would introduce myself and come on here and thank you all for the support. If anybody would like to buy a set of my 67-07's to take them apart or dissect to copy. Feel free. I would be honored to take your $.

Thanks for joining. I hope you post a lot...when you're not working

[WBPickups]

Hi Kevin,

As Dave pointed out.... He was right, I may have jumped the gun. I was up late last night working when I decided to come here read some and found this link. And after reading it some more. I don't really find it too offensive. But just like all of you. I am proud of my work and I will defend my product and customers. So here you go... If I offended anybody with my post. I apologize. It was late and I get heated when people tend to insinuate that my products, myself are BS. Just like anybody else would. But at this moment, I am really not pissed at all. Nice to meet you all!

As for all of your questions... I will respond later tonight. I am so squashed for time right now. I have to get quite a few done today and move into our new shop tonight. Finally I will have some central AC. I have been working at night because of the 114-116 degree weather we had last week.

But really everyone. I may come off sometimes as an a$$ at times. But really I am just protective of my work. As all of you are.

I have been a lurker here for a long time. And I am glad to see this art we call winding being so alive. Also know, that I respect anybody who does this. It's my passion and I am sure it is for all of you. Anybody ever feel like talking shop, feel free to call me. I can wind and talk but it's hard to type and wind...LOL!

Will

[David Schwab]

Yeah, i agree with Spence. It's hard to get something like a shoot out coordinated (keeping all the test gear equal..etc...)The only way i see it getting done is to send them to someone/folks (who is/are unbiased to the makers) and let them try them out and let them write a review of the good and bad points of each one and have them provide an overall rating without trashing the runner ups....you have to still keep in mind that tone is still subjective.

Just send some to Guitar Player magazine...

But yeah, you would need a guitar that lets you switch pickups without loosening the strings, etc. Same amp, strings, patch cord, etc. NOT two different guitars. And cranking up a tube amp is hardly a way to hear a pickup. That's like plugging your guitar into a distortion pedal and asking "don't these pickups sound great?" Well, maybe the resulting tone sounds great... but I can't really hear the pickups.

And what are you going to find? Pickups sound different. Apples and Oranges. I might not like a certain pickup, but guess what, people buy them. Some pickups sounds good distorted, but sounds like crap clean, and vice versa. You wouldn't put a Duncan Invader in an archtop jazz box!

Unless a pickup sounds really bad, and that would have to be the consensus of a bunch of people, you can't have the "best" pickup. It all depends on the tone you are looking for.

And Will, I wasn't criticizing you... your pickups sound good in those clips. But comparing that Gibson with the covered pickups wasn't a fair test... not that I'm crazy about Gibson pickups either.

And you've been on my MySpace friends list for a while now... not that that means anything, but welcome to the forum.

[kevinT]

And what are you going to find? Pickups sound different. Apples and Oranges. I might not like a certain pickup, but guess what, people buy them. Some pickups sounds good distorted, but sounds like crap clean, and vice versa. You wouldn't put a Duncan Invader in an archtop jazz box!

Unless a pickup sounds really bad, and that would have to be the consensus of a bunch of people, you can't have the "best" pickup. It all depends on the tone you are looking for.

So True!!!

How does the saying go...."They're really are no bad sounding pickups only pickups that need to find the right guitar..." ...something like that...

[NightWinder]

LOL...Mr.Mare's threads can be quite funny....I'm sure he's lurking in a murky puddle somewhere.

[Spence]

We all believe in what we make. I'm not scared to put my pickups up against yours Will but as you will no doubt come to realise, it's just not easy to get a definitive answer to whose pickups are best because of all the variables.
That said, I have a feeling Don Mare would happily take your challenge...we shall see. He may come across as some sort of idiot to you but he does believe in his methods and will defend himself vigorously.

The big issue has been missed here though. It doesn't matter one bit how old your wire is. It's the type of coating and thickness of coating that matters. In any case, your wire is not one that was used for making PAFs so your pickups may sound fantastic but they'll never be accurate PAF clones. I don't have an issue with that. No one ever said a PAF couldn't be bettered. I just wouldn't have bought that wire unless it was very cheap.

[WBPickups]

We all believe in what we make. I'm not scared to put my pickups up against yours Will but as you will no doubt come to realise, it's just not easy to get a definitive answer to whose pickups are best because of all the variables.
That said, I have a feeling Don Mare would happily take your challenge...we shall see. He may come across as some sort of idiot to you but he does believe in his methods and will defend himself vigorously.

The big issue has been missed here though. It doesn't matter one bit how old your wire is. It's the type of coating and thickness of coating that matters. In any case, your wire is not one that was used for making PAFs so your pickups may sound fantastic but they'll never be accurate PAF clones. I don't have an issue with that. No one ever said a PAF couldn't be bdn't have bought that wire unless it was very cheap.

Spence, I never claimed to make a PAF clone nor have I ever claimed to say that the 67-07's are clones. Personally, no one can. As for this wire. These pickups have been tested by a lot of reputable people in the biz before I put them out there. This isn't my first day in the rodeo. I have been making pickups for quite a few years now.

I myself could care less what my competitors are doing or think of my products. Back to the wire, the proofs in the puddin'. This wire sounds fantastic and to dispute that without hearing them yourself is really quite funny to me. But I would suggest playing them. I think you would love them. I have nothing to hide here. In fact, I am a fan of other winders out there. I have a set of pickups from someone else in one of my guitars that I love. Just because I make pickups, doesn't mean I don't appreciate other's work.

As for Don Mare, I never suggested he was an idiot. In fact, I don't even know him at all. Or even heard one pickup of his. Or even yours too. When I wrote that challenge. I meant it. Not to see who's the best. But to see what everyone's take on a vintage wind.

But I was a little bit miffed that someone would suggest that I would lie to my customers or take advantage of them and question my future as a winder. I am here to stay like it or not. And if I said the same about you Spence, you wouldn't be happy about that yourself. Especially when, I work my butt off everyday making these and I never disrespect any of my competitors selling pickups.. I can't believe that my competitors would even worry about what I am doing. I believe in my pickups 100% and I stand behind them. My pickups are to be played not ebay.. I am a custom shop and I work with my customers to achieve their tones. My customers have all been happy. Although I do need to work on my customer service skills. But I am a one man winder and answering emails is a pain in the butt for me. I'd rather take a phone call...

Look, once again. It's nice to know that people out there are talking about my pickups. But don't judge when you have nothing to base it on. But if you want to talk about me and my products. At least buy a set and earn the right too as my customers have.

Remember, If I come across like an a$$hole. I am sorry. I am just a blunt guy. But don't be butt hurt. I am really not pissed at anyone....

Have a nice day!

[madialex]

Welcome to the forum Will, glad to see you and meet you. Hope you post a lot about pickups and this crazy black art we call winding. Take care Bro.