Tele bridge gauges

[buddha0709]

I know 42 is the standard, but if I wanted to get to 10k in a Tele bridge, and keep some of the Twang but with a bit more output, i'm assuming i'd have to go at least 43awg to get to 10k right? I've also got some 44awg double build, and 43 single build, do you think either would work?
I've only wound 1 tele bridge so far and I use 42 double build and I forgot my number of turns, but I went with low output around 6k.
Thanks

[Spence]

You can do that quite comfortably with 43 AWG plain enamel single build.

[David Schwab]

If you are going by resistance, than 10k of 42 will be a lot more wire than 10k of 43, because thinner wire has a higher resistance. So using 43 you will get to 10k a lot sooner.

Instead, think about how many turns of 42 you can get on the bobbin, and how many turns you might want, and then wind that many with 43. Don't do it by resistance, count turns.

And yes, thinner wire has a different tone. You will get less low end and avoid the mud with 43 or 44.

[Spence]

Well, that depends on the width of the coil.
If your 7.5K coil done with 42 AWG is the same width as your 10K coil done with 43 AWG then they will have a very similar tone though the 10K one will have more output.

[buddha0709]

thanks guys, I put in the info in the coil estimator and it said about 10k turns of 43 awg would get me to 10k, ended up being 9.1k and I think I did 10250 turns. I then did 10k turns of 44awg and It came out at 12.5k.
So, I guess over time i'll be able to estimate better without the coil estimator to get a certain output someone is looking for.

[Spence]

The coil estimator is cool but there are so many variables that it can never be accurate enough to dispense with trial and error.
If you look at the engineering tolerances of magnet wire you will find that 42 AWG can almost be 43 AWG or 41 AWG for example.
I had a 6Kg Spool of 43 AWG that was closer to 42 AWG once. It took forever to get rid of that. None of my previous calculated turn counts made any sense with that spool.
Eventually you will be able to make seriously accurate guesses but you have to wind a ton of coils first.

[Peter Naglitsch]

If you just want to boost the output a bit you can do that by winding more 42 awg and if the coil gets too big you wrap the coil with textile tape instead of the "vintage correct" yarn. Staying with 42 awg will also let you keep a tad more treble

[David Schwab]

Well, that depends on the width of the coil.
If your 7.5K coil done with 42 AWG is the same width as your 10K coil done with 43 AWG then they will have a very similar tone though the 10K one will have more output.

How many more turns will you need of 43 than 42 to get to 10k? If it's not a lot more turns it will not be louder. Also 43 tends to have more mids and less low end.

[David Schwab]

thanks guys, I put in the info in the coil estimator and it said about 10k turns of 43 awg would get me to 10k, ended up being 9.1k and I think I did 10250 turns. I then did 10k turns of 44awg and It came out at 12.5k.
So, I guess over time i'll be able to estimate better without the coil estimator to get a certain output someone is looking for.

Why do you want to get to 10k? Where did you get that number from?

Unless you are copying a pickup with the same size bobbin, and same gauge wire, the resistance is meaningless.

If you want the pickup louder than the one would with 42, wind more turns with whatever wire fits. If it's 43, then use that. But stop worrying about the DC resistance.

[Spence]

How many more turns will you need of 43 than 42 to get to 10k? If it's not a lot more turns it will not be louder. Also 43 tends to have more mids and less low end.

Suck it and see.

[copperheadroads]

How many more turns will you need of 43 than 42 to get to 10k? If it's not a lot more turns it will not be louder. Also 43 tends to have more mids and less low end.

9500 turns of 42 will be in the 7.5k range 9500 turns of 43 will be in the 9.5k range & I agree less bass more mids & an equal treble = brighter pup

[David Schwab]

Suck it and see.

I did, and it's not louder because it's about the same number of turns.

You should have sucked it first!

[David Schwab]

9500 turns of 42 will be in the 7.5k range 9500 turns of 43 will be in the 9.5k range & I agree less bass more mids & an equal treble = brighter pup

Exactly. And more mids. I use wire gages to tune the sound of the pickups, more than winding lots of wire.

For example, I had a dual rail Strat size humbucker wound with 42 that had too much low end, so I rewound it with 43. Now it's perfect.

[Spence]

You need to stop listening to the voices David.

[David Schwab]

You need to stop listening to the voices David.

I'm too busy winding pickups…

Try winding some and see for yourself.