Number of turns for a PJ parts bass?

[Lucas]

This will be my first go at winding. Gonna wind some pickups for a PJ parts bass. Got some Alnico 5 bobbins comin from Mojo and some 42AWG wire. From a Vintage Fender Pickup spec document I found on this forum is says 10k turns for a Precision pickup and 9k turns for Jazz pickup. (I assume that is 5k turns per bobbin for a split coil P-bass pup?). Looking for a good balance between P and J pups. Will 10k/9k work? Anybody have any suggestions, recommendations, tips, etc?

Thanks,

Lucas

[David King]

Lucas,

I doubt Fender gave it a lot of thought and I'm betting the P pickups will be a wee bit louder than the bridge J. You can easily cope with that by raising the J closer to the strings or using A2 mags in the P and A5s in bridge.
P pickup are 10k winds EACH not 5k + 5K as you surmised. More important in my view would be to build a split J instead of a single coil J so that you get hum canceling in all permutations.

[big_teee]

Lucas,

I doubt Fender gave it a lot of thought and I'm betting the P pickups will be a wee bit louder than the bridge J. You can easily cope with that by raising the J closer to the strings or using A2 mags in the P and A5s in bridge.
P pickup are 10k winds EACH not 5k + 5K as you surmised. More important in my view would be to build a split J instead of a single coil J so that you get hum canceling in all permutations.

I agree, the J Single seems to be the weak link.
One option I always thought would work good is to route the hole a little larger and install a soapbar bucker, in place of the J!
T

[Lucas]

Thanks for the replies!
David, thanks for clearing up the split P. Would a split J work the same way? 9k per coil?
Unfortunately parts are already ordered but hopefully this is the first of many pickups.

[Lucas]

I guess is could just cut the J bridge bobbin in half and install eyelets.
Again, would the number of turns per coil stay the same, 9k?

[David King]

Yup.
You can use an xacto razor saw to slice your bobbin in half. You'll have to wind with 43 awg to get 9k turns since you have very reduced clearance where the two coils meet at the center. You might get by with 42 if you use 1/16" thick flatwork and keep it flush with the ends of the magnets. I use longer magnets for these to leave more room for wire. Either way you need to feed your wire carefully to keep it level.

[Lucas]

how would you compare it tonally to a traditional single coil and stacked humbucker?

[big_teee]

You can buy that flatwork laser cut by mojo, it is on sale.
Mojotone Hum Cancelling Jazz Bass Bridge Flatwork Top and Bottom Set (for .187'' dia. magnets)

[Lucas]

I know. I've been keeping a very close eye on Mojo for a while now. I was only suggesting that I cut the bobbin in half because that is what I already have on order.
In the near future I would like to get the split coil flatwork.