Newbie seeks apprenticeship

[vortiger]

Hi All,
I live and work in Los Angles and am interested in making pickups for my own guitars. Purely a hobbiest. No real experience with electronics but am apt and interested. Anyone nearby who can show me the ropes?

[kevinT]

ahh..grasshopper....in this mysterious black art of pickup making....one must take it upon himself to learn....only then will you see the light.

If you're really interested in learning, grab some stewmac kits and start winding. Use the instructions they have on their site. Buy some cheapo pickups and take them apart to see how they're constructed.

You also may want to purchase Jason Lollar's book (generally only available on ebay), Brosnac's guitar electronics book, and Pickups by Mario Milan. Visit this forum often. This is where i get most of my info....and if you have a question along the way, pose it on the forum...it is likely that someone has already encountered and solved it.

I don't want to sound cold, but most folks out there winding pickups had to learn on their own... spending a lot of time, materials, and energy to get a handle on everything. IMO, I just don't think that they're going to readily give their knowledge away so easily in terms of an appreticeship. However, if you lived near me on the east coast, i wouldn't mind you stopping by the shop to show you a few things.

I think you will find it difficult for someone to teach you unless you paid someone (sort of like guitar lessons ) or you could apply for a job a Seymour Duncan...they're somewhere in Cali aren't they?.....maybe near LA?

[vortiger]

ahh..grasshopper....in this...

But Master, is it not the way of the Dau to show the way to others? yes, I own the complete 5 seasons. In any case, I appreciate the response. I really do need to see if I would like this art before I start investing in a winding machine etc. at StewMac. In any case, I will see if Seymour Duncan is close by. And yes, I have been looking for the books you mention. Any chance you could photocopy the Lollar? With all good wishes, Grasshopper

[kevinT]

Any chance you could photocopy the Lollar? With all good wishes, Grasshopper

Grasshopper, copying another one's technique will only get you into trouble and lead you down the wrong path, you must find your own original edition to find your way and true wisdom.

On a serious note...bro...that is a no no. This topic has come up many times and anyone that makes a copy (without jason's approval) would be infringing on his copyright...and could get into hot water. It seems harmless but it is the law.

Heck, not too long ago, someone had made copies on cd/dvd of his book and was selling it on ebay. They were shut down very quickly.

[vortiger]

The path is steep

Master, I am humbled and bow in gratitude. I will seek the path....

[Peter Naglitsch]

I have all the above mentioned books. Maybe it’s like swearing in the church (local saying), but I find both the Lollar book and the Brosnac book overrated. There is more information in this forum. The Brosnac book contains a number of incorrect “facts”. And the Lollar book is mainly about building a winder from an old sewing machine motor and an oscillating fan. If you have a look at designed2wind you will have nearly as much info, and possibly even more inspiration, as in that book. You should especially check out the “Woodshop Winder” (in the gallery) based on a cordless drill. Cheap, easily done by yourself and the drill is still usable is you decide that this is not for you. Also search the net, and the sub forum coil winders, for more information.

The other big thing with the Lollar book is that it has nice drawings for bobbins. I have made my own CAD drawings based on the Lollar book. I have also checked them against the StewMac stuff and other things I have had the opportunity to compare with. I can mail you the bobbin drawing in PDF if you want me to. Just PM me. Anyone else that is interested in those drawings can PM me, even if it is only to help me check the measurements.

[vortiger]

amazing!

Thanks man!

[madialex]

However, if you lived near me on the east coast, i wouldn't mind you stopping by the shop to show you a few things.

Hey Kevin, where on the east coast are you?

[kevinT]

Hey Kevin, where on the east coast are you?

I'm in Huntingtown, MD...about 45 minutes south of Washington DC.

If you're looking for a highly detailed 'How To" book that breaks out each step of making a pickup, the Lollar book is probably not for you. However, i really like the book and it is very valuable to me because there is a lot of little tidbits of basic information that i found very helpful when i first started winding that i couldn't find anywhere else. For example, on page 32 jason has a small graphic of a bobbin showing how to start the magnet wire on the bobbin. He writes:

"Make sure that the magnet wire is resting on the bottom flange of the bobbin. If the wire is lifting above the bottom flange where it meets the bobbin spacer, when the bobbin is wound the tension of the windings will eventially break this first length of wire resulting in a shorted out pickup that must be completly rewound."

This might seem like nothing to the experienced winder, but this is core info that is essential to know when first winding. There is a lot of that kind of stuff that i really like.

[David Schwab]

The Brosnac book contains a number of incorrect “facts”.

Glad someone else noticed!

The other big thing with the Lollar book is that it has nice drawings for bobbins.

He has the bobbins online.

http://www.lollarguitars.com/bobbin_designs.htm

[Peter Naglitsch]

He has the bobbins online.

http://www.lollarguitars.com/bobbin_designs.htm

Well he used to. Those links doesn’t go anywhere. The god old HTTP 404 turns up, and has done so for quite a wile. Jason doesn’t reprint the book, take legal actions against someone that (OK illegally) made the book available as an E-book AND takes down the drawings from his web site! To me that look like he isn’t interested in sharing information anymore. That’s the reason I made them up in CAD myself and offer them to anyone that wants them.

[kevinT]

To me that look like he isn’t interested in sharing information anymore.

He probably feels that with all the new pickup makers popping up these days, the market is getting too competitive. He's probably thinking....why help the competition?

[Rosewood]

Quote:
Originally Posted by Peter Naglitsch View Post
The Brosnac book contains a number of incorrect “facts”.


I have that book, how many incorrect facts are we talking about? I haven't looked at it in a few years but would like to know.