Tom Holmes nickle covers

[Rosewood]

I just installed a set of these for a customer and I gotta say that's the nicest looking covers I've seen. Anybody know where they come from?

[J S Moore]

I believe he makes his own.

[Rosewood]

If he makes his own he really knows what he's doing. His base plates look good too. I'm still sitting in the cheap seats.

[Electricdaveyboy]

I bought a set of Paf style pickups from Holmes but the covers were prized to high (IMHO)so I ordered them naked.
Are there pics of those covers he uses on the net ?

[bulldogguitars]

Wow are his pickups expensive. Ed Roman had a set for $769. Thats a bit much.

[David Schwab]

Supposedly he winds them without a mechanical winder.

They aren't the most expensive pickups though.. A set of Alembic activators are $900! And the whole Series electronics are like $3,000. That's crazy!

[Electricdaveyboy]

Yes , the Holmes are not cheapos.
But he is doing a good job and uses fine parts.

[Possum]

........

Supposedly he makes them himself, it could be just rumor. You could have them made just as well, there is a link to a deep draw box company on a thread here somewhere. What sets his covers apart is they are totally flat on all sides, I find it a bit hard to think someone could do that in their garage, but maybe he does.......

[Rosewood]

Supposedly he makes them himself, it could be just rumor. You could have them made just as well, there is a link to a deep draw box company on a thread here somewhere. What sets his covers apart is they are totally flat on all sides, I find it a bit hard to think someone could do that in their garage, but maybe he does.......

That's what caught my eye, the covers are so flat and corners are so crisp, almost like they've been machined instead of stamped. The guy that brought the pickups to me said you're gonna love this. I pulled them out of the box and they were wrapped in what looked like toilet tissue first, paper towel on the outside of that. I guess the tissue was for the nickel plating because it was perfect, couldn't find any scratches or marks of any kind. My hat's off to him but you would think he would have a better web site with info.

[Possum]

........

he has a website but just an email link and he didn't answer my email, probably just wants big orders :-) Actually I don't think he makes pickups anymore unless you buy them on one of his guitars, there are HOlmes pickups made in Japan under license. I hear he's a real nice guy...

[EtLa]

That's what caught my eye, the covers are so flat and corners are so crisp, almost like they've been machined instead of stamped.

Or maybe by hydroforming, that way the sheet metal take the shape of the female die without friction ?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hydroforming

[Sam Lee Guy]

My hat's off to him but you would think he would have a better web site with info.

You see, he no want to sell more pickups. Yes Tom make his own covers and even plate them himself. There very much work to finish them so well, not just straight from stamping tool.

[NightWinder]

You see, he no want to sell more pickups. Yes Tom make his own covers and even plate them himself. There very much work to finish them so well, not just straight from stamping tool.

Ahhh, Not to mention polishing after plating which is a whole career field in itself....

[Possum]

........

It ain't THAT hard to do, the polishing part, I've seen a picture of Tom's polishing arbor and he's just using a two step polish, you just need some experience and know which compounds to use, and you don't find those at any hardware store, you have to get a jewelry supplies catalog and learn from those guys. You also need some decent buffs and not get any of the polishing compounds contaminating the other buffs etc. I did alot of polsihing when I did silver jewelry, that stuff is way softer than nickel so nickel is probably a cinch. You also need the right kind of buffs, not hardware store stuff. It can be done, but it is a skill that can be mastered with some experience.

[glaze]

If he makes his own he really knows what he's doing. His base plates look good too. I'm still sitting in the cheap seats.

Rosewood

Tom Holmes makes his own covers and base plates. In the last 25 years the Holmes are the nicest covers and base plates I have seen out of any pickup maker(they sound fantastic too). Many custom pickup makers do not even put their brand name on the pickups they make at all which I personally would not do.

Mike