Winding "patterns"

[Als Kimp Tones]

Okay, so I've wound some pickups that actually sound pretty good.Now,how to reproduce them as close as I can.Are there "secret" patterns,or should I have paid really close attention as to how I scattered the windings?Maybe like at a certain number did somthing different? Are there certain coil configurations? Thanks.

[Spence]

What's a scatter pattern? I've yet to see two the same. The key is to get a scatter and nothing more. It's what effect a scatter has rather than any set pattern. Make some more and see.

[Als Kimp Tones]

Yeah,thats what I always thought untill I got a reply from a major winder.I questioned him on a set of rewound p-90s.of what he did different than the stock winds.He said that it was his "winding pattern" that created the difference,but would not elaborate. Anyway it got me thinking as to what could be done to create a scatter that could be duplicated.

[ken]

Actually, 'scatter pattern' is sort of a catchall term for anything the winder knew that you may not be supposed to ask about.

It is almost impossible to duplicate a really handwound scatter pattern, you can duplicate a machine wound (programmed) pattern if you have the CNC winder and use it on your own pickups. If you are winding a 'random' pattern with a CNC winder, the computer can make all your pickups that way if you want it to, but trying to perfectly duplicate somebody else's wind pattern is IMHO impossible.

Ken

[Spence]

So who's the major winder? Just keep at it and make your own informed descision about it. I'd challenge anyone to duplicate a scatter pattern by hand.

[ken]

This is where pickup making 'gets artistic'... a person's winding style is as original as his playing style, no matter how you try you and your pickups will still sound like 'you'. If you find a good style, stick with it - the majority of stuff you read IMHO is crap, so you learn more by experimenting. It doesn't matter if your PAF's sound exactly like ZZ Top's, if people like them and are willing to pay for them that's all that matters. Great tone is all in the ear of the beholder anyway.

Ken

[David Schwab]

This is where pickup making 'gets artistic'... a person's winding style is as original as his playing style, no matter how you try you and your pickups will still sound like 'you'.

Ken, this is very true! I just posted the same idea in the EVH pickup thread. My humbucker pickups all have the same plucky bright tone, even when I wind the hell of of them! I have to imagine it's the way I wind.

[ken]

Having a specific 'style' (tone) to your pickups is a good thing... why would you as a winder possibly want to sound like anyone else? People buy your stuff because it makes them sound good, not because it makes them 'in their minds' sound like EVH.

I have 'demo' guitars in my shop, it amazes me how different they each sound when different people play them. Two people can play the same guitar, and they will have completely different tones than each other. I don't know why.

My HB's are plucky too... dammit.
I want THICK! Like Leslie West's P90 tone on "Mississippi Queen"!

Ken

[Pep]

Hey guys. It's been awhile since I've checked out this site. When did they change to a log-in system? Oh well. I used to go by handwounds back in the day. Anyhow, a lot of people have said it already but I just wanted to elaborate a little.

Scatterwound is scatterwound. You can do a loose scatter or a wide scatter, but there is no "pattern" that gets a certain sound. Now, the tension you wind at is going to make a significant difference in the tone. Looser tension and/or wide scatter pattern equals bigger coil for the same number of turns as compared to a tighter coil. There are some other variables at play but the best way is to experiment.

Peace.