Overwound paf-type

[EFK]

Hello all - hope someone can offer some advice. I picked up a set of Duncan 'Seth Lover' pickups which, while I'm sure opinions vary, I've always thought do a pretty good A2 paf sound. I intend to use these on a Gibson-like guitar I'm building. The neck pickup reads about 7.8/7.9 (I have an old non-digital meter), which is as it should, but the bridge only reads about 6.8. I've doublechecked this more than once. I thought about just reversing them and using the 6.8 for the neck, but I use the neck a lot and this is just too weak. I thought maybe something was shorted, or screwed up, but after taking it apart I could see there is still a LOT of room on the bobbins and whoever wound it had ran the strip of tape around each of them something like 10 times to fill it out. No kidding! I have no idea why this was allowed to go out for sale in this way, but apparently it was. Maybe it was Friday and they were short on wire. Each bobbin only reads low 3's. So, being poor and having to come up with something to rectify this situation, I decided to add to the bridge pickup to kick it up a bit. I had some older parts bobbins w/ 42 pe on them, so I was able to match the same wire. Keep in mind I have never wound a pickup but have done a lot of 'messing' with them. So, I removed the finish lead from each Duncan bobbin and soldered the wire to the wire from the 'scrap' bobbins. I then mounted the Duncan bobbins on a quick-made mount in an old Stanley 2-speed breast drill which I clamped in vise, stuck the handle on the fast gear and wound away. I did not have any tensioner other than my fingers and no travel limiters - I just eyeballed it. I have to say, I'm pretty pleased with how each bobbin turned out but having no way to count turns and no idea what I'm doing, I overshot my mark. The screw coil reads around 4.2 and the slug coil about 5 or maybe a hair more - once I put it all back together the pickup total DC resistance is about 9.2 to 9.4. Now, after all this blabbing, here is my question: I KNOW the winding is on the loose side and is completely random/scattered. At least, on my portions. The Duncan winding, to me, seemed somewhat 'spongy' also - they certainly were not tight coils to begin with. These are unpotted (I do not like potting) and I'll be using these with the Duncan covers (I love covers). However, before I solder the covers back on, I'm now questioning the use of a A2 magnet on this thing. I suspect the high resistance in conjunction w/ the loose very asymmetrical wind may lead to it being really flabby and ill-defined, generally like one big blob of mids. Would I be better suited w/ a different magnet? I have A2 through A5 and can degauss a bit if necessary, but having never wound a pickup I'm not sure which would be the best starting point for a lazy guy who doesn't feel like having to take everything back apart and unsoldering the covers once I put them on (I have to put them on to locate them properly in the pickguard so I can then properly locate where to cut the bridge and nut slots, and I'd prefer not to have to take it off again for a while). Are there any generalized 'rules' for magnet selection based upon winding style and resistance? Any help appreciated!

[Spence]

There are no general rules for magnet selection but an A2 in your pickup may sound a bit dark. A3 or 5 will brighten it up.

[EFK]

Thanks Spence - I appreciate the advice. BTW, the picture cracks me up every time. I was trying to steer myself clear of an A5 as I have what I consider to be a 'perfect' (for me) A5 guitar, so I think I'll try an A3. I have some but have never used one. I see a lot of guys rave about them in the necks. Any thoughts on an A4?

[LtKojak]

Any thoughts on an A4?

Yes, I'd go with'em, specially in the neck position.

HTH,