First set of pups for a friend

[Robbinst]

Hello every one! A friend of mine asked me to wind him a set of custom humbuckers. He would like one similar to a Duncan JB in the bridge and one with a single coil/ p-90 sound in the neck position. I'm just starting out and could use some guidance from the pros.
Here is what I came up with, please let me know if I'm on the right track or not:

Bridge:
16.6k
Alnico 5 magnet
44 AWG wire
Nickle base plate

Neck:
8.6k
alnico 2 magnet
42 AWG wire
Nickle plate

I used this calculator to determine winds: Coil Estimator
It said I would need about 11,600 of 44awg to get 16.6k and 8800 turns of 42awg to get 8.6k on a 50mm PAF bobbin.
Do these numbers seem correct? Also does this mean I will need that amount of wire on each bobbin or totaled between the two to get the desired sound?

If any one could point me in the right direction I would really appreciate it. Thanks!

-Tyler

[big_teee]

Hello every one! A friend of mine asked me to wind him a set of custom humbuckers. He would like one similar to a Duncan JB in the bridge and one with a single coil/ p-90 sound in the neck position. I'm just starting out and could use some guidance from the pros.
Here is what I came up with, please let me know if I'm on the right track or not:

Bridge:
16.6k
Alnico 5 magnet
44 AWG wire
Nickle base plate

Neck:
8.6k
alnico 2 magnet
42 AWG wire
Nickle plate

I used this calculator to determine winds: Coil Estimator
It said I would need about 11,600 of 44awg to get 16.6k and 8800 turns of 42awg to get 8.6k on a 50mm PAF bobbin.
Do these numbers seem correct? Also does this mean I will need that amount of wire on each bobbin or totaled between the two to get the desired sound?

If any one could point me in the right direction I would really appreciate it. Thanks!

-Tyler

You need to start over.
The Estimator is just calculating one bobbin.
So you need to divide the total DCR by 2.
So 8.3k on the JB and 4.3k on the neck.
That will be a pretty full neck pickup.
I never had any luck with a neck wound that full, if it is muddy, that is why!
I like a neck about 7.3k
You will just have to experiment around.
16.6 will be full on the JB also.
You will need to try to machine type wind on both to get that much wire on them.
Good Luck,
Terry

[copperheadroads]

Your way off on the coil estimator with 11600 turns for a 16k bucker

[Robbinst]

Thank you very much for the info Terry, that makes a lot more sense now. I'm still a little unsure if I'm on the right track with the neck pup though. His described what he wanted as a "warm,tone that has a single coil or P-90 twang to it". I looked up the output of a Gibson p-90 and found that it was 8.6k, should I follow this or do you see better ways of going about getting this sound? I apologize for my Noob-ish-ness but I really want to learn everything I can.

[copperheadroads]

Thank you very much for the info Terry, that makes a lot more sense now. I'm still a little unsure if I'm on the right track with the neck pup though. His described what he wanted as a "warm,tone that has a single coil or P-90 twang to it". I looked up the output of a Gibson p-90 and found that it was 8.6k, should I follow this or do you see better ways of going about getting this sound? I apologize for my Noob-ish-ness but I really want to learn everything I can.

8.6k is to hot for a neck pup p-90 or a humbucker...... like Terry said

[madialex]

Thank you very much for the info Terry, that makes a lot more sense now. I'm still a little unsure if I'm on the right track with the neck pup though. His described what he wanted as a "warm,tone that has a single coil or P-90 twang to it". I looked up the output of a Gibson p-90 and found that it was 8.6k, should I follow this or do you see better ways of going about getting this sound? I apologize for my Noob-ish-ness but I really want to learn everything I can.

Warm and twang dont go together lol.

[David Schwab]

The JB is about 6900 turns per coil of 44. It's hard to wind that and not have mud!

[copperheadroads]

The JB is about 6900 turns per coil of 44. It's hard to wind that and not have mud!

Your making it too easy David

[Ward]

Err, IMO, twang in a neck bucker? I've never heard it, def NOT with 8.6k, if you coil split the thing you'll at least have some very single coil like tone, er, seeing as it will be a SC when split. High output buckers, eewwww.

[Robbinst]

I just want to say thank you for the help guys, I appreciate it. This is what I'm shooting for now:

Bridge
16.6k
Alnico 5
screw- 6510 winds
slug- 6650 winds

Neck
7.7k
Alnico 2
screw- 3970 winds
slug- 4280 winds

I talked to him about the neck pup issues and he said he was more worried about the bridge achieving the sound he wants. He is a metal head and wants the high output so I hope I can wind it and not get it too muddy

I have also been asked to make a bucker for another friend in exchange for painting a custom guitar I built. He is in to very heavy stuff and likes the scooped mids sound. I was thinking about winding a similar pup as the bridge described above but using a ceramic bar mag instead of the Alnico. As long as it has a good chug and searing highs, he will be happy.

I'm pretty sure it will not affect the tone but I forgot to order plastic spacers so I'm actually gonna use some scraps of blood wood that I have lying around (they are to small for much else) to make the spacers. Please correct me if this will not be a suitable material for some reason.

[copperheadroads]

I just want to say thank you for the help guys, I appreciate it. This is what I'm shooting for now:

Bridge
16.6k
Alnico 5
screw- 6510 winds
slug- 6650 winds

Neck
7.7k
Alnico 2
screw- 3970 winds
slug- 4280 winds

I talked to him about the neck pup issues and he said he was more worried about the bridge achieving the sound he wants. He is a metal head and wants the high output so I hope I can wind it and not get it too muddy

I have also been asked to make a bucker for another friend in exchange for painting a custom guitar I built. He is in to very heavy stuff and likes the scooped mids sound. I was thinking about winding a similar pup as the bridge described above but using a ceramic bar mag instead of the Alnico. As long as it has a good chug and searing highs, he will be happy.

I'm pretty sure it will not affect the tone but I forgot to order plastic spacers so I'm actually gonna use some scraps of blood wood that I have lying around (they are to small for much else) to make the spacers. Please correct me if this will not be a suitable material for some reason.

your are going to come up quite a bit lower on in dcr on both pickups

[Steve Conner]

Voila, one set of pups.

[David Schwab]

Voila, one set of pups.
[ATTACH=CONFIG]18547[/ATTACH]

Oh, they have that basket weave wind for vintage tone!

[David Schwab]

Err, IMO, twang in a neck bucker? I've never heard it, def NOT with 8.6k, if you coil split the thing you'll at least have some very single coil like tone, er, seeing as it will be a SC when split. High output buckers, eewwww.

Just wind a stock PAF style pickup. You will have lots of twang.

High output humbuckers are good for overdrive. They feel nicer than lower ones, as you have more push. But they don't clean up well. I'm working on bright high output 'buckers, so you get a clean tone from them too.

[Robbinst]

I wound the bridge pup yesterday according to the numbers giving under loose scatter wind on the calculator. I ended up with at 15.6k which is within range of what I was going for. I put the numbers through and found I should have followed the tight wind calculation and maybe added a little extra to hit my desired mark.

Ok so neck calculation take 3:
screw- 3.2k - 4170 winds
slug- 3.4k - 4400 winds

Hopefully I'm getting some what closer. Just curious do most of you make your own guitars as well, or just the pickups for them? It would be cool to find people who are on both this forum as well as Project Guitars or the gear building section over on UG