My uneven mismatched nightmare The Apprentice :)

[JCrab]

Yes tell us what you don't like about the pup
I don't think missmatch vs even coils is your problem (this don't make or break pups IMO)
I think tension is one of your problems

Well they sound to spongy,,, I build a few neck pickups that sound awesome with mismatched coil..5000 slug 4950 screw and the BBP type pickup sounds unreal with hi-gain and average clean tone. I am using a good amount of hand tension... BTW I notice all the coils in the LAST PAF were mismatched

[big_teee]

Back to my original questions about Wire?
You said Elektrisola 42 AWG?
Are you using Single build wire, SPN or SPE.
Or are you using wire you use for Single Coils.
Like HFV, or HPN?
If you are having spongy sounding pickups, maybe you need more tension.
My winding, is usually too tight, and I scatter more than I prefer.
Never remember having Spongy.
So, did the Neck P/U turn out good & what data did you end up with?
If you got the Neck good, at least your half way there.
Good Luck,
Terry

[JCrab]

Back to my original questions about Wire?
You said Elektrisola 42 AWG?
Are you using Single build wire, SPN or SPE.
Or are you using wire you use for Single Coils.
Like HFV, or HPN?
If you are having spongy sounding pickups, maybe you need more tension.
My winding, is usually too tight, and I scatter more than I prefer.
Never remember having Spongy.
So, did the Neck P/U turn out good & what data did you end up with?
If you got the Neck good, at least your half way there.
Good Luck,
Terry

I'm not that Tech yet,, I know there are some factors involved and I don't have a bunch of different wire and mags laying around YET I don't know what kind of build wire it is. The label has none of thoes markings. I'm just getting into this and these chats realy help.. but sometimes you guys confuse the heck out of me, like some say uneven coils are no good and then they show me pictures of the coils they wind and none of them are even (?) LOL LOL

[LtKojak]

I'm not that Tech yet,, I know there are some factors involved and I don't have a bunch of different wire and mags laying around YET I don't know what kind of build wire it is. The label has none of thoes markings. I'm just getting into this and these chats realy help.. but sometimes you guys confuse the heck out of me, like some say uneven coils are no good and then they show me pictures of the coils they wind and none of them are even (?) LOL LOL

The thing is, you're putting the car in front of the horse.

You need to get the formula right first. THEN you can try the subtleties of mismatching. BTW, how are you winding? Are you hand-guiding the wire or you've got a winding machine with an automatic traverse? You don't know what type of wire you're using...?

The parts also play a big role on the final outcome. Are your baseplates nickelsilver? Brass? What steel alloy your screws, slugs and keeper are?

If you don't know all of this, and having one type of magnet, looks like your formula is suited for an A2 magnet and you're struggling because you have only an A5?

Go to addictionfx.com and get some polished A2s, roughcast A4s and UnOriented A5 bar mags, plus some 1018 screws, slugs and keepers and nickelsilver baseplates. Your bobbins are 49.2mm aren't they? If they're not, they won't fit, mind you. Are you're p'ups covered? If they are, are the covers nickelsilver? Or brass? BTW, WHERE did you get your parts? StewMac? Mojotone?

Winding HBs is NOT that easy, not even when you know your stuff... imagine when you're shooting in the dark.

HTH,

[JCrab]

Good one LT(Cart). I know what I am using, except for the wire and Mag gauss I will check into that deeper, I will know what to look for next time or ask for some info.. I picked the a5 cause I like how it feels and I figued it would be a good starting point and I play 24 scale guitars, a2 always seem a lil to soft and I will get into ceramic later. I have stew parts and wilkinsons with the same ingredients. I will shoot a quick youtube vid for you guys after I finish and am happy,, I know about the adfx guy, he lives just south of me and don,t be fooled I kinda have a clue but there are just a few things I will stumble thru on my way there... What are the Formula, I call all the parts I'm usin ingredients. BTW I use a winding machine and hand guide,Nic/Sil BP,a5 Nick slugs,plastic keepers cause thats what they came with. 42awg poly soderable. And you are correct, I took a few shots in the dark

[LtKojak]

Good one LT(Cart)

Damn that spelling control!

[copperheadroads]

A fully charged A5 has a harsh scooped tone ,I you want some more sugar , Degauss the A5
Degaussed A5 sounds pretty nice & "Vintage"

[David Schwab]

so my question is how did they wind pafs at around 8k and use 42awg and alnico5 mag.

Just wind 5,000 turns on each coil. That's a standard PAF recipe. If you want less output, wind less turns. Try 4,500, or 4,000.

And you know, PAFs were bright pickups.

Here's one I would up some years ago:

PAF Neck Pickup

It's on a Strat, but still, it's a bright pickup.

[JCrab]

A fully charged A5 has a harsh scooped tone ,I you want some more sugar , Degauss the A5
Degaussed A5 sounds pretty nice & "Vintage"

Thanks guy's.. I have not learned how to gauss a mag yet,, but I will. Thats good info ona A5 Copper & LT I love that term. There is alot of things to lean about building a pickup I just got to the point where I can wind a nice bobbin with dif hand tension and TPl.

[big_teee]

Sorry if I confused you earlier about the wire questions.
Here is a typical Elektrisola Spool Label.
AWG 42 HEAVY FORMVAR Copper Magnet Wire | eBay
Upper right says Formvar Heavy.
I think Formvar is for Formula Varnish, the Heavy is for heavy double coating.
On the left is .074.
That would be .074mm or in inches that would be
.074 millimeters = 0.00291338583 inches.
That is the OD Outside Diameter of the wire.
If it was Poly or Plain enamel the label would be different.
Not sure what the other hand written numbers are on the Label?
Can you share what is on your wire spool label?
Terry

[JCrab]

Hey,, let's all have a laugh,,, Look at my first post when I thought I was close

[copperheadroads]

Hey,, let's all have a laugh,,, Look at my first post when I thought I was close

I'm still waiting for the results ......of this one .
Jcrab .................I hope you have progressed ...keep us informed

[JCrab]

I'm still waiting for the results ......of this one .
Jcrab .................I hope you have progressed ...keep us informed

I have and the bridge pickup sounds great but unique. Now I have to figure out the neck pickup to match the bridge. I was going to use the same formula but reduce it by %20. Does that sound like a good place to start. Anyone

[big_teee]

I have and the bridge pickup sounds great but unique. Now I have to figure out the neck pickup to match the bridge. I was going to use the same formula but reduce it by %20. Does that sound like a good place to start. Anyone

so what did you end up with the bridge?
I think you were using an A5 magnet?
How many turns did you end up with?
T

[JCrab]

5130 screw 5850 a5 mag.