Magnet Wires differences among suppliers

[Corcia]

Hi All.
lately I've happende to wind a couple of Strat Set with the same characteristics: magnets, N. of Windings, etc...
the only difference was that one set has been wound with the 42 AWG HFV wire from Mojotone (1/2 lb spool), the other one, instead, has been wound using 42 AWG HFV supplied by BAE Magnet wires (1,5 lb spool).
Maybe it's just my imagination but it seems to me that the set wound with the BAEwire spool is sounding significantly worst, meaning "thinner" and "weaker", i've also measured the strenght of magnet rods and they're perfectly alligned...
did someone experience such a difference just canching the wire supplier? and in particular did someone have the chance to notice difference between this two wire suppliers?

[Ward]

Are you winding with a counter. If so did you wind the same number of turns and if so what was the drc? I'm just about to buy some 42HF from BAE myself, I've been using mojo HF and now you throw spanner in works. Do the two look the same.

[Corcia]

Yes, i do wind with a counter, as per the dcr i would say that it is pretty close, i've installed both the sets so I can only remember the readings, if i mistake not the one from BAEwire offered a slightly lower resistence but we are talking about very small difference. the two wires look exactly the same, I bet you would not be able to guess "who is who".
I'm confused...as I've said maybe it's just my immagination...of course it will take further listenings...just wanted to understad if someone else happened to experience such effect.
Please consider that i've bought more than one spool from BAEwire and I've always received first quality products! i'm not saying that BAE's 42HFV is worst than Mojo's, maybe there's some kind of difference that needs to be compensated somehow (most probably experience will tell...) this is in no way something against BAEwire and/or Mojo.

[big_teee]

Yes, i do wind with a counter, as per the dcr i would say that it is pretty close, i've installed both the sets so I can only remember the readings, if i mistake not the one from BAEwire offered a slightly lower resistence but we are talking about very small difference. the two wires look exactly the same, I bet you would not be able to guess "who is who".
I'm confused...as I've said maybe it's just my immagination...of course it will take further listenings...just wanted to understad if someone else happened to experience such effect.
Please consider that i've bought more than one spool from BAEwire and I've always received first quality products! i'm not saying that BAE's 42HFV is worst than Mojo's, maybe there's some kind of difference that needs to be compensated somehow (most probably experience will tell...) this is in no way something against BAEwire and/or Mojo.

Hi Corcia:
Are the 2 different wires both the same brand?
Also if You want to do a closer comparison of the wires check the DCR of 10 ft of each.
I like to measure out about 10 ft and 2 inches.
I use one inch on each end to solder a wire pigtail, to make it easier to attach my ohm meter.
If they measure the same in ohms, the next thing to check is the diameter.
That require a vernier Micrometer.
I bought a cheap one at Harbor freight tools.
If you decide to check measurements, let us know what you come up with?
T

[jason lollar]

if its significantly thinner sounding I would suspect a problem if every other detail was attended to to ensure equal results including installing the pickups in the same guitar etc.
If you want to get consistancy you have to get an inductance meter and you have to keep a log for each type of pickup and for each wind. Resistance can be exactly the same in two coils wound the same but there can be a problem with a solder joint where the henries will be totally mis-matched between the coils, other times the resistance can be off for various reasons and the henries will still be in spec.
Seen it many times- resistance is right but the pickup sounds thin- check the henries and its way off, redo all the solder joints and you are back on track- usually. it only happens about 1 in 100 anymore but I still check every coil several times through the whole winding and assembly.

[Ward]

I've just been told BAE won't ship international unless you pay for insurance which they didn't say how much that would be.

[big_teee]

I've just been told BAE won't ship international unless you pay for insurance which they didn't say how much that would be.

Ward:
Who are you talking to?
I have been getting some pretty good prices from Teena.
Teena Ridicoloso <TRIDICOLOSO@baewire.com>;
T

[Ward]

Ward:
Who are you talking to?
I have been getting some pretty good prices from Teena.
Teena Ridicoloso <TRIDICOLOSO@baewire.com>;
T

Dunno who mate, just ebay messages. It's the same old story, they're sick of dramas with USPS so they've stopped overseas shipping, same as ad fx. I spose I'll just do another 5lb mojo spool after I sell the house.

[big_teee]

Dunno who mate, just ebay messages. It's the same old story, they're sick of dramas with USPS so they've stopped overseas shipping, same as ad fx. I spose I'll just do another 5lb mojo spool after I sell the house.

Hey Mate, You need to move State Side!
Have you tried MWS they are in Southern Cal.
I'm fixing to buy a couple rolls of Red SPN.
Probably from Remington.
T
MWS Sales Contact & Email
Diana Avery
Westlake Village, Ca USA
diana@mwswire.com

TeenaR@baewire.com

© Remington Industries
P.O. Box 791 McHenry, IL 60051
Phone or Fax: (815) 385-1987
Email: sales@remingtonindustries.com

[Ward]

Thanks T, I've emailed Diana.

[Corcia]

Hi Corcia:
Are the 2 different wires both the same brand?
Also if You want to do a closer comparison of the wires check the DCR of 10 ft of each.
I like to measure out about 10 ft and 2 inches.
I use one inch on each end to solder a wire pigtail, to make it easier to attach my ohm meter.
If they measure the same in ohms, the next thing to check is the diameter.
That require a vernier Micrometer.
I bought a cheap one at Harbor freight tools.
If you decide to check measurements, let us know what you come up with?
T

Hi T,
I will check both wires as per your suggestions and, obviously, let you all know.
as per the brand the Mojo one comes with no brand on (mojo tone logo), the one bought from BAEwire is Elektrisola which should be good quality (isn't it?)

I've already checked the outer diameter but only with a digital caliper capable of reading 1/100 of mm (1/1000 inch) and the measures "seem" to be consistent; I say "seem" because, being the result is in the range of 0,06-0,07mm for both wires, even the pressure applied by the hands has influence on the measurement; the range of 0,06-0,07 seems to be close enough to nominal OD, but please consider that I use a cheap chines digital caliper so I focused more on the comparison than on the actual value of the measurement.
I will check the DCR of each wire and let you know, most probably I will sample 3 mt of wire which is pretty close to 10 ft...

[Corcia]

if its significantly thinner sounding I would suspect a problem if every other detail was attended to to ensure equal results including installing the pickups in the same guitar etc.
If you want to get consistancy you have to get an inductance meter and you have to keep a log for each type of pickup and for each wind. Resistance can be exactly the same in two coils wound the same but there can be a problem with a solder joint where the henries will be totally mis-matched between the coils, other times the resistance can be off for various reasons and the henries will still be in spec.
Seen it many times- resistance is right but the pickup sounds thin- check the henries and its way off, redo all the solder joints and you are back on track- usually. it only happens about 1 in 100 anymore but I still check every coil several times through the whole winding and assembly.

It is thinner, but the difference I've heard was not so great to let me think "ther's something broken", my first impression was something like: "it sounds, but it is not the same pickup!"
for sure i will get the Inductance Meter and measure each PU, The idea of the PU Measurements LOG is definetly great!
BTW I was thinking about buying an Extech, but is there any software(/hardware) for PC able to measure all the parameters such as Inductance, capacitance, Q, resonant peak etc...?

[big_teee]

Since these are strat single coils.
Did you check to see if any of the rod magnets are shorted out to the coils.
take your ohm meter and read from each rod magnet to the start and finish, one at a time.
It can be a very common problem, and most of us have had that happen.
If a coil is shorted to the magnet you may not be using the whole coil, and it may sound thinner.
Terry

[Corcia]

Yes T, I do always check for shortings between poles and coils: I had no reading between rods and wire

[Stratz]

BTW I was thinking about buying an Extech, but is there any software(/hardware) for PC able to measure all the parameters such as Inductance, capacitance, Q, resonant peak etc...?

If you have the time you can roll your own from scratch or from a kit