narrow-size bass pickup

[KatCreek]

Well gang,

I'm new to the forum. I am wanting to wind my own pickups because I want a narrower pickup design than I can't find easily. I am going to make a narrow pickup, with string spacings 17-18mm for a four string bass. Does anyone know if there are bobbins for rod-shaped magnets? I will be making a humbucker and a single coil.

Thanks

[big_teee]

Well gang,

I'm new to the forum. I am wanting to wind my own pickups because I want a narrower pickup design than I can't find easily. I am going to make a narrow pickup, with string spacings 17-18mm for a four string bass. Does anyone know if there are bobbins for rod-shaped magnets? I will be making a humbucker and a single coil.

Thanks

Welcome:
Most of the places to buy things, are listed in the Resources thread.
That is a good place to start.
http://music-electronics-forum.com/t30228/
T

[KatCreek]

Yes I saw the post on the places to start looking and then some. I think I'm going to have to make one. Thanks for the response.

KC

[big_teee]

Yes I saw the post on the places to start looking and then some. I think I'm going to have to make one. Thanks for the response.

KC

We will be glad to try and help, if you can give us some idea how narrow..
I guess you want something more narrow than the Jazz P/U.
Bass
Maybe you can alter a J-bass Flatwork to suit?
Mojo is also supposed to be adding a 4 magnet P-Bass Flat work.
Maybe they will have it up soon.
T

[bea]

On (4-string-) basses with narrow string spacing you might consider blade pickups intended for the guitar. Maybe alter the resonance a bit by an additional capacitor. Or make Your own blade pickups - links to the flatwork have been given above.

[KatCreek]

Yes I would agree that going with a blade style might be good to start with. In answer to the question what size? Well I can't find dimensions of a hofner pickup. A pbass magnet spacing is under 10 mm. Too small. I think I might try for 17mm which would be 2" string to string. I could go lower tho. If I could find tops/bottoms without holes it would be good Thanks. Kathy.

[big_teee]

Kathy:
could you do anything with this?

It is a blade for a Strat Pickup.
You could probably put a no holes white or black cover over it.
Mojo Pickup Parts » 2115441 Mojotone Strat Flatwork Top and Bottom (for 2.180 long bar magnet)
Good Luck,
T

[bea]

Well, Höfner PUs are manufactured again: Hfner Original-Pickup H511/b fr Beatles Bass Modell 62

I don't know the string spacing of the Höfner basses - but it was so narrow that actual fender type flatwork will not work.

Maybe the following sketch will help: GitarreBassBau.de • Thema anzeigen - Schablonen und Zeichnungen • Gitarrenbau, Bassbau (beware, it is not an exact plan - but the author built an instrument after that sketch)

Here a bit more on the PUs from Höfner: http://www.vintagehofner.co.uk/hofne...ckups/pup.html

[KatCreek]

Thanks to you two for the ideas. I think the strat build is a little wide and the Hofner a little narrow. It is good to know that I can buy a Hofner original, but I don't necessarily want to be limited to that string spacing. I measured a Hofner bass at a store recently. The string spacing is 13mm so the string to string width is 1 5/8". I think that I am going to start with a sidewinder similar to the one that Chris Turner posted. That way I can put the pole pieces at a distance I select but still be able to use the bobbin of an EMG. I really don't want to make my own bobbins!

I still am working on my winding machine build. I hope to have all the bits and pieces this week. I'll post on this once I get it completed and have a few winding experiences.

KC

[big_teee]

Thanks to you two for the ideas. I think the strat build is a little wide and the Hofner a little narrow. It is good to know that I can buy a Hofner original, but I don't necessarily want to be limited to that string spacing. I measured a Hofner bass at a store recently. The string spacing is 13mm so the string to string width is 1 5/8". I think that I am going to start with a sidewinder similar to the one that Chris Turner posted. That way I can put the pole pieces at a distance I select but still be able to use the bobbin of an EMG. I really don't want to make my own bobbins!

I still am working on my winding machine build. I hope to have all the bits and pieces this week. I'll post on this once I get it completed and have a few winding experiences.

KC

Do you have room for a Firebird Mini Bucker.
You can put the magnets in the bobbins.
They are small and fairly narrow.
Mojotone Mini Humbucker Pickup Bobbins (Set of 2)
You would want to use the no holes cover, and two Alnico magnets.
T

[KatCreek]

T, I'll buy a few this week to check them out. Thanks KC