Flat Pickups!

[big_teee]

I read the thread in the main area about a particular brand of flat pickup.
Thought maybe that would make a neat project for the B/H Forum.
I have a few ideas that might work for a flat sidewinder pickup.
Looks like the trick would be to wind the coils around some alnico or ceramic flat magnets.
2 flat coils wound around flat magnets with a short blade in the middle.
I like the idea of building in into a pickup ring.
Post your ideas here
I'll start measuring pickup rings and magnets, and see what would work.
T

[rjb]

Post your ideas here

I think your idea will work, but if I were doing it (and I might some day) I'd stick closer to my guesstimate of the original design:

Cut a rectangle of 16 GA carbon steel (dimensions for different models are listed on the site);
Drill 6 holes down the middle to hold 6 neo mags (or try making the pup a bit taller, with 7 magnets aligned between the strings);
Populate with 1/16" tall neo discs;
Wrap with cellophane tape;
Slide on rubber rings to act as end flanges (not sure of source... HW store O-rings?);
Wind coils onto steel core (How? Not sure- need winder with a tailstock, custom faceplates...);
Wrap with cellophane tape.

For details such as hookup wire connection, pickup frame, pickup cover, optional pickup ring:
Peruse photos on the site- steal those too!

EDIT:
Thinking about it a little bit- I'm guessing your pups would be easier to assemble with off-the-shelf parts, but probably not as "flat" as the originals. What are the thinnest alnico or ceramic magnets available? The "brand" bare neck pup is 5mm (.197") thick- and remember, that's with the coil wrapped around the core. I guess it depends how thin you need the pickup to be. In my case, I'd be trying to make a surface-mount neck pup for an archtop with very little clearance between the body and strings.

EDIT 2:
Scratch the holes through the core; just stick a row of discs onto its surface (might need something to keep them in place).
Maybe two rows (front and back) with same magnetic pole facing inward.

[big_teee]

On the pickup ring, I was going to use a PAF type pickup ring.
I can make it all smaller, I think if I wind it over magnets, and keep it to the size of a PAF Cover, but thinner?
Parts will be easily excessible.
So Lets make several designs.
Since I have tons of alnico, and Ceramic magnets, and no NEOs?
I'm going to stick to parts I have available, probably Ceramic magnets.
Anyone else want to jump in and try one?
On the wiring, I will probably do the wiring at the end of the PAF pickup ring.
Haven't got to it today. Busy planting Clover Patches for the Critters, on the Mini-Farm.
T

[big_teee]

Everyone is welcome to give this project a shot!
If you do please report back.
I put my participation on hold!
These Reasons are strictly IMO, IME!
1. You end up with a compromise pickup at best!
2. It would only be useful on existing non pickup guitars.
3. If you make one, what becomes of the lead-in wire, and how do you get it to the pots?
4. It's not that hard to rout a solid body guitar, and use a Real modern designed guitar pickup.
5 On Flat-tops, IMO it makes more sense to use a Sound-Hole Pickup.