Can you make pups without special gear?

axisus

And if you can, would they be any good? I want to make a guitar one day and build as much of it as possible by hand. Stuff like tuners not possible, but I figure pups could be doable?

WezV

you can rig up a winder out of many things.  I have done one with a drill press that worked but i struggled to get good tension.   but i have seen them made from sewing machines, record players, hand drills, bicycles - pretty much anything that spins.

if you search for DIY pickup winder I am sure you will find loads

OilCityPickups

You can make pickups with pretty much anything ... your consistency will be poor at first ... but if you settle on a simple design ... and perhaps rewind a few old pickups first ... anything is possible.

If you are in the London area drop in ... I'll show you how the pros do it :-)

Sassafras

Is it not one of those things that can easily become more expensive to make than to buy?

I've fallen into that form of obsession many times over all kinds of things.

FelineGuitars

Wasn't someone on here selling a winder?

axisus

FelineGuitars said:

Wasn't someone on here selling a winder?

Yes, it went before I got a sniff of the thread!

axisus

TheGuitarWeasel said:

You can make pickups with pretty much anything ... your consistency will be poor at first ... but if you settle on a simple design ... and perhaps rewind a few old pickups first ... anything is possible.

If you are in the London area drop in ... I'll show you how the pros do it :-)

There's a generous offer! 

OilCityPickups

Sassafras said:

Is it not one of those things that can easily become more expensive to make than to buy?

I've fallen into that form of obsession many times over all kinds of things.

Yep ... if you are going to think of saving money ... think again. A small roll of wire will cost you as much as a mid range pickup ... Then there are bobbins and magnets ... 

It is a moderately expensive hobby ... and you will waste a lot of materials at first. Your cheapest 'in' is to buy a few cheap pickups for parts ... some wire ... and rewind them. You will need some sort of turn counter ...

Try this

Brocotts do wire in small quantities ... but beware ... some of it is utter crap. 

A drill press, sewing machine etc can be pressed into service as a winder

ICBM

Amazed no-one has said this already, but yes you can make pups without special gear. You just need a mummy dog and a daddy dog.

On the other hand if you mean PICKUPS, please see the "dumb terms used by guitarists" thread…

OilCityPickups

ICBM said: Amazed no-one has said this already, but yes you can make pups without special gear. You just need a mummy dog and a daddy dog.
On the other hand if you mean PICKUPS, please see the "dumb terms used by guitarists" thread…


Here here, I hate that term!  Katie and I  prefer the term pickled-pups in the workshop :-)

axisus

TheGuitarWeasel said:

Sassafras said:

Is it not one of those things that can easily become more expensive to make than to buy?

I've fallen into that form of obsession many times over all kinds of things.

Yep ... if you are going to think of saving money ... 

Not about saving money, just about building as much of a guitar by hand as possible

boogieman

There was a YouTube video of the luthier who rebuilt Wilco Johnson's Tele pickups. French sounding name, sorry can't remember it now. He had a really Heath Robinson winding machine made out of an old treadle sewing machine.

koneguitarist

Made my first (and only) pickup when I was about 10-11 years old. Out of an old Electric motor and a magnet. Did it by hand.

Sounded crap but it worked! 

OilCityPickups

axisus said:

TheGuitarWeasel said:

Sassafras said:

Is it not one of those things that can easily become more expensive to make than to buy?

I've fallen into that form of obsession many times over all kinds of things.

Yep ... if you are going to think of saving money ... 

Not about saving money, just about building as much of a guitar by hand as possible

Well any help you need just shout ... and as I say ... you are welcome to visit 'Oily Towers' if you are near East London to get some ideas.