Quote:
Originally Posted by WrapAround
I'm interested in WRs as well, so I have to ask this question. What does "sound authentic" really mean in this case? Did you A/B it with a real WR ('real' as in NOT a reissue one)? Or does it mean, "it sounds like how i remember old WRs sound like."?
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My thought exactly...it "sounds authentic" but that's coming from someone that couldn't find an original one so they have no basis of comparison??
I'm also confused about Telenator's intentions and/or motivation for the project?? If you don't have an original to inspect, listen to, and base the design of your polepieces or pickup on what's the inspiration for cloning an original WR?...and how are you going to know if you succeeded or not when done with nothing to compare the clone with??
CuNiFe magnets are (have been) available but to buy them from a supplier for use in pickups you'd need to buy them in rod form that's the correct diameter and have the rod threaded and cut to size along with having a flathead slot cut into one edge. Most (all?) of the magnet suppliers I know of also require a big quantity of magnets to be purchased (especially if you're specifying rod size, etc). I hate to be such a skeptic...but if it was so simple to secure CuNiFe polepieces in the proper configuration I would think that Fender would have done it for the reissues...and they're (Fender) certainly able to buy in larger quantities than Telenator is. If building an accurate WR is beyond the ability of Fender, Seymour Duncan, and Dimarzio I find it hard to believe that it's
EVER going to happen.
The size of the bobbins, windings, construction, etc of the reissues and originals are completely different so it isn't as simple as putting CuNiFe mags in a reissue pickup. The polepieces aren't even the same size and don't have the same thread pattern (see original on bottom, reissue on top w/ wax around it to fit in the larger cover)
Original WR humbuckers are readily available...I see them EVERY week on fleabay and seem to be hovering around the $350-$400 range. Assuming someone has the money to fund sourcing and machining for CuNiFe magnets the purchase of an original $400 WR for research and comparison purposes is a "drop in the bucket".
My advice to those that want the tone of an original WR...
BUY ONE!!
FWIW, I actualy hope Telenator will prove me wrong...I'm not holding my breath in the meantime though...