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Telenator · July 16th, 2008, 05:50 AM

I started with a MIM '72 Re-issue p'up and basically tossed the innards.

My new coil design is the same width as a single coil Tele bridge p'up but it's not as tall. When I put two of these coils side by side, the fit the cover perfectly.

The coils are wound with 42 awg "original, old stock wire" that is quite covetted these days, and there are 5000 winds on one bobbin and 5150 winds on the other.

The pickup reads 8.05k ohms but is considerably louder than the MIM which reads about 8.0k. But, how is that possible Bob? one might ask.

It's louder because the MIM p'up has it's magnet lying underneath the coils. Mine has 12 alnico V magnets (which I cleverly altered to look just like the screws on the original '72.) More magnet power and closer proximity to the strings makes a pickup louder even though it has the same DC resistance reading as another p'up that carries it's magnet below the coils.

If someone in the local area here can record me and post the clip, I will actually break my (no record policy) and play a few licks so you guys can hear this pickup.

This pickup is very sensitive to the way you angle it. Raise the bass side and it becomes very thick and smokey, but retains it's low end definition nicely. Not flabby sounding at all.

Raise the treble side and it becomes bright and glassy with smooth, piercing highs and well defined lows that have a great presence without getting boomy. Even though this is a humbucker, it reacts to height changes very much like a single coil.

So far I have only played it through my 77 SFDR clean. Today I'll plug it into the Rivera and maybe take it to the local Sam Ash to try the sound against a stock '72 Re-issue they have there.

My guitar is on the bright side to begin with so, I'm not sure it's the best test bed for this pickup. As things develop, I may have one or two p'ups around to send out for people to try so I can get their appraisal of the design.

In the long run, I am hoping to offer a "retro-fitting service" to people who have MIM Re-issue p'ups and want something better that still looks like the original Fender p'up and drops right into their guitar with no alterations. There are some very good alternatives to the WRHB's but they do not have the chrome Fender covers and many are not the same size as the originals.

With what I have invested in this, I don't expect to make any money on the project, just offer some players an alternative to what's out there in a more original looking package than what is currently available. It's just a hobby for me, and hey, if things go really well, I might eventually break even and get a free set of my own pickups out of the deal!

July 16th, 2008, 05:50 AM	#103 (permalink)
Telenator Friend of Leo's Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Connecticut Posts: 4,403	I started with a MIM '72 Re-issue p'up and basically tossed the innards. My new coil design is the same width as a single coil Tele bridge p'up but it's not as tall. When I put two of these coils side by side, the fit the cover perfectly. The coils are wound with 42 awg "original, old stock wire" that is quite covetted these days, and there are 5000 winds on one bobbin and 5150 winds on the other. The pickup reads 8.05k ohms but is considerably louder than the MIM which reads about 8.0k. But, how is that possible Bob? one might ask. It's louder because the MIM p'up has it's magnet lying underneath the coils. Mine has 12 alnico V magnets (which I cleverly altered to look just like the screws on the original '72.) More magnet power and closer proximity to the strings makes a pickup louder even though it has the same DC resistance reading as another p'up that carries it's magnet below the coils. If someone in the local area here can record me and post the clip, I will actually break my (no record policy) and play a few licks so you guys can hear this pickup. This pickup is very sensitive to the way you angle it. Raise the bass side and it becomes very thick and smokey, but retains it's low end definition nicely. Not flabby sounding at all. Raise the treble side and it becomes bright and glassy with smooth, piercing highs and well defined lows that have a great presence without getting boomy. Even though this is a humbucker, it reacts to height changes very much like a single coil. So far I have only played it through my 77 SFDR clean. Today I'll plug it into the Rivera and maybe take it to the local Sam Ash to try the sound against a stock '72 Re-issue they have there. My guitar is on the bright side to begin with so, I'm not sure it's the best test bed for this pickup. As things develop, I may have one or two p'ups around to send out for people to try so I can get their appraisal of the design. In the long run, I am hoping to offer a "retro-fitting service" to people who have MIM Re-issue p'ups and want something better that still looks like the original Fender p'up and drops right into their guitar with no alterations. There are some very good alternatives to the WRHB's but they do not have the chrome Fender covers and many are not the same size as the originals. With what I have invested in this, I don't expect to make any money on the project, just offer some players an alternative to what's out there in a more original looking package than what is currently available. It's just a hobby for me, and hey, if things go really well, I might eventually break even and get a free set of my own pickups out of the deal! __________________ Dogs have the right idea!