Fred Stuart Lapwrap vs. Don Mare 0038

[DMace]

This is probably a long shot, but has anyone here actually had the opportunity to compare the two pickups?

[Don Mare]

Theres a great story that goes along with Fred Stuarts "Lap Wraps"

Once on the phone with Fred, I was told the "Lap Wrap" story - It's awesome - and a bit sad too -

it went something like this:
Keith Richards used to send Fender a box - this happened about 6 times - inside the box would always be the same things - a old Blackgaurd Tele - a Early Gibson Humbucker 50's to 60's ones - it was Fred job to do the deed. ( the sad part ) Fred did not enjoy doing
what he was about to have to do to a "perfectly good 50's Blackgaurd" -
1- Route it out for a Humbucker
2- Install a American Standard Bridge
3- remove the coil from the "working" pickup & rewind it to 10k using the thinner wire 43' ( not the normal 42)
for those who don't know - a thinner wire 43 was used on the first Broadcasters for a few months before the switch to thicker 42' ( the few months actually may have been close to a whole year?) 1950 being the year-

also pre 1951 this wire 43 was used on the Lap Steels or "Champions" and the name
"Lap Wrap" came from that is what I was told.

Duncans Broadcaster is wire 43 at 8k to 9k target spec.
Fred Stuarts is 10k (target spec)
& Yours truly - 0038 is 11.5k (target spec)
Dimarzio Twang King is 14k (targetspec )

also: Bill Hullets 0514 Broadcaster was very well regarded it was measured at 6k


over all - I feel there were reasons why the "switch" occurred when the decision was made at Fender to replace 43 with 42 -
I think the sales reps in the field and artist Fender encountered pushed this change into play -

the 42 had more bell and Clank not as thin - and its a bigger sound - making it more competitive with Gibson perhaps? and a bit more player friendly ?

43 is a midrange-ie sound with a sharper cut in the highs - higher frequencies?
and if its under`wound - something below 8k it can be pretty weak on the output with the neck pickup. Since no turn counters were in play in the early 50's 6ks would have happened - and also 12-14ks - but Leo Fender was very Frugal so.... you would not work there long winding 12-14k pickups - there may have been days he would voice his concerns and the winder may have took it too literally and wound up those lower ones we know about?

all in all - 43 is a fun pickup - but keep in mind it was only on the first years run - so almost every Tele we have heard today has most likely been the wire 42' version...
the only person on record - that I know of for sure - having recorded with the wire 43', would be Keith Richards. - I would love to learn of more players one day.. ( anyone? )

Don

PS... here I am in 2005 before I was winding pickups - proudly using my cherished Duncan Broadcaster 43'

Scroll the time bar ahead to 2min when i'm on the Brown Tele
The Black Tele was OC Duffs 6ks 42'=(first 2min in)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=khyag...eature=related

[JamonHamon]

Good info Don, this is why I love the tdpri

[DMace]

Are both Alnico III? I thought the Stuart was Alnico III and the Don Mare was Alnico V. And how does the higher resistance affect tone?

[Don Mare]

Originally Posted by DMace

Are both Alnico III? I thought the Stuart was Alnico III and the Don Mare was Alnico V. And how does the higher resistance affect tone?

both are 3's ( I used to make a few 5's on request )

resistance within one makers product line of their 43' wire Bridges would "go across the board" _within their own design_ and be a effective way to determine EQ results - but not from maker to maker with most all pickups this is true
- especially us hand winder guys - because we do allot of special tricks within the confines of the coil itself -

so I don't think we can fairly compare using that Ohm / DC comparison system..

I do feel each maker, (myself), Stuart / Duncan / Dimarzio has all dialed in the DC's to what is their personal take on the very best EQ for their build and wind etc..-

[Johnny J]

Seriously Don you should write a book explaining pickups; history, design(s) and tones, as well as sharing stories like the one about Fred and the lapwrap. Once it is written put me in the beginning of the line to buy one.



John

[DMace]

Very, very interesting. No wonder Keith's tone has always been my favoritie Tele tone, along with Springsteen's 'Born to Run'/'Darkness on Edge of Town' era tone. I wonder what on earth those pickups are? But that's a whole other thread. lol.

[spankdplank]

Don--I just started rolling, er...winding my own and I really appreciate all I have learned from your posts. Many thanks. I understand that tele neck pups are always 43 AWG, I assume to get more turns of wire on the smaller bobbin. I have recently wound two tele neck pups with 42 AWG, wound with extra long A-V magnets. One wound to 6.15 and one wound to 6.9. Covers put on both. The 6.15 sounds extremely stratty and bright and the 6.9 is stratty but fuller and louder. I love the snap, tone and output of both. Do you have any insight on winding tele neck pups with 42, or why no one seems to wind with 42 and extra long magnets? It seems to me like a really good recipe. DMACE--sorry for the thread hijack.