Clear bobbins

[Inflames626]

So my chance encounter upon a Les Paul Menace showed me that clear pickup bobbins are a thing.

Thoughts?

[hamerfan]

Gibson started it in 1968 with the P90 bobbins.

[Rex_Rocker]

Is it just the angle, or is the insulation on one of the coils on the pickup to the left different than the other? One looks like enamel, the other looks like something else.

[Inflames626]

Is it just the angle, or is the insulation on one of the coils on the pickup to the left different than the other? One looks like enamel, the other looks like something else.

Dunno, but seeing the coil bugs me, just like direct mount pickups without rings bug me.

It's like seeing an unattractive person naked. Go home, 2020s guitar. You're drunk. Please, cover those coils and put on a pickup ring.

[Seashore]

I actually kind of dig it. I wouldn't mind it on one of my more beat-up-looking guitars.

[AlexR]

Sort of thing that would be ideal in a steampunk guitar

[eclecticsynergy]

Is it just the angle, or is the insulation on one of the coils on the pickup to the left different than the other? One looks like enamel, the other looks like something else.

Yep, different wire. AFAIK Gibson doesn't do that - I don't think those are the ones from the LP Menace.

First saw clear bobbins on one of the 60s P90s that hamerfan mentioned.
IMO seeing the coils is cool. Just posted over on the LP Menace thread that to me it looks sort of steampunk.

[JOLLY]

They do nothing for me.

[Inflames626]

Yep, different wire. AFAIK Gibson doesn't do that - I don't think those are the ones from the LP Menace.

First saw clear bobbins on one of the 60s P90s that hamerfan mentioned.
IMO seeing the coils is cool. Just posted over on the LP Menace thread that to me it looks sort of steampunk.

Would look cool with some kind of clockwork/gear overlay on the paint. Maybe etched.

Something like this late Roman/Byzantine type of niello artwork.

[Mincer]

Not really a look I care for, but I could see them working in the right guitar. There should be more design elements on bobbins and covers, overall. Pickups can sometimes look so boring.

[Chistopher]

Dunno, but seeing the coil bugs me, just like direct mount pickups without rings bug me.

It's like seeing an unattractive person naked. Go home, 2020s guitar. You're drunk. Please, cover those coils and put on a pickup ring.

I'm with you on transparent coils looking bad, but a well done wood mounted pickup looks way better than a pickup ring. Rear mounted pickups look even better.

I don't particularly care for pickup covers either, at least not shiny metal ones.

[Inflames626]

I'm with you on transparent coils looking bad, but a well done wood mounted pickup looks way better than a pickup ring. Rear mounted pickups look even better.

I don't particularly care for pickup covers either, at least not shiny metal ones.

I prefer to see the ring--even for it to be metal and chrome. It's like a picture with a frame.

I will occasionally cover a pickup if it is a PAF in an attractive (usually gloss black) guitar. However, there is a slight tone difference between covered and uncovered (covered sounds a little more nasally to me). Usually black bobbins with a logo are good enough for me (I don't like DiMarzios not having a logo).

Of course, if money were no object, there would always be options. I admire pickup covers that are incorporated seamlessly into the paint scheme. I am guessing this is challenging to do.

And, I pretty much require pickup rings now because I insist on Triple Shots on nearly everything.

[Mincer]

I don't particularly like the ring. I am all for well-done wood mounts. It does look more elegant to me.

[Wound_Up]

Yep, different wire. AFAIK Gibson doesn't do that - I don't think those are the ones from the LP Menace.

First saw clear bobbins on one of the 60s P90s that hamerfan mentioned.
IMO seeing the coils is cool. Just posted over on the LP Menace thread that to me it looks sort of steampunk.

Those are Porter Pickups' "Blender Pickups". They say, they use 4 types of wire among the set of neck & bridge pickups or something. I found the clear bobbin pickup on their website, also.

https://www.porterpickups.com/products/pickups/humbucker-pickups/blender/

[Wound_Up]

Here's the clear bobbin 'Blender Pickup' at their website

https://www.porterpickups.com/custom-shop/clear-bobbin-humbucker/