Luke Duke
PRSlustologist
So over time there has been a lot of discussion about CS vs non-CS pups around here. I was looking at my PRS the other day and something struck me and I want to share it.
First....yes you could say I AM beating up on SD because of QC
Second....problems don't get fixed if they're not pointed out
Third....it shows the extra care that CS pups get.
What is a spider crack? It's the little cracks that form around the slug polepieces in pickups making the cracks and slug look like a small "spider". It seems that they develop after 12-24 months of being in a guitar. Now I live in a humid climate and won't discount the possibility of the climate playing a factor.
Ok, so I've had 5 CS Duncans: 1 butyrate 78, 1 injection molded bobbin 78 Trembucker, 1 injection molded bobbin brobucker, and 1 Custom/Distortion Hybrid and 1 strat single. I still have 4 of these , the Brobucker was the only one I decided not to keep, and here is what I've observed.
Over the years as I've bought new AND used SD pickups many have the spider cracks, and I asked someone at SD about it and they said it doesn't affect the pickup's functionality and not to worry about it. Well over time I acquired the CS pickups and I found out that NONE of the humbuckers from the custom shop develop these spider cracks. First I thought it was due to the stiffer injection molded plastic, but then I noticed that wasn't the case because my normal buckers didn't develop cracks. This leads me to believe that SDs non-leesona winders are putting the wrapps on the bobbins too fast or too tight, and eventually the stress makes the bobbin break.
As we all know only the more vintage correct pups are wound on the Leesona due to how slow and labor intensive it is compared to the regular winders. So my question is why can't SD lower the tension on the other winders to keep from developing the spider cracks?
So for any of you comparing the CS products/prices I will tell you that in my opinion the cost is justified in by the superior winding that is done that doesn't have anything to do with the black arts or "mojo".
Luke
First....yes you could say I AM beating up on SD because of QC
Second....problems don't get fixed if they're not pointed out
Third....it shows the extra care that CS pups get.
What is a spider crack? It's the little cracks that form around the slug polepieces in pickups making the cracks and slug look like a small "spider". It seems that they develop after 12-24 months of being in a guitar. Now I live in a humid climate and won't discount the possibility of the climate playing a factor.
Ok, so I've had 5 CS Duncans: 1 butyrate 78, 1 injection molded bobbin 78 Trembucker, 1 injection molded bobbin brobucker, and 1 Custom/Distortion Hybrid and 1 strat single. I still have 4 of these , the Brobucker was the only one I decided not to keep, and here is what I've observed.
Over the years as I've bought new AND used SD pickups many have the spider cracks, and I asked someone at SD about it and they said it doesn't affect the pickup's functionality and not to worry about it. Well over time I acquired the CS pickups and I found out that NONE of the humbuckers from the custom shop develop these spider cracks. First I thought it was due to the stiffer injection molded plastic, but then I noticed that wasn't the case because my normal buckers didn't develop cracks. This leads me to believe that SDs non-leesona winders are putting the wrapps on the bobbins too fast or too tight, and eventually the stress makes the bobbin break.
As we all know only the more vintage correct pups are wound on the Leesona due to how slow and labor intensive it is compared to the regular winders. So my question is why can't SD lower the tension on the other winders to keep from developing the spider cracks?
So for any of you comparing the CS products/prices I will tell you that in my opinion the cost is justified in by the superior winding that is done that doesn't have anything to do with the black arts or "mojo".
Luke
