DIY Pickups: Matching Bridge and Neck Positions

[Rane]

Hello, I just recently got interested in winding my own pickups. I've got some specs in mind for a bridge pickup, but I'm wondering how I might go about building a neck pickup that matches. Assuming you're using the same magnets in both pickups, is there a good rule of thumb for how many fewer turns a neck pickup should receive than a bridge pickup assuming you want their output level to sound pretty equal?

Thanks!

 

[LtKojak]

Re: DIY Pickups: Matching Bridge and Neck Positions

Hello, I just recently got interested in winding my own pickups. I've got some specs in mind for a bridge pickup, but I'm wondering how I might go about building a neck pickup that matches. Assuming you're using the same magnets in both pickups, is there a good rule of thumb for how many fewer turns a neck pickup should receive than a bridge pickup assuming you want their output level to sound pretty equal?

Thanks!

Are we talking humbuckers or single coils?

 

[Rane]

Re: DIY Pickups: Matching Bridge and Neck Positions

Are we talking humbuckers or single coils?

Both! Or whichever you're most familiar with. I'm building a humbucker at the moment, but would love to know about how this relates/differs when it comes to singles as well.

So far all I've found is references to early stock pickups sets where winds seemed to be equal in both positions. It's hard to find winding information on even moderately current pickups.

 

[LtKojak]

Re: DIY Pickups: Matching Bridge and Neck Positions

Tom Holmes does 5,000 turns per bobbin for the neck and 5,500 for the bridge.

Strat p'ups are all over the place, but your can try with 8,000, 8,500 and 9,000 turns.

The wire is AWG#42.

Good luck!

 

[jeremy]

Re: DIY Pickups: Matching Bridge and Neck Positions

Tom Holmes does 5,000 turns per bobbin for the neck and 5,500 for the bridge.

Strat p'ups are all over the place, but your can try with 8,000, 8,500 and 9,000 turns.

The wire is AWG#42.

Good luck!

those a good places to start. have fun with it! you can put 4700 on one coil of the neck and 5300 on the other to get a different tone too. i tend to prefer the coils more matched in the bridge and you can only fit so much wire on a standard bobbin

 

[Rane]

Re: DIY Pickups: Matching Bridge and Neck Positions

Thanks guys!

BTW, here's a my pickup winder. I tore apart an old sewing machine. I'm still waiting on the counter. I bought a $10 magnetic digital punch counter off eBay which should do the trick. Also, still gotta' mount the guide bar.