Specs on pickups other than humbuckers and Fender style single coils.

Mark Abbott

New member
I can't say I know a whole lot about pickups other than Gibson/Fender humbuckers and Fender single coils. This a shame really as there are other choices out there.

Such as Gretsch, lipstick pickups etc.

When looking for info on lipstick pickups there doesn't seem to be a lot of info out there.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lipstick_pickup

I'd love to see how they are made, and know more details about magnet type, wire gauge etc. All the sort of stuff we've come to know of the various humbuckers and classic singles.

Thanks

Mark Abbott
 
Re: Specs on pickups other than humbuckers and Fender style single coils.

Thanks CHR, that is informative. It does bring up an interesting point. The kits used bobbins while the originals didn't. I have heard this has a bearing on tone, though how much is the question?

I wonder if they used formvar wire or plain enamel wire, I think the link mentioned 42 and 43 gauge wire used in the rewind. Were these pickups originally wound by hand or machine wound?

I wonder how SD, Kent Armstrong wind their lipstick pickups, and if they use a former?

(GFS would appear to use a former.)

It is probably that they would as the lipstick pickup looks like a difficult pickup to wind.

The original lipsticks in my reissue measured 3.9K and weren't very bright. The KA pickups are brighter with more output. They measure around 5K.

Thanks again for your assistance.

Mark Abbott
 
Re: Specs on pickups other than humbuckers and Fender style single coils.

Who winds Dano pickups other than Kent Armstrong, GFS, and SD. They seem like a ***** of a thing to wind. I've noticed Jerry Jones doesn't sell his pickups.

The links have been informative. Hopefully the crew at SD will chime in at some stsge.
 
Re: Specs on pickups other than humbuckers and Fender style single coils.

does anyone know if it's definitely 42AWG..?

interesting point re magnetic material in the mounting hardware keeping the bar magnet still.
:scratchch
 
Re: Specs on pickups other than humbuckers and Fender style single coils.

I tried the link, but I didn't see anything there relating to Lipstick pickups, it was interesting reading though.
 
Re: Specs on pickups other than humbuckers and Fender style single coils.

Thanks for that. It would seem the lipstick is the wind most pickup makers hate.

I just played my DC-59 reissue though my Kendrick Roughneck (it's a modified 5F1 Champ clone, I've modified it a bit more to get rid of the excessive sag) and the lipsticks sound great through it. I don't know why more people aren't interested?

Yours Sincerely

Mark Abbott
 
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