Jet-Jaguar
New member
Title says it all. I've seen pickup winders (the machines.) I've seen ads for "hand-wound" pickups. What exactly does it mean to "hand wind" a pickup?
What does "hand Winding" the pickups mean?
- Thread starter Jet-Jaguar
- Start date
Zhangliqun
Questionologist
Re: What does "hand Winding" the pickups mean?
It really means "hand-guided". The traverse of the wire back and forth on the bobbin is controlled by thumb and forefinger rather than an automatic traverse. Otherwise, the bobbin is always turned by machine.
Very few winders will wrap the wire on the bobbin entirely by hand because it's not exactly practical in terms of time and labor. I know of only one winder who does, and strongly suspect another did who is no longer in the business.
It really means "hand-guided". The traverse of the wire back and forth on the bobbin is controlled by thumb and forefinger rather than an automatic traverse. Otherwise, the bobbin is always turned by machine.
Very few winders will wrap the wire on the bobbin entirely by hand because it's not exactly practical in terms of time and labor. I know of only one winder who does, and strongly suspect another did who is no longer in the business.
Zhangliqun
Questionologist
Re: What does "hand Winding" the pickups mean?
I'm one of those "two" I mentioned, didn't want to get too specific. You don't ever turn the bobbin on a machine, you hand-wrap the wire on every pu? I do some that way but charge a lot more for them.
I'm one of those "two" I mentioned, didn't want to get too specific. You don't ever turn the bobbin on a machine, you hand-wrap the wire on every pu? I do some that way but charge a lot more for them.
LtKojak
New member
Re: What does "hand Winding" the pickups mean?
I think is just ridiculous to turn every single turn by hand... unless you're in jail and every excuse is good to pass the time. :approve:
Even Eddie wound his infamous PAF using a 78 RPM turntable... or so says the metropolitan legend.
I think is just ridiculous to turn every single turn by hand... unless you're in jail and every excuse is good to pass the time. :approve:
Even Eddie wound his infamous PAF using a 78 RPM turntable... or so says the metropolitan legend.
blueman335
Mojo's Minions
Re: What does "hand Winding" the pickups mean?
And the reason for all this is just to get a certain degree of scatter wind, some "air" in the coils, right? Whereas machine wind can be very tight & uniform, which looks nice but isn't necessarily the best method for tone. Am I correct?
And the reason for all this is just to get a certain degree of scatter wind, some "air" in the coils, right? Whereas machine wind can be very tight & uniform, which looks nice but isn't necessarily the best method for tone. Am I correct?
DrNewcenstein
He Did the Monster Mash
Re: What does "hand Winding" the pickups mean?
What happens when you lose count? "14,001 - 14,002 - 14,00*5!* - 14,00....dang" :lol:
What happens when you lose count? "14,001 - 14,002 - 14,00*5!* - 14,00....dang" :lol:
dr. ad
MonkeyDungologist
Re: What does "hand Winding" the pickups mean?
i thought every winder had a spotter, with a little thumb-clicker
i thought every winder had a spotter, with a little thumb-clicker
Zhangliqun
Questionologist
Re: What does "hand Winding" the pickups mean?
Kinda sorta. You can get a really good scatter with a machine turning the bobbin but you can get a different kind of scatter with hand-wrapping, patterns you can't get with the machine. And it does sound different, even better if you ask me.
As far as turn counts, the overwhelming majority of winders go by turn counts but I just don't, whether handwrapping or machine winding. I periodically check the DCR while being mindful of the temperature in the room and other factors that can affect the reading (like just physically handling the wire and the bobbin). The results are pretty consistent so I've never felt a need for a counter. After you've done hundreds of pus, you can visually guess when it's getting close to spec.
Anyway, apparently there are actually three of us now that I know of who do or did handwrap...
Kinda sorta. You can get a really good scatter with a machine turning the bobbin but you can get a different kind of scatter with hand-wrapping, patterns you can't get with the machine. And it does sound different, even better if you ask me.
As far as turn counts, the overwhelming majority of winders go by turn counts but I just don't, whether handwrapping or machine winding. I periodically check the DCR while being mindful of the temperature in the room and other factors that can affect the reading (like just physically handling the wire and the bobbin). The results are pretty consistent so I've never felt a need for a counter. After you've done hundreds of pus, you can visually guess when it's getting close to spec.
Anyway, apparently there are actually three of us now that I know of who do or did handwrap...
