New Pickup Model: RH-100/90

[raygun85]

Actually, yes, it does affect the sound quite a bit. Earlier Telecasters were wound with 43-gauge wire and they tend have more of the twang and snap than later models wound with 42. This is why so many Wilson Bros, Dillion, and Eastwood owners are finding that they're not completely satisfied with P-90 pickups. Even an overwound P-90 will not sound like a Mosrite pickup. The shape of the coil, the height, width, length, the size of wire all affects the tone. Vintage Jazzmasters had very flat but wide coils. Many players have noted that the later MIJ Jazzmasters sounded more "Stratty" and that was because the coils were taller and narrower, changing the area of inductance from the strings and magnets. As for wire gauge - we must keep in mind that the amount of resistance of a given object (copper wire in this case) is directly proportional to its length and diameter. 42-gauge wire will take more turns (length) than 43-gauge wire to equal the same amount of resistance, which has an effect on the overall tone. Because of its larger diameter the electrons (i.e. the electric signal that was converted from the mechanical energy of the strings by the inductance of the magnetic field) tend to travel more freely than in 43-gauge wire. I'm not a physicist so I can't explain in great detail the correlation in tone, but there is a difference. Thats why pickup makers like myself, Ed Elliot, and Bob Shade have to gone to great lengths to reproduce our Mosrite-clone pickups as closely as we can to the same dimensions and specifications of the real deals. A PAF does not sound like a Strat pickup. A Strat pickup does not sound like a Jazzmaster pickup. A Jazzmaster pickup does not sound like a P-90. P-90s do not sound like Mosrite pickups. I decided to start making the RH-100/90 (P-90 sized pickup) with the Mosrite bobbins, 43-gauge wire, and Alnico V magnets for me. I had overwound P-90s in that particular guitar (about 10.5Kohms) and no matter what I couldn't dial in a plucky Jazzmaster tone, nor could I dial in a hot Mosrite tone. I wasn't happy. I made those pickups for me. Since I liked them so much we decided to make a video and start making them for everybody. Hey, if you're happy with your overwound Strat pickups then don't let me talk you out of them! I like Strat pickups, I'm a big fan of Lace Sensors myself. But you mentioned you wanted something closer to the Mosrite tone so I was trying to help you out and enlighten you at the same time. Good luck my friend! That is a very nice looking guitar.

[Sarah93003]

Thanks for the detailed explanation. I get it....mostly.

[raygun85]

Thanks for the detailed explanation. I get it....mostly.

I don't consider myself an expert but I've taken some classes and done a lot of experimenting so I know just enough to be dangerous. Sorry if I get too technical at times.

[Sarah93003]

Thanks for the detailed explanation. I get it....mostly.

I don't consider myself an expert but I've taken some classes and done a lot of experimenting so I know just enough to be dangerous. Sorry if I get too technical at times.

Hey, you can geek out all day in this forum. It's allowed!

[woodchuck30]

Hay Raygun, Don't missunderstand me, I love the sound of your pups, just didn't think one guage size in wire would make that much differance in the sound. Buy the way, do you send wireing diagrams with those pups? it makes it essier to wire for a biginner like me especially when I see four wires comming from each pup.

[raygun85]

Hey, no problem my friend! No offense taken...I consider myself to be quite a skeptic and believe me - there is a LOT of voodoo in the instrument business. I used to wonder what the big deal was about wire gauge, coil shape/size, magnets...etc...myself. Thats actually the reason I'm in the business now. I met Seymour Duncan when I was a teenager and he explained many things to me that were way over my head at the time...but it got me thinking. I started taking things apart, took some electronics courses, and what-a-ya know? Ten years goes by and I'm making pickups now. I find this all to be very exciting and sometimes I get carried away trying to explain things....

[raygun85]

Oh, and yes, we include instructions with all of our pickups. We should start selling pickups again sometime toward the end of May or early June. If everything goes as planned...