S
stevieb
Just another guy, really.
I have never made a pickup, but from what I have read, I can handle it. CUT LOOSE- just be all over the map, DON'T HOLD BACK. Tell me what you think.
bongolation
New member
All other things being equal, a dumb idea.
I've seen this question approached by serious pickup mavens who know far more about it than I do on other forums and the answer is always the same.
Unless you're a marketing genius, you'll never make any money -- and if money isn't important to you, then it's not a business and just a hobby.
Never mind that if you haven't made a lot of pickups and don't have an excellent grasp of all technical aspects of design then you're not qualified to be presenting yourself as a professional to buyers anyhow.
I've seen this question approached by serious pickup mavens who know far more about it than I do on other forums and the answer is always the same.
Unless you're a marketing genius, you'll never make any money -- and if money isn't important to you, then it's not a business and just a hobby.
Never mind that if you haven't made a lot of pickups and don't have an excellent grasp of all technical aspects of design then you're not qualified to be presenting yourself as a professional to buyers anyhow.
Light
New member
You would be entering an already crowded market filled with guys who already know what they are doing, and already have great reputations.
Good luck with that.
But try making a few for fun. If you love it, then you'll figure out a way to do it.
Light
"Cowards can never be moral."
M.K. Gandhi
Good luck with that.
But try making a few for fun. If you love it, then you'll figure out a way to do it.
Light
"Cowards can never be moral."
M.K. Gandhi
muttley600
Banned
Don't expect to make a living at it for a very very long time. I've made my own in the past and unless you have something new all bases are covered already. Ask your self some questions.
1, What is my unique angle, 2, Who is going to sell these for me, 3, How can I get my work out there for people to see/use. Without these three all business's are doomed to fail.
Make some pickups in your free time and see what reception they get and I don't mean from friends an family. False praise is no praise.
1, What is my unique angle, 2, Who is going to sell these for me, 3, How can I get my work out there for people to see/use. Without these three all business's are doomed to fail.
Make some pickups in your free time and see what reception they get and I don't mean from friends an family. False praise is no praise.
S
stevieb
Just another guy, really.
Now why did I know Light and muttley would be the FIRST to reply?
Gear_Junky
New member
A. could you make a decent pickup in the first few tries? maybe.
but to be able to make a consistently GREAT pickup, which you can call a certain "model" and which would have predictable "specs", for that you'll have to go through thousands of mediocre tries.
B. could you make a really good strat or paf pickup out of parts available at retailers, like stewmac? maybe. but at those prices it won't be marketable/profitable. but to order your own molds/bobbins/magnets will require substantial investment. with no guarantees of every turning a profit (like the guys above said).
going into business requires 2 things: knowing something about the skill/craft/product/market AND knowing some things about business.
I am a pickup junkie and I like DIY, but I don't even think pickup making is that great of a hobby. I'd rather spend the money on guitars/amps and the time on playing
but to be able to make a consistently GREAT pickup, which you can call a certain "model" and which would have predictable "specs", for that you'll have to go through thousands of mediocre tries.
B. could you make a really good strat or paf pickup out of parts available at retailers, like stewmac? maybe. but at those prices it won't be marketable/profitable. but to order your own molds/bobbins/magnets will require substantial investment. with no guarantees of every turning a profit (like the guys above said).
going into business requires 2 things: knowing something about the skill/craft/product/market AND knowing some things about business.
I am a pickup junkie and I like DIY, but I don't even think pickup making is that great of a hobby. I'd rather spend the money on guitars/amps and the time on playing
mshilarious
Banned
Tough to have an original idea that fits a standard form factor, and tougher still to get guitarists to buy a new form factor.
I say go with real handwound (not hand-guided on a machine) pickups, with solid gold bobbins, and charge like $400 each
I did a handwound pickup once. It took about 30 minutes per coil
I say go with real handwound (not hand-guided on a machine) pickups, with solid gold bobbins, and charge like $400 each
I did a handwound pickup once. It took about 30 minutes per coil
JCH
El Nacho
I build pickups, and I sell a few. It's a tough market. There's much more to it than magnets, and wire. I don't mean to discourage you, because it's a great hobby. Hitting a home run on your first at bat is very unlikely, but after experimenting with magnets, wire, and technique good results are pretty easy.
Making pickups is a science, a skill, and art combined into one. I've been doing it for a couple years, and I've just barely scratched the surface. There are so many things that you can do that will impact the tone it's almost mind boggling. The stewmac kits are a good place to start because they are complete minus wire, and you wont have to source parts from different suppliers. After you've built a few you will get a whole new perspective of what it's all about. Build yourself a winder, and have at it...
Here's a video of me building some humbuckers
Making pickups is a science, a skill, and art combined into one. I've been doing it for a couple years, and I've just barely scratched the surface. There are so many things that you can do that will impact the tone it's almost mind boggling. The stewmac kits are a good place to start because they are complete minus wire, and you wont have to source parts from different suppliers. After you've built a few you will get a whole new perspective of what it's all about. Build yourself a winder, and have at it...
Here's a video of me building some humbuckers
mikemorgan
panned out
I think it will be very hard to judge your pickup making abilities until you send me some....
DrewPeterson7
Sage of the Order
Now why did I know Light and muttley would be the FIRST to reply?
Because they're pretty damned knowledgable, and good at not holding back?
"I have never made a pickup, but from what I have read, I can handle it."
Don't take this the wrong way, but this sounds like a recipe for disaster.
That said, buy some materials and try making a pickup. Hell, maybe you'll find you do have a knack for it, and maybe you'll get an enjoyable hobby for your trouble. Alternately, maybe it'll go so badly that you'll quickly drop the idea.
On a more serious note, if you're serious, start by trying to rewind an existing pickup - it's probably the easiest way to get your feet wet.
cannabis
New member
sounds like a
good idea to me
i'm thinking of going into
the singer/songwriter business
i've read a lot about it
and it seems pretty simple to me
put a few chords in order
assign a meter and tempo
knock out a melody
put in some word strings
play it on open mic night
and there you got it
i'll probably be making
some real money in no time
good idea to me
i'm thinking of going into
the singer/songwriter business
i've read a lot about it
and it seems pretty simple to me
put a few chords in order
assign a meter and tempo
knock out a melody
put in some word strings
play it on open mic night
and there you got it
i'll probably be making
some real money in no time
mshilarious
Banned
I dunno, getting all the wax off and cutting out the old wire is a pain. A kit is probably easier. Except for magnetizing the magnets, cause then you need stronger magnets too. Hmm.
Hey OP, I've still got enough wire for a few pups, send me $5 for shipping and it's yours. This was the stew-mac wire, I forget what gauge but probably 42, I only used about 8K of DCR, figure that is . . . ah heck, can't find the resistance/ft of 42 gauge wire . . .
Anyway, at least two more humbuckers, I'd guess . . .
wbcsound
New member
This is the best advice you'll get.
Gear_Junky
New member
so you mean the new kits you buy don't even have magnetized magnets? one would have to DIY it? doesn't that take a machine?
I didn't know that! (and that's why I'm not in the pickup making business!)
mshilarious
Banned
so you mean the new kits you buy don't even have magnetized magnets? one would have to DIY it? doesn't that take a machine?
I didn't know that! (and that's why I'm not in the pickup making business!)
Well at least the stew-mac kit doesn't. You just need a pair of really strong magnets, which they also sell (surprise). Those are cheap though.
muttley600
Banned
I meant to mention if you do decide to go into production I'd be happy to arrange to view and review a few for you. If you want to know anything about the market and where there may be any room for a small quantity maker let me know.
Good luck and keep us updated.
Good luck and keep us updated.
Light
New member
No, they sell strong enough magnets.
My 2"x2" rare earth rod magnet that can crush your hand is a really strong magnet.
I feel like Crocodile Dundee, "That's not a magnet, THIS is a magnet!"
Light
"Cowards can never be moral."
M.K. Gandhi
S
stevieb
Just another guy, really.
Lots of good advise. Not sure if I will persue this, but thanks, you guys have given me some solid info and suggestions.
I like the re-wind an existing pair idea. I actually do have a pair of pups from a 60's vintage Japaniese Jazz bass copy, that went out decades ago- I pulled them and replaced them with a take-off pair of undetermined origin. Original pups had chromed metal covers- imagine an over-sized soap-bar look, but actual pups were about as long as J pups and about half again as wide. I decided to keep the covers, as the pick guard is a massive, heavy metal item, completly chrome plated, too. Now that I am in a telling of the rebuild, in 1973 my Dad had the whole bass- neck but not fretboard, and body- painted by a motorcycle painter, so it is this garish, purple and blue metalflake- I could probably do a walk on with Bootsy Collins, on just the look, alone! Anyway, took the J-pups out of their plastic covers and they fit under the metal covers just fine. Kept all the pieces, and maybe it is about time I re-wound them. No illusions of "restoring the value" of the bass- heck, it is probably more interesting and perhaps more valuable like it is now than "restored," and it CERTAINLY is unique.
Thanks, again.
I like the re-wind an existing pair idea. I actually do have a pair of pups from a 60's vintage Japaniese Jazz bass copy, that went out decades ago- I pulled them and replaced them with a take-off pair of undetermined origin. Original pups had chromed metal covers- imagine an over-sized soap-bar look, but actual pups were about as long as J pups and about half again as wide. I decided to keep the covers, as the pick guard is a massive, heavy metal item, completly chrome plated, too. Now that I am in a telling of the rebuild, in 1973 my Dad had the whole bass- neck but not fretboard, and body- painted by a motorcycle painter, so it is this garish, purple and blue metalflake- I could probably do a walk on with Bootsy Collins, on just the look, alone! Anyway, took the J-pups out of their plastic covers and they fit under the metal covers just fine. Kept all the pieces, and maybe it is about time I re-wound them. No illusions of "restoring the value" of the bass- heck, it is probably more interesting and perhaps more valuable like it is now than "restored," and it CERTAINLY is unique.
Thanks, again.