Author Topic: New Bare Knuckle pickups vs. rewinds (Read 8430 times)

PhilKing · « **on:** April 27, 2005, 10:23:45 PM »

This is sort of a question for Tim, though I would be interested in other members views on this too.

I was wondering how you felt about new pickups and rewinds. I have had both from you (and they all sound great), but I have a few older guitars where I was thinking of having the pickups rewound (and possibly changing the magnet), to preserve the older look of them.

When an old pickup is duff or has already been worked on it is a no brainer, but do you think it is worthwhile if the old pickup is working? Is a better choice to take the old pickup out and preserve it, in case I sell the guitar (if I had some PAF's I would sell them though - seeing the price people are asking, for that money I could put BKP's on all my guitars :P ).

Of course as I write this I have a couple of P-90's from 2 Juniors, 2 Strat pickups and a set of Tele's that I am wondering about!

Phil

HJM · « **Reply #1 on:** April 27, 2005, 10:42:59 PM »

If the pickups is working, then I'd keep it as is, unless there was a cosmetic reason for a rewind. Plus the guitar can be returned to stock if you just swap 'em!

I like the things like solid nickle silver base plates, soft iron screws etc, that BKP do to their production pickups. Plus you know exactly what it'll sound like!

Just my thoughts...

Tim · « **Reply #2 on:** April 27, 2005, 11:05:06 PM »

If a pickup is working then I think it's better to preserve it and replace with a new one, that way the whole process is reversible. If a pickup really does sound aweful then if I'm carefull I can go in, do a rewind, and hopefully leave cosmetically the same but sounding better-even swapping magnets out in the case of humbuckers.
Teles and Strats just aren't practical to mess with swapping magnets as there's not much else to them, in this case a good rewind will sound better and again not damage the appearance if done correctly with the right wire etc.
The other option is to 'age' new pickups which we can do too.

chris o'donnell · « **Reply #3 on:** April 28, 2005, 02:50:55 PM »

I swapped my Burst Buckers for BKP's but I have kept a hold of the BBs because I know the guitar can be returned to its original state, if need be.

Cheers

Chris.

38thBeatle · « **Reply #4 on:** April 28, 2005, 09:54:26 PM »

Hi Tim, you mentioned ageing pups. Without giving away trade secrets, how is this done. I assume it "mellows" the sounds. Thanks

Tim · « **Reply #5 on:** April 28, 2005, 10:35:37 PM »

Thereare various ways using different chemicals-the best way is to play them :D

bucketshred · « **Reply #6 on:** April 28, 2005, 10:37:14 PM »

Surely you can't 'age' the sound of a pickup? It's only metal after all!

Andy!

Tim · « **Reply #7 on:** April 28, 2005, 10:39:09 PM »

Oddly enough you can by playing with the magnet-you can simulate the effect of age and effect the tone accordingly.

HTH AMPS · « **Reply #8 on:** April 28, 2005, 11:13:29 PM »

Tim, do magnets REALLY age i.e. does the gauss reading weaken over time that we would notice in our own lifetimes? (or is this more pickup manufacturer bullshitee/snake oil etc... ??)

I've tried SD's Antiquities and they were shitee, weak as hell - a bit like a bad version of a Gibson T-Top. Their Seth Lover pickup is alot better, I quite like that one (for retro rock)

:twisted:

Tim · « **Reply #9 on:** April 29, 2005, 08:16:49 AM »

Yes magnets do weaken with age but not as quickly as some would have you believe-I wouldn't call it bs/snakeskin oil.If you play an vintage guitar you'll find the neck pickup is always weaker than say the bridge and normally all the pickups would have been identical originally.the fact is the strings move more over the neck area and weaken the magnets quicker than over the bridge, also age does have an effect to but not as much as you'd think-magnets to weaken naturally and also via interaction with opposing magnets.Chuck a couple of pickups in a drawer for 6 months and you'll be amazed at the way the magnets weaken off especially if the opposing polarities are forced together.
Alot of the vintage pickup makers work very hard on the gauss of their magnets and get great results. I tend to stick to producing pickups that sound as they should have been when new-so for instance The Mule is my take on a '58 PAF but like it would have been then not after 45 years. I do age on request though.
Hope that helps.

R/2e · « **Reply #10 on:** April 29, 2005, 02:48:16 PM »

Quote

I do age on request though.

Tim, can you age 20 years immediately then. You look much too young on your photos................

HJM · « **Reply #11 on:** April 29, 2005, 05:02:57 PM »

Quote from: R/2e

Quote
I do age on request though.

Tim, can you age 20 years immediately then. You look much too young on your photos................

That would be photoshop then... :lol:

HTH AMPS · « **Reply #12 on:** April 29, 2005, 05:24:00 PM »

Thanks for reply Tim, I was just wanting to clear that issue up - I know I can ask a question here and get a straight answer.

Doesn't look like I'll be doing much playing for a while though - had a fight with a stanley knife and lost (ouch!!!).

:twisted:

Tim · « **Reply #13 on:** April 29, 2005, 05:36:24 PM »

God, after a day like today I feel 100 :lol: