Potbelly Pickup Prototype

[Rick Aiello]

Well, I've had a few days off (Grandma is here) ... so I took the opportunity to build the prototype pickup that I've been thinkin' about for a few months.

It's a conglomerate of all the stuff I've learned and/or made over the last few years.

The shell is ala The MRI ... with a 1.5" "nod" to the Rickys.

The lower magnet bank is ala The H-Shoe ...

The upper magnet bank is ala our Bass Horseshoes ...

The bobbin is a Blade style ...

The coil is wound with # 38 ... ala old Rickys & Charlie Christians ... wound to 2.3 K Ohm

Its the exact height of a Ricky horseshoe ...

Anyway ... its too cold here to finish it properly ... so, no "wise cracks" ... Mr. Clean



I temporarily put it in my Sierra today (I'll mount it properly this week) .... and it is very different than anything I've heard ...

I've invited Mike Neer down ... to get his opinion on it ... compared to my Ricky A25 and other Rickys ... and various Dustpans.

[Gary Lynch]

Great! The evolution continues. George Beauchamp, Rickenbacher and Paul Barth would be proud you are advancing their pioneer work.

[Richard Sevigny]

[Andy Sandoval]

Rick, is this pickup adjustable? or does it even need to be adjusted once it's installed?

[Dan Sawyer]

Very interesting, Rick. You are always up to something new. Mike Neer should make a good 2nd set of ears. Please keep us updated on your progress.

[Rick Aiello]

is this pickup adjustable? or does it even need to be adjusted once it's installed?

It'll be mounted with the 4 screw/spring system of the Sierra's original GeoL .... so it can go up/down/starboard/port/forward/aft ...

I also use a 4 screw system for my Dustpans ...

I wanted the unit to be the same height as a Ricky ... and since it has more than 3X the "juice" ... I wanted plenty of headroom.

So I made the bobbin shorter than a Ricky ... and with the #38 ... it got fat real fast (hence the name) ...

Here's the bobbin/coil ... next to the one Jason made for me when my Sierra got its first pair of "Shoes" ...






Pardon the electrical tape (wrapped around plumber's teflon tape). The entire "innards" will be encased once the weather warms up ... and the insulation of the # 38 needs to be protected from the hardening polymer.

Once completely finished, only the "orifice" will be visible ...

[Matt Johnson]

Too nice Rick!
Can't wait to hear/see it in action when completed. I'm curious/un-educated (...curiously un-educated!...), what steps is the cold weather not allowing?

[Rick Aiello]

The polyester resins that I like to use on this stuff ... are catalyzed ... but require some ambient heat to cure properly.

My oldest daughter has bad asthma ... so I can't do anything like this in my basement ... so I have to wait till it's warm enough to do outside.

[Ron Simpson]

Great design Rick. The teflon tape should make it waterproof also. javascript:emoticon('') I hope the wink icon shows up.

[Keith Cordell]

This time my Sierra gets one, dude... seriously. I'm still miffed about the MRI's.

[Rick Aiello]

Keith (hope you are feeling better) ... that may just be serendipity working in your favor. ...

I just mounted it on my Sierra ... and played for a 1/2 hour ...

I must say ... well .. in the immortal words of Hannibal Smith ...

"I just love it when a plan comes together!"

Mike N. ... here's a photo of the string height ( 3/16" from top of magnet to string vs 5/16" on my A25).





I only play six strings ... but I strung a high G on it and a low A ... perfect balance ... then I ripped them off

Mike, the output is greater than the A25 ... and you'll just have to judge the tone, etc ... for yourself.

[Bill Creller]

FAR OUT MAN!! FAR OUT!!

[Loni Specter]

SWEEEET!

[Rick Aiello]

Well, after a couple nights of playin' ... I'm convinced

Thanks for the kind words ... y'all

[Lee Jeffriess]

Rick, sounds like you got a Bigsby coil inside a horseshoe?,it must be very rich.
Lee

[John Bushouse]

Throw in something from an Oahu pickup and Potbelly becomes unstoppable.

[Mike Neer]

Looking real good, Rick. I'll call you with a heads-up on when I'm coming. I think I'll be flying solo.

[Rick Aiello]

Lee, there is something going on here ... with the blade and the # 38 ... something I really like

John, maybe I'll try to split the coil and stagger it ...


Mike ...

I'll have to pick up a bottle of Old #7 ... for you

[Paul Arntson]

That's awesome, Rick!

Have you tried measuring inductance in addition to resistance? I'd be very interested to see the
#s. I am very slowly homing in on a pickup design using H instead of ohm.

Keep up the great work! I especially love the background in the string height picture.

[Rick Aiello]

I've been told that this is a nice LCR meter for pickup work ... ???

Extech LCR Meter

I'd sure like one ...

But right now I'm winding using a very sophisticated method ...

I am using a bicycle odometer ... I wind to "miles" ...

This unit is wound to 3.7 miles with # 38 ...

My MRIs are wound to 6 miles with # 43

I only use the DC resistance to check and see if screwed up ... if its in range, I smile.

If its open ... well, cursin' is heard roarin' up from the basement.

Hope that helps ...

[Andy Sandoval]

I love it when your in your "mad scientist" mode. Keep up the good work!

[Jackie Anderson]

In other words, "your mileage may vary?"

Rick, I usually lurk over on the pedal side, but I just love checking into this forum to see what you are up to. You are a phenom, for sure! Keep up the heroic work!