Pickup winding Machine

[Dwight Lewis]

I am thinking of making and winding my own pickups. Any ideas on the best equipment that I would need. I am an electronic technician, so I know a little about using a Fluke.

Dwight

[Stu Schulman]

Stew Mac has a winding machine,and other stuff for making pickups.

[A. J. Martinez]

I am replacing the rollers on my GFI Ultra with some guaged rollers.could someone please advise me about the procedure? thank you A.J.

[Bent Romnes]

Dwight, I've heard it say that you can use a sewing machine. The bobbin winder is what you use. It distributes the thread back and forth on the spool. Also, the variable speed is what you want.
You would want to rig up some sort of revolution-counting mechanism.
Never tried it myself yet. But it would be fun to experiment with.

[Joe Naylor]

Stu is rite - Stew Mac

[Donny Hinson]

I've made only one pickup. That cured me of the "I gotta try it myself" thing. Really, I discovered that it would take me far more time and trouble, and cost far more money, than to just rely on the guys who do it for a living.

If you're very lucky, you'll be able to make one nearly as good as what you can buy new "off the shelf" for around $100, or $50-$75 used.

[Bill Moore]

Here's a picture I saved from an Ebay auction. This is supposed to be Paul Bigsby's pickup winder. It looks like a sewing machine motor, driving a shaft, that has a clamp to hold the pickup and a counter on the other end.

[John Gould]

Here's what the one from Stew Mac looks like

[Dwight Lewis]

So what do you think fellas, should I or should I not? I am an ole airborne soldier, nothing scares me much. I wanted to start out small then get good with it. I think I could do it. "Anybody back there willing to nudge me a little"?

Dwight