Materials Over Past Few Decades

admin · Post by **admin** » Mon Nov 28, 2005 3:41 pm

Sergio: Are you able to comment on the different materials used to make pickups over the past few decades or so? Are they basically the same or have materials changed to any appreciable degree?

wints · Post by **wints** » Mon Nov 28, 2005 3:54 pm

Here's a visual to get us going...

An original 64 bass bobbin, with the thin black plastic lip top and bottom.

doctorwho · Post by **doctorwho** » Tue Nov 29, 2005 8:03 am

One thing I have wondered about is whether the screw-top polepieces were regular steel parts that had been magnetized, or magnetic alloy (e.g. alnico) blanks that had been machined into screws.

jwr2 · Post by **jwr2** » Tue Nov 29, 2005 8:34 am

alnico magnets don't make good screws ... the metal is too brittle ...

here is a picture of a 60 horseshoe pickup ...

and an early high gain screw top ...

admin · Post by **admin** » Tue Nov 29, 2005 9:48 am

Great photo, Andrew that is old.

Jeff: Nice horseshoe and screw top.

rickcrazy · Post by **rickcrazy** » Tue Nov 29, 2005 11:52 am

Well, I've seen pickup bobbins made from cardboard (!), fiberboard, plastic, even wood and metal.
I don't think materials have changed much over the decades, nor could they. By definition a guitar/bass pickup is a crude electronic device which relies always on metal and plastic or the like. The range of materials used for building a pickup can not vary much.

rickcrazy · Post by **rickcrazy** » Wed Jan 24, 2007 9:13 am

Oh but they can! Today I found a great new material for fashioning pickup bobbins from. Wanna guess what it is? It's the most unlikely of materials hehe.

jingle_jangle · Post by **jingle_jangle** » Wed Jan 24, 2007 9:16 am

Schmutz, Sergio?

rickfan60 · Post by **rickfan60** » Wed Jan 24, 2007 9:17 am

Elephant dung?

loverickbass · Post by **loverickbass** » Wed Jan 24, 2007 9:25 am

I don't think I want to know Sergio!

Cole

soundmasterg · Post by **soundmasterg** » Wed Jan 24, 2007 10:10 am

No idea...please let us know Sergio! The suspense is killing me....

rickcrazy · Post by **rickcrazy** » Wed Jan 24, 2007 1:30 pm

Color is black.

loverickbass · Post by **loverickbass** » Wed Jan 24, 2007 3:17 pm

How about automotive tires or how 'bout rubber soul shoe bottoms?

lyle_from_minneapolis · Wed Jan 24, 2007 3:19 pm

Licorice. Granite. Snoop Dogg. Charcoal. Burnt weenie.

rickcrazy · Post by **rickcrazy** » Wed Jan 24, 2007 3:35 pm