Remaking the Horse Shoe bass bobbin again.

[Moonie Man]

Hi, everyone ,

I have made a replica HS bobbin for my reissue #1999 bass before but it was square shape as later version "Look a like".
However, I have found the round shape bobbin on deceased Chris Squire's 1964 Rose Morris #1999 bass in recent.



Almost veteran members thoughts are: "HS bass pickup bobbin of 1964 year was square with rip top shape".
Was the round shape bobbin is not for proper 1964 models?
What month and year is Rickenbacker factory changed the shape of the bobbin?
I don't know exact information, I have seen the round shape bobbin on his 1964 RM #1999 bass, it is fact, anyway.

I knew the round shape bobbin was made for the Lap Steel's HS pickups first originally.
Then factory are using it with little modifying for the guitar and bass.
And I knew the dimension of round shape bobbin for Lap Steel's.

O.K., let's remaking the bass version again!



I made this bass bobbin by material of bakelite same as an original.
Bakelite has good stability, electrical insulation and heat resistance. I think Bakelite is the best material for pickup bobbin.
This replica bobbin has center core section same as an original and, I was used slug rods for pole pieces same like an original HS Lap Steel's too.
However, maybe someone will saying "pole pieces was slot pan head screw are exactly for bass version”, Yes, I knew it, but I would like to say slug rod is far better than screw for magnetic responces I have found this result by my own comparison test. Although, that is not affect to tone. It is a great up-grading tip for the screw pole piece pickups.
The small brass rod soldering terminal for start coil wire is putted in to center section as an original designe.



Then I have wound 42AWG Heavy Foambar wire for making the coil of the bobbin and I was set amount of 6.5 to 7K for the target D.C.R..
6.7K coil volume of 42AWG HF wire filled up to about 80% of flange size in result.
It looks very simuler to coil volume of early type bakelite bobbin bass pickups for HS.

[jps]

Very nice to see this work, Koji. I remember your earlier tutorial on making that other horseshoe pickup bobbin a few years ago.

[Moonie Man]

Hello again, Jeffrey,
Thank you for your message and I remember of you .

After that, I made lots of pickups (for Fender Strats, Teles, Gibson P-90, Hum Buckers...) and then learned a lot.

[xsubs]

Nice work Koji... FYI the bobbin in Squire's bass, in that photo, is a RIHS bobbin. It's not his original pickup bobbin.

[jps]

Nice work Koji... FYI the bobbin in Squire's bass, in that photo, is a RIHS bobbin. It's not his original pickup bobbin.

Interesting. I did not know that in later years (I'm assuming) that Chris had a RI HS PU in it, just that the original shoes were installed on it?

[jps]

Hello again, Jeffrey,
Thank you for your message and I remember of you .

After that, I made lots of pickups (for Fender Strats, Teles, Gibson P-90, Hum Buckers...) and then learned a lot.

Never heard of those brands!

[Moonie Man]

Nice work Koji... FYI the bobbin in Squire's bass, in that photo, is a RIHS bobbin. It's not his original pickup bobbin.

Sean, Thank you for your message,
is that true? It is!

[Moonie Man]

Hello again, Jeffrey,
Thank you for your message and I remember of you .

After that, I made lots of pickups (for Fender Strats, Teles, Gibson P-90, Hum Buckers...) and then learned a lot.

Never heard of those brands!

[jps]

Koji, I see that you are a stage lighting planner. I have a degree in Technical Theatre from The Ohio State University (Dec 1983). I studied under, and worked with, Toshiro Ogawa; do you know of him?

[Moonie Man]

That's a wonderful career! Jeffrey.
I'm sorry, I do not know that person.
And now, I quit my job and I am writing a novel. I forgot to rewrite my profile.

[jps]

That's okay, I haven't done any stage lighting in decades!

[Moonie Man]

Here is a comparison between my replica HS bobbin and genuine RIHS bobbin.




Not only the outline but also the location of the mounting holes are different, there is no center section on the bobbin of RIHS, which is a structure similar to Fender's flatwork bobbin. Although, the bobbin mounting screws to the base plate are tapping screws.
A genuine round shape HS bobbin has center section and mounted on the base plate with a machine screws.

[Moonie Man]

Jeffrey,