1.
TIME FOR THE PICKUP. I AM GOING TO USE THE SAME MATERIAL AS THE PANELS...
2.
FROM PAST EXPERIENCES AND WITH ME NOT EVER TAKING MY TIME...I KNOW THAT THE CHANCES OF THESE 6 HOLES COMING OUT STRAIGHT IS VERY SLIM. WITH THAT BEING SAID, AT THE OUTSIDE CHANCE THAT THEY DO...I WILL PUT SOME PIECES OF SCRAP DOWN UNDER THEM SO I HAVE MORE FOR A LATER TIME!!!!
I AM EXTREMELY PLEASED WITH HOW THEY TURNED OUT!!!!
3.
OVER TO THE BAND SAW TO GET KIND OF CLOSE TO THE LINE...I MIGHT HAVE ALREADY SAID THIS, BUT THIS BLADE IS THE SAME ONE THAT CARVED UP THE ALUMINUM NECK AND MADE ALL THE CUTS SINCE. IT IS NOT VERY HAPPY WITH ME AND TENDS TO GET A LITTLE CRANKY WHEN TRYING TO CUT TOO CLOSE TO ANYTHING!!
4.
LUCKILY I HAVE NOT ANGERED THE SANDER YET AND HE STILL MAKES FOR SOME GOOD TIMES!!
5.
NOW FOR THE BOTTOM PIECE....
6.
...SAME AS THE TOP PIECE
7.
GOTTA DRILL SOME EXTRA HOLES IN THIS ONE...THE BIG ONE FOR THE WIRING ONCE COMPLETED. THE 2 SMALL HOLES NEXT TO IT ARE FOR SOME "EYELETS" THAT WILL THREAD THE COPPER WIRE TO MAKE THE PICKUP. AND THE 3 SMALL IN A TRIANGLE TO MOUNT THE PICKUP TO THE GUITAR BODY....
8.
AFTER A SMALL SANDING SESSION WHILE WATCHING SNOW WHITE WITH MY KIDS, THEY ARE READY FOR PAINT...
9.
AFTER A COUPLE COATS OF PAINT AND SANDING THEY ARE READY FOR SOME ASSEMBLY....IN HIND SIGHT, I DIDN'T NEED TO PAINT THE BOTTOM ONE...IT WONT BE SEEN. OH WELL, IT WOULD HAVE BOTHERED ME KNOWING IT WAS NAKED UNDER THERE...
10.
11.
WHEN WINDING THE SUPER TINY THIN WIRE, WE DONT WANT ANYTHING THAT COULD CATCH AND BREAK THE WIRE...(ITS LITERALLY LIKE A HAIR FROM YOUR HEAD), SO I FILE AND SAND THEM DOWN NICE AND SMOOTH
12.
HERES THE MAGNETS THAT WILL BE USED....
TO MAKE IT SOUND LIKE I KNOW WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT...I USUALLY USE A COMPASS TO FIGURE OUT THE ORIENTATION OF THE MAGNETS...BUT I COULDN'T FIND A COMPASS. SO I GOT A BIGGER MAGNET AND STUCK THEM ON, THEN MARKED THE TOP SO THEY ALL WOULD BE THE SAME!!
13.
HAD TO DO A LITTLE CONVINCING BUT THEY STARTED GOING INTO THERE PLACES...
14.
15.
THE TOP PIECE WAS NOT HAPPY WITH ME. I TRIED A FEW TECHNIQUES, (TALKING NICE TO IT, PROMISING FAVORS, SING IT SONGS), BUT IT DID NOT WANT TO COOPERATE. I FINALLY HAD TO RESORT TO BRUTE STRENGTH AND A STERN TALKING TO....BUT IT FINALLY WENT ON....GRRRRRRRR
16.
WE DON'T WANT OUR BARE WIRES TOUCHING THE MAGNETS...SO I APPLY A COUPLE COATS OF CLEAR NAIL POLISH TO THEM. HOPE IT WORKS!
17. TIME TO MAKE THE PICKUP....
HERE ARE SOME PICS OF MY CUSTOM FISHING REEL PICKUP WINDER...I HAVE USED IT ON ALL OF THE GUITARS I HAVE MADE. THERE IS A MORE DETAILED WRITE UP ON IT WHEN I DID MY FIRST GUITAR IF YOU ARE INTERESTED...JUST CLICK THE LINK...
18.
FIRST I WIND THE WIRE AROUND ONE OF THE EYELETS SEVERAL TIMES...(I'M USING 42 AWG COPPER WIRE / VERY VERY THIN STUFF!!!)
19.
THEN USE SOME DOUBLE SIDED TAPE TO STICK IT ON THE FISHING REEL. THE REEL HAS A GEAR RATIO OF 4.2:1...WHICH MEANS FOR EVERY 1 TURN ON THE REEL I CAN COUNT 4.2 WINDINGS ON THE PICKUP...
20.
HERE IT IS AT DIFFERENT INTERVALS IN THE WINDING PROCESS...100 / 500 / 1000 / AND 1500...
21.
I WAS WATCHING THE NASCAR RACE WHILE DOING THIS = NOT PAYING VERY CLOSE ATTENTION = SLOPPY WINDING. AT 1500 I NOTICED I WAS OUT OF ROOM AND KIND OF MESSY, SO I DECIDED TO PULL WITH A LITTLE MORE TENSION AS I WAS WINDING. THIS TIGHTENED IT UP A LITTLE BUT ALSO MADE THE WIRE SNAP AT 1606 WINDS.....
22.
I TRIED TO CLEAN IT UP A LITTLE AND COAT IT WITH MORE OF THIS STUFF....IT LOOKS OK BUT I AM NOT REAL HAPPY WITH IT. THE WINDS ARE A LITTLE LOOSE AND I WILL HAVE TO WIRE IT FROM THE BOTTOM....
23.
SO WITH THAT BEING SAID....I GUESS ITS A GOOD THING. EITHER I WILL WIRE IT UP AND IT WILL WORK JUST FINE....OR I WONT BE ABLE TO GET IT TO WORK AND HAVE TO CUT ALL THAT WIRE OFF AND DO IT AGAIN...EITHER WAY I WILL BE HAPPY!!
........131 DAYS LATER........
24.
OK....I KIND OF LIED. IT DIDN'T WORK, GOTTA REDO IT, NOT REAL HAPPY. NOT A BIG SET BACK (IN FACT I THINK I HAVE HAD TO DO THIS ON ALL 3 GUITARS I HAVE BUILT), BUT ITS A LEARNING PROCESS.
HERE I WAS SET UP TO WIRE IT UP AND BE READY TO START ALL THE WIRING FOR THE GUITAR.....
25.
TOOK SOME CUTE PICS WHEN I COULD, SOLDERING IS NOT MY STRONG SUIT. BUT I COULD NOT GET A READING ON THE MULTIMETER. I TRIED AND TRIED, READJUSTED AND RE-SOLDERED...BUT NOTHING.......AFTER SEVERAL HOURS OF THIS, YOU KNOW WHAT COMES NEXT......
26.
AAAARRRRRGGGGG.....THE DREADED RED HEADED STEP CHILD (NO OFFENSE TO RED HEADS....WAIT.....WHAT). THIS IS WHAT OVER 6000 WINDS OF TINY WIRE LOOK LIKE RIPPED APART. AFTER THIS CHORE, HAD TO FINE TUNE A COUPLE OF THINGS....
27.
NOT SURE WHY I DIDN'T GET A READING, BUT NEED TO COVER ALL THE BASES. SO WHILE MY DAUGHTER IS NOT LOOKING I BORROW SOME NAIL POLISH AND MAKE SURE I HAVE ALL THE MAGNETS COVERED. THEN I RE POSITION THE EYELET HOLES....THIS WILL GIVE ME MORE ROOM TO SOLDER IT UP......
28.
THEN BACK TO WINDING. ITS ACTUALLY VERY STRESSFUL....THE WIRE COULD SNAP AT ANY TIME, AND IT WOBBLES A BIT NOW. SO WHEN I'M NOT TAKING VIDEOS OF IT I ACTUALLY HOLD IT STEADY WITH MY CHIN.....MIGHT BE TIME FOR A PICKUP WINDER 2.0
29.
NOT TOO BAD....DECIDED TO SNAP AT 1319 (5539.8 WINDS). I THEN SOLDER IT UP AND PUT SOME PROTECTIVE COATS ON THE WINDS......AND THEN THE MOMENT OF TRUTH
30.
HOORAY....WE GOT A READING. READY TO MOVE ON TO WIRING THIS BEAST TOGETHER!