Star Swirl *** 1st build

[BRRanger]

Bad Moon Rising...an excellent choice! Of course, this coming from a guy with a Blue Ridge Rangers (A.K.A. John Fogerty) avatar!
Hopes for a speedy recovery,
Scott

[cmiller0034]

My Project is sitting in the corner of my room collecting dust. Had an MRI of my 6 week old wrist injury done today. Thought it was neat and wanted to share. The machine was a torturous and nerve wracking device. I could feel the nerves in my body tigle as that magnet moved over me. A pic of my wrist. I would say I have about 75% mobility of my hand. Hope the Doc gives me good news so I can play and build again. Summers a' wast-in!

[cmiller0034]

I DEFY YOU MEDICAL SCIENCE!




Well my Doctor decided to stuff my arm back into a cast for 4 more weeks in hope that my ligaments haven't turned into mush. Seems like the best time to do some woodworking and relieve some frustration, right?


Time to build some pups with my good arm.

My thanks to maxkat for the dimensions
http://www.mosriteforum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=20&t=6249






























Well, that's all I had time for tonight. Got plans and parts in the mail for a crude Pickup winder. Stay tuned. *hail Hydra*

[cmiller0034]

Wind it up


First Pickup design


I wanted to use brass eyelets as opposed to just soldering the lead wires directly to the fragile coil wire used in traditional Mosrite pickups. My first design was based off what I have seen other people do when building they're pups.





(notice the eyelets in the wrong place)



Unfortunately the Plexiglas has a tendency to snap in half when drilling holes for the pole pieces. Also, Soldering leads to a tiny brass ring in plastic was problematic in itself.




Second Design- The Star Drive mark 2

A Plexiglas/Fiberboard hybrid. I don't really know why plastic was used for the bobbin but mixing and sturdy and solderable material with a traditional seemed like a good idea to me. Also I moved the location of the eyelets to the end of the fiberboard. That way they don't interfere with the bar Magnets.








My Janky winder consists of a hand drill, reed switch, circular piece of wood, double sided tape, wire, and a cheap calculator from the Dollar store.













It took the better part of a night to set all this up and to wind one bobbin (I broke the wire once and had to repair), but it was worth it.


MY FIRST PICKUP WOUND! I dub thee StarDrive





It's a little hotter than I would like. I was going for 1000 winds, I knew the reed switch is not a very accurate mechanism at high speeds. But, I overshot and got a measurement of about 12k ohms. Way too hot to be twangy, which is the sound I'm going for. Still, it will be interesting to hear what this one will sound like I will use less turns in my next bobbins, aiming for the 8-10k ohm mark.

I still have to put my lead wires on, figure out shielding/grounding and decide if I will dip in wax or lacquer. Anyone have any suggestions?

[Greg_L]

So cool! Keep it up!

[panther]

For a first build you are doing an excellent job.
Keep it up.

Dan

[cmiller0034]

For a first build you are doing an excellent job.
Keep it up.

Dan

So cool! Keep it up!

Thankyou Dan and Greg!

[cmiller0034]

Flip the SWITCH!




Progress on the Prototype. Working out design flaws, ect.


















I finally found this cloth tape at the bottom of a box. I have been looking for this stuff 2 whole weeks.



Design Flaw- copper foil wants to peel off with grounding wire. An additional eyelet will be used as a ground anchor.





hmmmmm..




STARDRIVE prototype test 1

IT"S ALIVE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!






Well, its kinda working anyway, still have to shield and Pot it. And I'm kinda confused why people say it takes 10,000 winds on the bobbin, I only did a little over 1000 and got 12k ohms. Filled over half the bobbin. 10,000 turns certainly wouldn't fit in the pickup. (Did I do something wrong there?). Anybody got an answer? Well, still got to work out some more kinks before I'm ready to take this boy out on the road. But, I have created my first working Guitar Pickup. Cheers!

[panther]

I'm curious about the nuts on the pole screws. I thought the pole screws were adjustable so you could raise and lower them to balance them out ? The nut in effect locks them correct ?
Dan

[cmiller0034]

I'm curious about the nuts on the pole screws. I thought the pole screws were adjustable so you could raise and lower them to balance them out ? The nut in effect locks them correct ?
Dan

I just stuck them on there I saw someone do it! Well. the DID serve a purpose on one particular pickup had I messed up and made the holes too big, but serve no purpose on this one. Your're right, I'm taking them off. Thanks Dan.