Mojo Guitar Parts Manager
Custom Wound Pickups
David Shepherd of Custom Wound Pickups shows how to make an inexpensive pickup winder counter using a $1 calculator and a $5 magnetic reed switch.
This particular counter method is perfect for someone who is learning how to wind pickups as well as the occasional rewind in a busy repair shop. I recommend this counter to be used with a variable speed hand drill for the most economic and easiest way to wind pickups. It is however very limited on how fast you can wind before the calculator stops counting. My guess would be around 400-500 rpm’s max before it can’t keep up, but you will clearly see it stop counting after a certain speed and learn the limit. Speed should not be important anyway if you are learning. That said, I give this calculator counter idea a big thumbs up for getting started.
The calculator counter idea has been around for quite some time so I do not take credit for this. I chose to describe this method because it is very inexpensive to make and easy to use. I also had to look at how available the parts would be locally.
There are tons of other counter ideas that work great too and are inexpensive, but finding the parts locally can be challenging or impossible for some. The parts for this counter are conveniently available at most electronics stores or hardware stores and calculators are just about everywhere. I hope you will find this information helpful and good luck with your success!
Tools you will need
- Basic calculator
- Magnetic reed switch with wire leads
- Soldering iron and solder
- Razor blade
- Small drill bit or file
- Hand drill
- Screwdrivers
(click thumbnail images to make larger)
- Remove the back from the calculator.
- Remove the battery if possible.
- Using the razor blade, carefully scrape the two (2) holes on the PCB pathways over the “=” button of the calculator until bare copper is exposed.
- Drill a small hole into the side of the calculator for the reed switch wires to feed through. All calculators are different so use your best judgment on where to drill a hole. On small thin calculators you may find using a small needle file to set a groove for the wires to feed into the calculator is best.
- Feed the 2 wires from the magnetic reed into the calculator through the hole. You may want to use silicone caulk or glue to hold the wires secure in the hole or you can get fancy and use a rubber grommet.
- Solder the 2 leads from the reed switch to the PCB holes over the “=” sign. It doesn’t matter which wire goes to which hole. Do not bend the wire or move the solder joint once your connection is made or you will risk breaking the pathway on the board.
- Re-install the battery
- Put the back on the calculator
- Turn the calculator ON and press + 1.
- Now move the magnetic assembly across the reed switch (approximately 1/8” to 1/4” space between the magnet assembly and reed switch) and watch it count up after each pass of the magnet. You will need to orient the magnet correctly for the switch to work which is immediately apparent. It will either work or it wont, depending on the direction of the magnet. Just flip it if it doesn’t work.
Collective Soul played in Wilmington, NC last night and we couldn’t resist this photo of Joel Kosche – lead guitar for Collective Soul – holding his Mojo Catalog.
Thanks Andrew (Mojo) for your help with my project. Enclosed are before and after pics of my Marshall cabinet, which I did myself. I enjoyed it and had a lot of fun while gaining some experience.Here’s a video recorded by one of our customers who purchased Mojotone’s Custom Wound Classic Wound PAF Pickups.
Here’s what he had to say about our Custom Wound Classic PAFs:
A little jamming featuring the Mojotone “Classic Wound” PAF pickups in my R8 Les Paul. These are the most balanced PAF style pickups I have played. They are very clean and responsive sounding. The dirty tone is a CMATMODS Signa Drive. From the Mojotone website:
“Classic Wound PAF’s represent the best from the late 50s era with just the right amount of output, making these some of the most versatile humbuckers available for almost any playing style. They are stock with alnico 2 magnets, short leg nickel silver baseplate, single conductor leads and vintage spec plain enamel wire. The neck pickup is a lower output for excellent clarity and warmth without becoming muddy like so many neck position humbuckers can be. The bridge pickup has a warm, airy presence with plenty of output and sustain. Together, the bridge and neck pickups are very well balanced. Neck is 7.6k and bridge is 8.5k”
Custom Wound Classic PAF Humbucker F-Spaced
Custom Wound Classic PAF Humbucker
Thanks to Mike Nix for the great video submission!
Find him here:
www.myspace.com/mikenixguitar
www.facebook.com/roknfnrol
Steve Gerard sent in this photo of his rig, featuring a few great looking custom Mojo cabs. Check them out!
Interested in your own custom cab? Try our Custom Cabinet Configurator.
We’re rarely surprised and always impressed with the fascinating ideas our customers come up with AND implement.
Here’s just another primo example.
From Mark W. on Tuesday, March 2:
Hi,
I purchased some of your snake skin tolex and used it as a drum covering. It looked so good I ordered more for my other drums! Much cheaper to use than regular drum wrap and looks great! Check out the pictures I attached.
Thanks for a great product.
Amazing job!
(Alligator would also look sweet I’m thinking.)
Check out Mojo’s full selection of tolex and you might be inspired to DIY, too.
Customize.
Mojo Musical Supply now offers custom faceplates. Put your name or logo on any of our stock faceplates (18W, JTM45, etc.) or any color PLEXI material we offer. Choose any True Type font you want!
We have 4 material options to choose from:
- Gold Reverse-engrave Plexi
- Black Reverse-engrave Plexi
- Grey Reverse-engrave Plexi
- Black Front-engrave (reveals white) Acrylic
Changes can be made to any of our stock options (within reason). This includes hole sizes, hole placement, perimeter dimensions, etc.
Any customers wishing to have a fully custom faceplate and/or backplate must furnish a DWG or DXF file. Setup fees will vary depending on how well-developed and “clean” the file work is (i.e. modifications may be necessary to get a properly formatted cut).
A quote will be provided based upon the amount of text being engraved as well as the size of the panel and the amount of material required. Engraving can be done on any color material with any color back-fill. Front-engrave material will be more costly.
Customers will receive a PDF PROOF of the faceplate/backplate/set which will become the working proof agreed upon via email. Mojo Musical Supply will not be held accountable for non-approved work outside the scope of the approved proof agreed upon.
If you cannot provide a digital representation (DWG, DXF) of the desired faceplate/backplate/set, we will allow hand drawn drafts with FULL dimensional information. This would include distance between cutouts, size of cutouts, text in relation to cutouts, cutout distance from outer edges, etc. This is the most expensive option.
Email to Get a Quote
*Some fonts are harder to work with than others and may require additional setup time, which will increase the cost of setup fees. You also have the choice of front-engrave material, which will increase the cost of setup fees. Fonts must be provided in True Type files for any fonts we do not already have on file.
If you’ve ever thought about buying a custom cabinet but wanted more than a mental picture of what you had in mind before taking the plunge, then Mojo’s new Cabinet Configurator tool will be a huge help!
(Beta Version 1.0)
A new window will open. Please wait for all the images to load.
We’re starting out with Mojo’s Blackface Bassman Style Head Cab but will be adding the customization feature to additional Mojo cabinets in the coming weeks so check back to stay current on our progress.
In the meantime, if you have comments or suggestions, let us know.
Mojo Musical Supply is pleased to announce the Southeastern Guitar and Amp Show in beautiful downtown Raleigh, NC this Fall, 2010!
Mojo Musical Supply recognized the need for a trade show on the East Coast that would allow guitar and amplifier vendors and manufacturers from all over the country to gather, show off, buy, sell and trade their wares to guitar and amplifier fans throughout the Southeast. The region boasts scores of talented musicians and avid collectors who may not otherwise have the opportunity to travel to a guitar or amp show.
Also being offered to vendors and show exhibitors are individual rooms for clinics and/or demonstrations during the event. Reserving time for these rooms is first come, first serve so early reservations are strongly encouraged.
Register by returning the enclosed form, signed and completed, via fax or e-mail. You may also register on-line at www.guitarandampshow.com.
Please visit the Guitar and Amp Show website or contact us for more sponsorship and involvement opportunities.
Raleigh Convention Center, Raleigh, North Carolina
September 24: 12:00pm – 8:00pm (Load-in)
September 25: 10:00am – 7:00pm
September 26: 10:00am – 4:00pm
Admission: $10 General – $5 with equipment to sell or trade
For more information contact John Siddons:
john@mojotone.com
phone 800-927-6656 ext. 2077
fax 910-259-7292
