Fredo's Handwound Pickups

Sublimedo · Post by **Sublimedo** » Sun Jul 05, 2009 12:07 am

I'm thinking setting up part of my garage to be a little pickup factory of sorts. I'm sourcing some of my parts from stew-mac. Its something I've always wanted to learn to do, but I don't if it'd be a decent enough of a little business of sorts to help some friends seeking hand-wound pups or even repairs to help me out a wee-bit financially. I don't plan on this being my livelihood, but just something that I can do on the side. I think some of us here have made some pickups so I seek your counsel. Would I be making a mistake or should I do it?

light rail coyote · Post by **light rail coyote** » Sun Jul 05, 2009 12:20 am

I have no personal pickup building experience, but why not give it a try. Who knows it could take off. I'd buy a sub-made pickup or two.
Have you actually tried building one yet?

Sublimedo · Post by **Sublimedo** » Sun Jul 05, 2009 1:39 am

nope, but I plan trying it out and following through with it.

mickie08 · Post by **mickie08** » Sun Jul 05, 2009 4:00 am

no experience, but If you decide to, I'll throw in for a set.

robroe · Post by **robroe** » Sun Jul 05, 2009 12:36 pm

ive been johnzing really hard for one of those 80 tele kits from GFS. freedo's pups would rule

benecol · Post by **benecol** » Sun Jul 05, 2009 12:40 pm

Caution: naysayer

It'd be an ace thing to do, but didn't Hurb have a go at this a while back and say it was loads of aggro? I'd be really interested to see what sort of creations you'd come up with (it seems that many pickup makers cater more towards the 'tonefordayz/gearpage market), mind.

Post by **Mike** » Sun Jul 05, 2009 1:08 pm

Definitely interested in what you can cook up, but it's a pretty hectic business from what I can gather.

James · Post by **James** » Sun Jul 05, 2009 1:55 pm

I have a feeling that making money doing it will be very difficult. I've been looking into a set of jazz bass pickups and you can buy 'boutique' type stuff for a little over Â£100 a pair. To make money as a garage builder you'd have to be charging towards that and backing it up with the tones.

Saying all that I think it could be a very satisfying venture and it will allow you to try some unusual things. XII type pickups and other more exotic things you can come up with. I think you should go for it but be aware that as a side business you should probably aim to break even more than have an extra income. Can you get a small setup for relatively little monies? If you could I think you could get enough business here to cover the startup costs and to keep you going with it.

Post by **dots** » Sun Jul 05, 2009 3:01 pm

if after trying your hand at building a few types of pickup you find you enjoy it and can do it well, why not try and sell a few? have fun with it, fredo!

Post by **Doog** » Sun Jul 05, 2009 4:13 pm

Yeah, for real- look at Aen; a few circuit bends, a few builds, dude designs a couple of kooky pedals and BAM! Customers!

More Cowbell · Post by **More Cowbell** » Sun Jul 05, 2009 6:00 pm

I say go for it! I'd also suggest trying things outside the box and see what kind of results you get too.

hotrodperlmutter · Post by **hotrodperlmutter** » Sun Jul 05, 2009 6:11 pm

would buy a set of for reals WRHB's. DEW IT

U MIGHT

robert(original) · Post by **robert(original)** » Mon Jul 06, 2009 11:24 am

go for it.
make a really great design, then a bad one, and then make a re-issue of the first design. you will have customers for life!

endsjustifymeans · Post by **endsjustifymeans** » Mon Jul 06, 2009 4:57 pm

You don't even have a product yet, but a solid customer base. Good marketing.

jcyphe · Post by **jcyphe** » Wed Jul 15, 2009 4:32 am

http://music-electronics-forum.com/f11/

This is absolutely the best forum and gathering of knowledgable people when it comes to pickup making. My friend had to build pickup for this custom instrument he made and he ended up getting all the info he needed here.

hotrodperlmutter · Post by **hotrodperlmutter** » Sat Aug 08, 2009 3:16 am

wtf is up with this alf

robert(original) · Post by **robert(original)** » Sat Aug 08, 2009 3:50 am

no j0ke. where is your prototype pickup?

timhulio · Post by **timhulio** » Sat Aug 08, 2009 9:08 pm

I've got these Catswhisker Pickups in my thinline. Think they sound great. Notice this guy has just updated his website with some useful info:
http://www.catswhiskerpickups.co.uk/5.html

Winder:

Sublimedo · Post by **Sublimedo** » Thu Sep 10, 2009 9:06 pm

hey guys! I didn't notice this thread being updated but my first attempt was a success!! Stuck in the neck of my '69 ri mustang and it sounds great. Some little tweaks to sort out though. Don't have a camera so I cant show it but Ill try to manage to make a demo soon.

robroe · Post by **robroe** » Thu Sep 10, 2009 9:25 pm

aweeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeesummmmmmmmmmmmm

Fredo's Handwound Pickups

Should I start doing handwound pickups?

Fredo's Handwound Pickups