Formvar

[angelodp]

Any you guys winding your own pickups? Where do you score your 42 Formvar wire.

[martin manning]

Antique Electronic Supply has it, and so does Stewart-MacDonald. Stew Mac has quite an array of pickup parts and winding supplies.

[9pins]

You can also scavenge off other pickups, wind right off a cheap POS to your new bobbin, re-pot in wax.

[David Root]

from what I have read lately, many of the pros that duplicate old vintage pups try to find vintage wire. It is different from modern wire in two ways, maybe three.

1) It is less pure copper than today. Some think that has tonal properties, and I'm inclined to agree.

2) It is a bit thicker and less uniform diameter than modern wire.

3) The varnish was put on better and doesn't have voids in it which cause partial shorts.

OTOH, vintage wire is real hard to find so what the pros do is try several different current mfrs. until they find one that sounds right.

Also, IIRC, you can request high end of the diameter tolerance range wire from some mfrs. I recall doing that myself.

[angelodp]

Good info, thanks. I am close to beginning. I have a counter coming from Red Lion $27, the rest cost nothing for the winder. Hobby DC motor, on/on switch, RS wall wart 1.5v-12v, bike closed bearings, aluminum tent pole, rubber bands ( drive belt ), wine crate, hard wood blocks for the pups, erector set pieces for motor support, wire wound 25ohm potentiometer. Works like a charm. Need to work out the limiters. I have a SD pup that needs o be rewound for a pal, first up. Jean Godbout has made some beautiful hardwood flat work for his pups, will try same approach.