The quality of your guitar pickup affects the sound it makes.You can make pickups out of wood and wire.You can adjust your guitar's sound with different wires, screws, and magnets.You can combine 2 pickups to create a humbucker if you know how to make a pickup.
Step 1: The pickup's frame can be formed with a nonconductive material.
Wood and fiber sheets are common frame materials.These materials can be used for loud, clear sounds.The parts are easy to make, but you can also buy premade ones online.If you make your own, you will need to cut them to size and drill holes for the magnets and screws.The pickup will sound differently if you make the frame out of metal.The sound is slower through metal than it is through wood or plastic.The sound quality of most pickups is created by using non-conductive shells.To create a top and bottom flatwork piece, you will need at least 2 pieces of material.The width and length of a basic pickup frame varies between guitars.It is possible to make a pickup out of rulers and CD cases.The sound quality is affected by material choice.The frame should not be made of metals or magnets.
Step 2: For an inexpensive way to make sound, pick copper wire.
The most time consuming step is wrapping the wire around the pickup.The thicker the wire, the less wrapping you can do.The price of copper wire is less than that of silver.You can get 42 or 43 gauge copper wire.To cover the entire pickup, you will need about 4 2 in.
Step 3: Silver wire can be used to make clearer sounds.
The price of silver wire is higher than that of copper wires.The sound quality is improved by silver.This isn't good for all styles of music, but it works well if you like the guitar melody.There is 28-gauge silver wire.Use a thicker wire for the pickup to save time and money.
Step 4: Choose rod magnets for brighter guitar sounds.
The Alnico 5 magnets are the most popular.Stronger magnets such as Alnico 8 are more expensive.Each string of your guitar will need 2 magnets.Magnets that are stronger give off a louder, more aggressive sound.You may be able to find magnets at some guitar supply shops.There are magnets in hardware stores other than Alnico magnets.Ceramic magnets produce a stronger mid-range sound and louder bass, making them a good choice for fast metal songs.Flat magnets are also available.They work the same as rod magnets but are a little harder to install.
Step 5: The pickup should have metal screws to make it sound better.
A metal component ring.The sound of your music is closer to old-school rock from the 60s.They don't do as well as magnets for more aggressive music, but metal components are often cheaper and easy to work with.If you choose to use metal screws, you will need some round neodymium magnets.You can get scrap machine screws or pole-piece screws for metal components.You need 1 for every string on your guitar.
Step 6: Pick up the outline of the pickup on a piece of nonconductive material.
Most of the time wood and fiber sheets are used.If you are building a pickup for a specific guitar, you should put the guitar's faceplate on top of the wood.Pick out the shape of the pickup with a pencil.The width and length of a basic pickup varies between instruments.Many guitarists prefer maple for its sound quality, but other types of surfaces work well.If you want to make the flatwork out of old rulers, you can purchase some vulcanized fiber sheets.One way to make an outline is to cut a template out of a different material.Use the template as a guide to hone the wood.
Step 7: The frame will have screw holes through it.
How many strings your guitar has affects the number of holes you need to make.A standard pickup has 6 holes in it's length.The space between the holes should be left about 2 in.When the screws are installed, they must not touch each other.Measure the diameter of the screws you already own.Place the screws an equal distance apart using the diameter measurement.The edges of the wood flatwork should be left at least 2 in between the screw heads.
Step 8: To drill holes in the flatwork, use an electric screwdriver.
You should use a drill bit that is 64 in (0.040 cm) smaller than the screws or magnets you will use for your pickup.For an average pickup, a drill bit about 32 in (0.24 cm) works well.All the way through the flatwork.Dust and debris should be removed when you're done.If you have a template, use it for guidance.Set it on top of the flatwork first.To get perfectly aligned holes, drill down into the holes again and through the wood.
Step 9: A second flatwork can be made out of the same material.
The bottom part of the pickup can be created through the steps again.Make the piece the same size as the flatwork and then drill more holes in it.Make sure the flatwork pieces are in line with the drilled holes.The first flatwork can be used as a template.To create the same-sized holes in the new piece, drill through the original holes.
Step 10: Sand and file rough edges.
If you made the pieces out of wood, you should get a piece of super fine sandpaper.Rub the flatwork until it is smooth.Wood is stuck in the screw holes.When you are done sanding, wipe the sawdust away with a microfiber cloth.
Step 11: There are two holes through the lower flatwork.
There is some space on one side of the piece.The drill bit has a diameter of 0.19 cm.Make a hole in each corner.The middle part of the flatwork has spaces in the corners.The manufacturers leave space along the edges.On the same side of the flatwork, place the eyelets close together.
Step 12: A wood file is needed to drill a small hole in the lower flatwork.
There is room for the hole in the center of the flatwork or near an empty corner.You can use any small drill bit.The hole is an anchor point for the copper wire, so make it small.An additional slot is needed to make wiring the pickup easier.Use a file to cut down towards the hole after holding the flatwork vertically.The wire can't get through the narrow file slot.
Step 13: Attach brass eyelets to the holes.
The eyelets are small screws that open at both ends.The larger, rimmed ends should be facing up.Then, fill the gaps between the metal and wood with wood-safe super glue.If you used plastic for the frame, make sure the glue sticks well to it.If you don't have super glue, you can use other glues.You need to mix the two together in a container before brushing it on the eyelets.Any type of pickup frame, including those made out of plastic, is good for use with super glue and epoxy.
Step 14: To level the eyelets, use a grinder.
A good pair of goggles and ear protection is required.Then, use the grinder to fire up the flatwork.When it's flush with the flatwork, wear down each eyelet.You don't have to buy a separate tool if you use a grinder that fits on power drills.
Step 15: If you want your guitar to sound better, install rod magnets.
Set the small rod magnets on a table if you have a 6- string guitar.6 pairs are formed by connecting the magnets.The flatwork pieces have holes in them.Hammer them down until they are level with the flatwork pieces.Your guitar's strings will affect the number of magnets you need.Magnets have a north and south axis.Opposite polarities are attracted to each other.A compass can be used to identify the polarities.The magnets need to be aligned the same way.If you position them all so the north is facing up, it will fit into the upper flatwork.
Step 16: If you don't use rod magnets, fit machine screws into the holes.
There are 6 screws for a guitar.The top flatwork should be over the bottom one.The screws should be Threaded through the top flatwork and then slid onto the shafts.The screws should be straight between the flatwork pieces.The flatwork pieces should be positioned about 1 in apart.The size of your guitar can affect the spacing.The positioning of the pickup may need to be adjusted.The guitar's sound will be affected if the screws are not straight.If they look off, consider remaking the flatwork pieces.
Step 17: The screws were cut with a hacksaw.
The workbench has the bottom screws face up.Metal fragments can get into your eyes if you don't wear protective goggles.The metal screws were flush with the bottom flatwork.
Step 18: Attach magnets to the screws.
Each screw has a neodymium magnet.The upper flatwork is above the screw head.It will hold up.Attach the magnets and screw heads with hot glue, super glue or epoxy.The glue should cure in 24 hours.You don't need the neodymium magnets if you use rod magnets.Spread glue around the base of the magnets to hold them in place.
Step 19: A small wire hole is needed to knot a 42 gauge copper wire.
You should buy a spool with at least 4 2 in.Don't worry about getting too much wire because you need a lot of it.You need to unspool some of the wire and slide it into a small hole.Don't cut the wire yet, but knot it in place.If you don't want to buy new wire, you can reuse it.The wire can be loosened with a pocket lighter.It is possible to use silver wire.It isn't always the best choice because it is thinner, more expensive, and produces a clearer sound.
Step 20: Attach the wire to the screws or magnets of the pickup.
It is the easiest way to do this.Wrap the wire around its center when you fit the pickup.Load as much wire as you can fit into the machine.The wrap of wire around the pickup will be done correctly.There is online availability of pickup winders.Music supply stores have them.The pickup is wrapped between 8,000 and 10,000 times.You do not need to count how many times the wire goes around the pickup.The pickup will work if the layer of wrap is thick.A drill or fishing reel can be used to do this.The pickup should spin after a small hole is drilled into the center of the flatwork.
Step 21: You should get electrical wires for your pickup.
A pickup has 2 wires.Black and white wires will be used.The hot wire is the black wire.You will need to connect the wires to the brass.There are guitars with red or green wires.There are red and green wires.The double-pickup humbucker requires a 4-color electrical wire.The 2-color wire is not enough to power the pickups.
Step 22: If you are making a humbucker, pass a 4-wire cable.
A humbucker is a musical instrument.Attach the wire between the pickups by setting them side by side.You have to make sure the wires stick out from between the pickups.The wire has different colors like red, blue, black, and green.A second pickup is needed to make a humbucker.It should be the same as the first pickup.A good humbucker makes a sound that is well-rounded.
Step 23: If you want to expose the ends of the wires, use wire strippers.
Hold the wires in place, then grip the ends with a wire stripping tool.Attach the tool to the colored insulation.Pull the tool forward to expose the copper wire.It is advisable to expose about 2 in each wire.Make sure you have enough exposed wire to work with.If the guitar wires look damaged, you may need to cut and strip them.
Step 24: Someone who sells.
You can find a black wire from the guitar.Then melt the wires together.Attach the remaining wires over the brass.If you want a humbucker with 4 wires, you need to solder the red wire to one of the eyelet.