Cool Pickup Cover

Tom Pettingill · Post by **Tom Pettingill** » 30 Aug 2010 4:22 pm

Thought some might get a kick out of this. I'm building a set of 8 string Telecaster style pickups for a project and besides having to make the pickup bobbins, I also had to fabricate a cover for the neck pickup, and ... well, this is what I came up with.

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Travis Hillis · Post by **Travis Hillis** » 30 Aug 2010 4:41 pm

Nice work, that looks sweet

Stan Schober · Post by **Stan Schober** » 30 Aug 2010 5:11 pm

Tom, are you sure you haven't done some time travelling back to the days of Art Deco ????

That could only look nicer in two-tone.

This is gonna be another drool-inducing masterpiece, I can already tell...

Gary Stevenson · Post by **Gary Stevenson** » 30 Aug 2010 5:23 pm

Damn! Besides being a master at wood craft, now your a metal-smith also.Looks real good Tom

Tom Pettingill · Post by **Tom Pettingill** » 30 Aug 2010 7:03 pm

Thanks guys, I am very happy how it came out, one of those fleeting moments of clarity

Its made from a couple regular nickle silver 6 string Tele covers. Because an invisible butt joint would be virtually impossible, I figured that rather than fight it, I'd just embrace the seam and fancy it up a bit.
Anyways, this should be a fun steel, swamp ash body, figured black walnut top, and some birdseye maple. Its a new offset body style of mine we are calling the Junkyard Dog.

Here are the Tele style bobbins I made for it, 50's style with fat .195" Alnico 3 magnets

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Stephen Abruzzo · Post by **Stephen Abruzzo** » 30 Aug 2010 7:35 pm

Geez Tom....first wood, now metal artistry?

The color of that Tele-style pup should contrast nicely with the figured black walnut top.

Henry Songer · Post by **Henry Songer** » 31 Aug 2010 8:18 am

Tom, that looks great. what gage nickle did you use?
I have been a western silversmith (hoby) for over 20 years and would like make something like this with bright cut engraving on it, however my eyesight is giving out so I' afraid the engraving will be a little crude. Any way great work and be sure to post pictures when finished. Henry

Tom Pettingill · Post by **Tom Pettingill** » 31 Aug 2010 8:51 am

Thanks Stephen and Henry

Henry, I used to do some silversmithing years ago and this is my first venture back in some time. The material I have measures out just shy of .02" so that would make it 24 gauge.

chas smith · Post by **chas smith** » 31 Aug 2010 9:04 am

Very Nice!!

Bill Creller · Post by **Bill Creller** » 31 Aug 2010 6:23 pm

Some impressive work Tom!

Jack Stoner · Post by **Jack Stoner** » 1 Sep 2010 1:55 am

According to Bill Lawrence, a metal cover over a pickup should not work. A pickup is a magnetic device and metal should alter it's magnetic properties and if the metal cover is grounded it will block the pickup.

Jason Hull · Post by **Jason Hull** » 1 Sep 2010 3:42 am

Jack Stoner wrote:According to Bill Lawrence, a metal cover over a pickup should not work. A pickup is a magnetic device and metal should alter it's magnetic properties and if the metal cover is grounded it will block the pickup.

It does work, and it does alter the magnetic properties, which is why Tele neck pickups sound like they do.

Jack Stoner · Post by **Jack Stoner** » 1 Sep 2010 5:50 am

I know it works, I have a Tele.

Tom Pettingill · Post by **Tom Pettingill** » 1 Sep 2010 7:23 am

Thanks again all

Metal covers definitely do alter the tone of a pickup, some more than others. Of the metal covers, nickel silver has historically been the preferred material as it is the most "transparent". Plated brass "can" be used and is very often found on the cheap mass produced low quality import stuff as brass is significantly cheaper than nickel silver.

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Cool Pickup Cover

Cool Pickup Cover

cool pickup cover