Shobud Stratospheric pickups

John Billings · From: Ohio, USA

Does anyone know any specifics about the Stratospheric pickups that Shot used early on? I know they sound fabulous, but I can't find any info on them.

_________________
Dr. Z Surgical Steel amp, amazing!
"74 Bud S-10 3&6
'73 Bud S-10 3&5(under construction)
'63 Fingertip S-10, at James awaiting 6 knees
'57 Strat, LP Blue
'91 Tele with 60's Maple neck
Dozen more guitars!
Dozens of amps, but SF Quad reverb, Rick Johnson cabs. JBL 15, '64 Vibroverb for at home.
'52 and '56 Pro Amps

Dave Zirbel · From: Sebastopol, CA USA

This is what I was told by a steel player friend. Not sure where he got the info from...

13k - 42 awg coil 1/4'' A5 pole piece magnets

I had an 8 string pickup made to these specs and put it in a fender 400. Sounds real good to me but not sure I ever heard an original........
_________________
Dave Zirbel-
Sierra S-10 (Built by Ross Shafer),ZB, Fender 400 guitars, various tube and SS amps

John Billings · From: Ohio, USA

Thanks Dave!
A5 is the magnet type? I've been talking to Jason Lollar about them, but he's never had one to dissect.
JB
_________________
Dr. Z Surgical Steel amp, amazing!
"74 Bud S-10 3&6
'73 Bud S-10 3&5(under construction)
'63 Fingertip S-10, at James awaiting 6 knees
'57 Strat, LP Blue
'91 Tele with 60's Maple neck
Dozen more guitars!
Dozens of amps, but SF Quad reverb, Rick Johnson cabs. JBL 15, '64 Vibroverb for at home.
'52 and '56 Pro Amps

Dave Zirbel · From: Sebastopol, CA USA

Yes....alnico I think

Would love to hear results if you get one made!
_________________
Dave Zirbel-
Sierra S-10 (Built by Ross Shafer),ZB, Fender 400 guitars, various tube and SS amps

John Billings · From: Ohio, USA

I sold James Morehead my late Fifties D-10 that I got from Coop. James says they're the best! RIP John!
JB
_________________
Dr. Z Surgical Steel amp, amazing!
"74 Bud S-10 3&6
'73 Bud S-10 3&5(under construction)
'63 Fingertip S-10, at James awaiting 6 knees
'57 Strat, LP Blue
'91 Tele with 60's Maple neck
Dozen more guitars!
Dozens of amps, but SF Quad reverb, Rick Johnson cabs. JBL 15, '64 Vibroverb for at home.
'52 and '56 Pro Amps

Chris Lucker · From: Los Angeles, California USA

I have had a lot of Stratosphere pickups, both 40 and 42 ga wire, but have never been able to determine that the magnets are Alnico 5. How was that determined Dave Z?

Chris
_________________
Chris Lucker
Red Bellies, Bigsbys and a lot of other guitars.

Dave Zirbel · From: Sebastopol, CA USA

I don't know Chris, I was given that info...
_________________
Dave Zirbel-
Sierra S-10 (Built by Ross Shafer),ZB, Fender 400 guitars, various tube and SS amps

Chris Lucker · From: Los Angeles, California USA

No problem. Not pointing fingers. But magnets are always in question, but assumed.
I love how Statosphere would use materials like bathroom vanity glass (Unbreakable and un see through able) "glass" for pickups.
I have never found 38 wire on a Stratosphere but have heard of them using it too. But my experience is that they tinkered with the shape of the cool more than the materials. Tall and skinny vs low and fat.
_________________
Chris Lucker
Red Bellies, Bigsbys and a lot of other guitars.

Dave Zirbel · From: Sebastopol, CA USA

I didn't think you were pointing your finger. Smile

I'd love to hear an original someday!
_________________
Dave Zirbel-
Sierra S-10 (Built by Ross Shafer),ZB, Fender 400 guitars, various tube and SS amps

Dustin Rhodes · From: Owasso OK

What year were those made? Weren't most magnet decisions back then based on availability?

John Billings · From: Ohio, USA

Dave and Chris,
Say a pickup reads 14,000 ohms. Can one figure out how many winds of a specific wire, 42/44 that would be?
Wish I could get a broken one to send to Jason. That way he could get the physical measurements of the bobbins, etc., etc..
_________________
Dr. Z Surgical Steel amp, amazing!
"74 Bud S-10 3&6
'73 Bud S-10 3&5(under construction)
'63 Fingertip S-10, at James awaiting 6 knees
'57 Strat, LP Blue
'91 Tele with 60's Maple neck
Dozen more guitars!
Dozens of amps, but SF Quad reverb, Rick Johnson cabs. JBL 15, '64 Vibroverb for at home.
'52 and '56 Pro Amps

Chris Lucker · From: Los Angeles, California USA

John, I just wind until I hit my simple resistance target in ohms. I stop, remove insulation, measure, reinsulate and wind some more until I reach my goal. I have no experience winding with 44g wire. I usually use 38, 40, 42 and rarely 43.

Fender 400/1000 Jazzmaster style pickups are an exception. They seem to be wound until full. So that is what I do.

Bigsby pickups were a little more problematic because there is more going on than meets the eye. And, by the way, the numbers of windings written on the actual Bigsby pickup winder are not what was actually done.
_________________
Chris Lucker
Red Bellies, Bigsbys and a lot of other guitars.

John Billings · From: Ohio, USA

Interesting Chris! Thanks. Jason has never had a Stratosphic pickup to examine, so I trying to find out all I can. The Perm D-10 I sold to James just sounds amazing, and I thought it might be interesting to get Jason to make some that I could drop into a Shobud or two.
_________________
Dr. Z Surgical Steel amp, amazing!
"74 Bud S-10 3&6
'73 Bud S-10 3&5(under construction)
'63 Fingertip S-10, at James awaiting 6 knees
'57 Strat, LP Blue
'91 Tele with 60's Maple neck
Dozen more guitars!
Dozens of amps, but SF Quad reverb, Rick Johnson cabs. JBL 15, '64 Vibroverb for at home.
'52 and '56 Pro Amps

Dave Zirbel · From: Sebastopol, CA USA

I really don't know John. Sorry I can't help much. I'm sure someone on will be able to give you better info........
_________________
Dave Zirbel-
Sierra S-10 (Built by Ross Shafer),ZB, Fender 400 guitars, various tube and SS amps

John Billings · From: Ohio, USA

Thanks Dave! You've been a lot of help already! These Stratospheric pups are rumored to be the best-sounding ever. Shot went to winding his own, pretty much to save money. I'm very interested to replicate the Stratospheric pups to try them in one of my Shobuds. Jason is interested too.
_________________
Dr. Z Surgical Steel amp, amazing!
"74 Bud S-10 3&6
'73 Bud S-10 3&5(under construction)
'63 Fingertip S-10, at James awaiting 6 knees
'57 Strat, LP Blue
'91 Tele with 60's Maple neck
Dozen more guitars!
Dozens of amps, but SF Quad reverb, Rick Johnson cabs. JBL 15, '64 Vibroverb for at home.
'52 and '56 Pro Amps

Dave Zirbel · From: Sebastopol, CA USA

I'm interested too!. I had Jerry Sentell wind me one to the specs I had. I made it 1/2 tall, not knowing what the real height is. It's an 8 string and I put it in a Fender 400. It sounds real good but hard to compare since I never really had one in a shobud to do A/B comparisons.

When I got the pickup from Jerry I made a little iPhone video of me noodling and sent it to him. He posted it on his website. I realize it's hard to judge from an iPhone video going through computer speakers....but here it is:
http://www.sentellpickups.net

Scroll to the bottom of the page. Please excuse my mediocre random noodling! Oh Well

In comparison to the stock Fender Jazzmaster it had a lot more bass, maybe mids, but it was way more balanced tonally. Way fatter in general.
_________________
Dave Zirbel-
Sierra S-10 (Built by Ross Shafer),ZB, Fender 400 guitars, various tube and SS amps

John Billings · From: Ohio, USA

Very , very interesting Dave. Jason is interested, and you know, he's the best there is. Would love to drop one into my '74 3&6. James and Ricky are interested too. Finding the best ever Shobud Pickup would be so cool!
_________________
Dr. Z Surgical Steel amp, amazing!
"74 Bud S-10 3&6
'73 Bud S-10 3&5(under construction)
'63 Fingertip S-10, at James awaiting 6 knees
'57 Strat, LP Blue
'91 Tele with 60's Maple neck
Dozen more guitars!
Dozens of amps, but SF Quad reverb, Rick Johnson cabs. JBL 15, '64 Vibroverb for at home.
'52 and '56 Pro Amps

Forum Index > Electronics		Next oldest topic :: Next newest topic

All times are GMT - 8 Hours	Jump to: