New CruzTone w/2 pickups

Colin Alder · Post by **Colin Alder** » 10 May 2007 5:47 pm

I finished this 2 pickup prototype a few weeks back. It has the Turner "Farrier's" pickup and a Lollar Chicago Steel. I wired it up with a rotary switch to get series/parallel/phase options.

Here's the new pickup for my eight string CruzTones. It's a group effort; my design, magnets by Rick Aiello, and bobbin by Jason Lollar. I like the combo with the Lollar Chicago Steel so much that I'll be offering that on the eight string as well.

A ten string and a double neck are in the works. Stay tuned.

David Siegler · Post by **David Siegler** » 11 May 2007 12:06 am

Beautiful work Colin with exciting things to come!! Can't wait to hear some of these new guitars and PUs. How about some sound samples of the latest guitar and the various PU settings?

Andy Sandoval · Post by **Andy Sandoval** » 11 May 2007 1:28 am

Colin, are there any sound samples available?

Rick Aiello · Post by **Rick Aiello** » 11 May 2007 3:44 am

The cool feature of the 8 string unit is ... the top can be removed for those who don't like the right hand obstruction ... leaving you with essentially a very powerful Chicago Steel type unit.

Here's my crude, original prototype ... that I sent Colin last summer to work with:

The Convertible

Colin Alder · Post by **Colin Alder** » 11 May 2007 6:52 am

Colin, are there any sound samples available?

I'll get to posting some soon.

Todd Weger · Post by **Todd Weger** » 11 May 2007 6:56 am

Colin -- can you explain what the Turner Hi-fidelity "farrier's" pickup is? It looks a lot like the horse-shoe Ricky style p'ups that Rick Aiello was making before Rickenbacker got all freaked and sent their nasty letter to make him stop.

How is Turner able to get away with this same style design? Please forgive my ignorance. Maybe it's not the same design...?

In any case, your steels are abso-freaking-lutely GORGEOUS! Can't wait to hear some sound samples.

TJW

Peter Jacobs · Post by **Peter Jacobs** » 11 May 2007 8:33 am

Colin - unbelieveably beautiful work, as always. Thanks for sharing the pics -- would love to hear some sound clips. Two pickups on a lap steel make a lot of sense to me, and the rotary switch is a great way to go.

Peter

Michael Papenburg · Post by **Michael Papenburg** » 11 May 2007 8:49 am

Your new 2 pickup models look great. Are you only planning to make a double 8 or are you planning a double 6 as well? Also, is it possible to come by your shop to try out your instruments? I happen to live in the SF bay area and wouldn't mind taking a trip to Santa Cruz at some point.

Thanks.

Rick Aiello · Post by **Rick Aiello** » 11 May 2007 9:41 am

It looks a lot like the horse-shoe Ricky style p'ups that Rick Aiello was making before Rickenbacker got all freaked and sent their nasty letter to make him stop.

Just for the record ... it was Jason Lollar who received the Cease and Desist order from RIC and was the "primary target" of John Hall and his attorneys ...

I only made the magnets ... and I made them solely for Lollar Guitars ...

As for the Trademark question/issue ... I'll defer to either Mr. Turner or Colin.

Fred Kinbom · Post by **Fred Kinbom** » 11 May 2007 9:51 am

Pardon a Swede, but what exactly is a bobbin? It sounds like a hobbit name out of "Lord of the Rings".

Looks great Colin!

Fred

Rick Aiello · Post by **Rick Aiello** » 11 May 2007 10:17 am

Colin Alder · Post by **Colin Alder** » 11 May 2007 11:43 am

but what exactly is a bobbin?

I should have said that Jason made pickup the coil assy.

We're not concerned with the trademark issue at this time.
The Turner pickup is a modern pickup with the coil wound around individual magnets for each string. The "shoes" are passive, ie. not magnetized. They do affect the tone, probably by focusing and intensifying the magnetic field. The pickup was designed for his Model T guitar, built with slide players in mind. http://www.renaissanceguitars.com/modelt.html (Mine looks like the pink one below)It is powerful and has a broad frequency response, rich lows and sweet highs, with excellent string separation. Adjusting the tone circuit takes it from singing sweet to twangy growl. I'm trying to put into words what can only be heard.

At my friend David Siegler's suggestion, I'm considering sending a steel on the road for testing. You could play it for a few days and then pay the freight to the next person on the list. Anybody interested?

I happen to live in the SF bay area and wouldn't mind taking a trip to Santa Cruz at some point.

Michael,
Send me an email. Saturdays are good for me. I might be able to meet you at Gryphon in Palo Alto.

Turner Model T my inspiration.

Michael Papenburg · Post by **Michael Papenburg** » 11 May 2007 12:17 pm

I would definitely be interested in trying out your test steel for a few days and then sending it on - especially if it's a 2 pickup model. Please keep me posted.

Colin Alder · Post by **Colin Alder** » 11 May 2007 2:04 pm

Also, there is a 6 and an 8 at Sylvan music in Santa Cruz.

Gerald Ross · Post by **Gerald Ross** » 11 May 2007 2:53 pm

Colin you did an amazing job designing this guitar,
doing the woodworking, the finishing and luthiery work.

Rick Aiello you did an outstanding job researching, designing and manufacturing this ground breaking pickup. I'm sure we'll be seeing this unit on many different guitars from many different builders (including yourself) in the near future. I like the pix of the pickup from your deck with your "back 40" in the distance - nice juxtaposition between technology and nature.

Good job guys.

Rick Aiello · Post by **Rick Aiello** » 11 May 2007 3:23 pm

I like the pix of the pickup from your deck with your "back 40" in the background - nice juxtaposition between technology and nature.

Hee, hee ... it was all brown from the winter in that photo.

Now... it's all lush and green ...

But, I gotta mow it ...

I killed my second lawn tractor in three years on "ice burg" boulders ... and my wife won't let me get another.

So I'm pushing a 3.5 hp Murray ... every weekend.

I need some sheep ...

Watch it Howard

Post by **Brad Bechtel** » 11 May 2007 3:42 pm

Another beautiful job, Colin. I look forward to hearing the sound samples.

John Ficken · Post by **John Ficken** » 11 May 2007 4:08 pm

I killed my second lawn tractor in three years on "ice burg" boulders ... and my wife won't let me get another.

Rick--I'd be looking into getting my wife a new lawn tractor of her own--for Mother's day!!

Todd Weger · Post by **Todd Weger** » 12 May 2007 5:53 am

Rick Aiello wrote:
I killed my second lawn tractor in three years on "ice burg" boulders ... and my wife won't let me get another.
ummmm..., Rick, not to nit-pick, but I think you mean 'berg' instead of burg. Berg is German for mountain (ice mountain), while a burg is German for town or village.

An example of an ice-burg would be any town in, oh, say, Wisconsin (where I grew up), which is why I now live in warm and sunny FLORI-duh!

And as Gerald said, excellent work on your new, and very innovative p'up design with 'the convertible' top. Very cool idea. I see these definitely getting, ahem... picked up by boutique steel makers.

Nice work.

TJW

Rick Aiello · Post by **Rick Aiello** » 12 May 2007 9:37 am

Sorry ...

I must have filled my beer stien up ... one two many times last nite.

Love to stay and chat ... but I have to go moe the grass ...

Sorry for highjacking this thread, Colin ...

Colin Alder · Post by **Colin Alder** » 12 May 2007 10:36 am

ProNoblem

Harry Dietrich · Post by **Harry Dietrich** » 12 May 2007 1:43 pm

The Steel Guitar Forum

New CruzTone w/2 pickups

New CruzTone w/2 pickups

Turner Hi-fidelity "farrier's" pickup

berg vs. burg