UNPLANNED DOWNTIME: 12th Oct 23:45
Making a duplicate 1961 Hagstrom bass pickup
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I had an interesting pickup come into my workshop a while ago - from a 1961 Hagstrom bass similar to the one pictured below.
The issue, aside from being dead as a Dodo, was the material making up the bobbin - some sort of casting epoxy resin - was breaking down with age. Bits were missing, and the bobbin was altogether too fragile to rewind successfully.
The only answer I could see was to build a close replica of the pickup.
I started by CAD designing and laser cutting a piece of thick, black acrylic ... then I befan to attack the replica top with files, wet and dry paper, wire wool, and finally metal polish.
I have deliberately put a fraction less 'dome' on the pickup to make the edges stronger.
I added alnico 5 pole pieces - and like the original, fitted an extra, narrow ceramic bar magnet underneath
Time to wind - and I had to use a taped on wooden block to stop the tailstock marking the bobbin top.
Finally we have the result ... which has gone back to a delighted customer to be included in a large scale rebuild of the original - that apparently sat in a damp shed for over 20 years!
Professional pickup winder, horse-testpilot and recovering Chocolate Hobnob addict.
Formerly TheGuitarWeasel ...
Oil City Pickups ...
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Comments
Amazing job thanks for sharing
Formerly TheGuitarWeasel ... Oil City Pickups ... Oil City Blog
I would expect it to be live and quite punchy - but without quite the body mass in the instrument so a bit thinner.
The necks on these are apparently gorgeous if you like a slim Jazz Bass aesthetic.
Next time I'm in Finland I may try and pick one up. Why Finland you may ask ... well in the early days of Finnish rock and roll just about all you could get at reasonable prices were Hagstrom ... they did amps and PA too I believe. Finland has a lot of old Hagstroms
Formerly TheGuitarWeasel ... Oil City Pickups ... Oil City Blog