homemade pups?

[gfxbss]

hey guys, ive picked up an allied luthire catalog and it has gotten the gears in my head going. i noticed they sell pup part kits, you then wind them and what not. i wanted to see if anyone knows anything as far as how hard this is, or how they sound. what would make the difference in how they sound ect.

[beersponge]

I've never made them myself but I 've heard musicians from the Congo who make them out of stripped copper telephone wire and magnets to amplify their mbiras (thumb pianos). I would be interested in a starter kit "to get started" with theory and all that stuff, but you don't always have to use the usual recommended parts that you would think you need. Take a tip from third world ingenuity where parts are improvised as needed (often because parts we in "developed" countries find easily are scarce or too expensive).
Konono (Kongotronics) is the name of one group, if you want to check out the sound. The instrument is basically a wooden box with cut strips of sheet metal for keys and a homemade pickup. You would probably think it was just a FAT electric Bass cranked up all the way through and old tube amp.
Experiment and refine your own equipment. Come up with sumthin' new.

[dd842]

beersponge said:

I've never made them myself but I 've heard musicians from the Congo who make them out of stripped copper telephone wire and magnets to amplify their mbiras (thumb pianos)
.....
Konono (Kongotronics) is the name of one group, if you want to check out the sound. The instrument is basically a wooden box with cut strips of sheet metal for keys and a homemade pickup. You would probably think it was just a FAT electric Bass cranked up all the way through and old tube amp.

Hi beersponge,

It was a little rude of us not to jump in and welcome you aboard ... so welcome to GN2 ;D and feel free to jump in any old time!

Dan

[benjy304]

beersponge said:

I've never made them myself but I 've heard musicians from the Congo who make them out of stripped copper telephone wire and magnets to amplify their mbiras ...
You would probably think it was just a FAT electric Bass cranked up all the way through and old tube amp.
Experiment and refine your own equipment. Come up with sumthin' new.

Huh. I've never heard of amplified kalimba before.
On the subject of DIY pickups, Stewart-MacDonald has a range of pickup parts and kits.

i wanted to see if anyone knows anything as far as how hard this

Without a mechanical rotating device like a drill it would be pretty hard.

[sumgai]

i wanted to see if anyone knows anything as far as how hard this

Without a mechanical rotating device like a drill it would be pretty hard.

An old record player would be much more accomodating! Nice and slow, and already has a platform to hold your bobbin. :D


sumgai

[ChrisK]

An old record player

What's a record?

[ux4484]

chrisk said:

An old record player

What's a record?

heh...vinyl is

[ChrisK]

heh...vinyl is

...warped by now!