Wizz Pickups in details!

[wizzard]

Here are some details how i make Wizz Pickups, hope you like pics. There is always something new so i will update this thread from time to time

Bobbins are made from bone cream color CAB plastic, that is vintage correct in all details, wizz pickups can also be made from black bobbins (or zebra) in same material.

check out the details

bobbins are wound with 42 AWG custom ordered plain enamel wire

then taped with paper tape

tape is identical to 1958 PAF tape (compared)

 

[wizzard]

steel parts are replicated from PAF pickups.

polepiece screws (compared with real PAF screw)

when custom ordering, screws must be ordered in large quantity

custom made springs for mounting pickups on the rings

making the keepers from custom made steel material in correct shape and material

then 2 stages of drilling

then threading the holes for screws to have tight fit

ready to use

 

[wizzard]

we now (more than one year) use vintage winding machine, the same model that was used late 1950's to make PAF pickups in Gibson factory. This is not only kind of machine that gibson used in 1950's, there were a few other types of machines.

 

[duaneflowers]

Wow!!! Awesome pix!!!

Thanks for sharing!!!

 

[Oz Hofstatter]

I bought a Wizz Premium Clone PAF Pickup Set from Alex and really like it. Highly recommended!!!
Cheers,
Oz

 

[ProtoGuitars]

Nice winder!! Love to see others who use these big ol' manly machines and not the silly StewMac winder-of-the-day specials.
And such great attention to detail! Good stuff - keep it up.

 

[duaneflowers]

I have 4 sets of Wizz Pickups and highly recommend them... not only are they great pickups, put Alex is so great to work with.

 

[HK45c]

That's what's in my Les Paul.

 

[Darkburst]

I have these in my two R9s. Great pickups!

 

[wizzard]

glad you like them guys
we put lot of love and effort in our pickups so lets show it

baseplates are also custom made, correct in shape, size, material, color and texture

compared with 1958 PAF on the right

here i one photo from prototype stage, laser cutting

holes are also threaded for tight fit

then aged

and with hookup wire attached and soldered

hookup wire is custom made in USA factory that is making this wire since early 1950's, and this guys were making it for gibson in 50's too

ends need to be "pushed back"

 

[wizzard]

making the wooden keeper

correct size

selecting the magnets, rought cast just like in late 50's

then on the assembling, you can see how threaded holes are matched and waiting the polepiece screws

polepiece screws have aged only heads, with dark brown rust

 

[wizzard]

5 sets ready for covers

covers are shaped like vintage cover in TV screen famous PAF shape, with sunken holes around polepiece screws

this are some details

Wizz PAF cover on the left and real 1959 PAF cover on the right

then covers are aged, stripes between the string

 

[wizzard]

here is the mould of our PAF bobbins

machine for the job

 

[wizzard]

 

[kingsxman]

Very cool. Thanks for posting. I love my set of Wizz pickups.