Yet Unnamed AMI Rail Pickups
Posted: Thu Feb 02, 2023 11:00 am
I made these at the request of a client and good friend of mine. He bought this 2022 Kramer HSS import as a platform, replacing everything but the Floyd and the pots.
Wanting this guitar to be an 80's - 90's rock machine, he settled on a Fender Atomic Humbucker (Fender's JB clone) for the bridge and needed the other two pickups to not only keep up, but to have their own voodoo vibe.
I have to say these were the most difficult pickups to assemble, but I am glad I did. I am going to recommend some improvements to the retailer who has these parts custom built.
The Neck pickup is pure Jimi Hendrix glassy-thick character, but loud enough to keep up with the Atomic and 95% quieter than a single coil. 7.5K DCR, slightly unbalanced AMI pattern wound 42ga coils, 4 conductor wiring and a tiny Ceramic 8 magnet, which due to its size, sounds close to a strong Alnico 5. Wax potted (it is what keeps the whole assembly together, much like a traditional Firebird pickup).
The Middle pickup could pass for a rowdy Strat bridge pickup, with the treble being 2 degrees softer than the normal 'ice-pick' sound (edge of ice-pick?). Also glassy and focused, but not as meaty as the Neck pup. You could do Tom Petty songs with just this pickup. It also keeps up with the Atomic in volume, with the ability to be a little lower in height as so not to impeded with a guitar pick. Balanced 43ga AMI patter wound coils for total hum-free performance, 8.88K DCR, 4 conductor wiring and the tiny Ceramic 8 magnet, wax potted.
Wired to a 3-way Tele style switch with no coil tapping, per the client's wishes. 50's wiring (tone control wired to the middle ug of the volume) makes it smooth and clear at lower volume settings. it is hard to tell from the reflections in the pics, but all black rails and bobbins.
Given that this is a 25.5" 24 fret guitar, getting pickups to sound with supreme mojo is a tough feat and these really surprised me. Not at all like the Dimarzio or Duncan offerings I had heard before.
Wanting this guitar to be an 80's - 90's rock machine, he settled on a Fender Atomic Humbucker (Fender's JB clone) for the bridge and needed the other two pickups to not only keep up, but to have their own voodoo vibe.
I have to say these were the most difficult pickups to assemble, but I am glad I did. I am going to recommend some improvements to the retailer who has these parts custom built.
The Neck pickup is pure Jimi Hendrix glassy-thick character, but loud enough to keep up with the Atomic and 95% quieter than a single coil. 7.5K DCR, slightly unbalanced AMI pattern wound 42ga coils, 4 conductor wiring and a tiny Ceramic 8 magnet, which due to its size, sounds close to a strong Alnico 5. Wax potted (it is what keeps the whole assembly together, much like a traditional Firebird pickup).
The Middle pickup could pass for a rowdy Strat bridge pickup, with the treble being 2 degrees softer than the normal 'ice-pick' sound (edge of ice-pick?). Also glassy and focused, but not as meaty as the Neck pup. You could do Tom Petty songs with just this pickup. It also keeps up with the Atomic in volume, with the ability to be a little lower in height as so not to impeded with a guitar pick. Balanced 43ga AMI patter wound coils for total hum-free performance, 8.88K DCR, 4 conductor wiring and the tiny Ceramic 8 magnet, wax potted.
Wired to a 3-way Tele style switch with no coil tapping, per the client's wishes. 50's wiring (tone control wired to the middle ug of the volume) makes it smooth and clear at lower volume settings. it is hard to tell from the reflections in the pics, but all black rails and bobbins.
Given that this is a 25.5" 24 fret guitar, getting pickups to sound with supreme mojo is a tough feat and these really surprised me. Not at all like the Dimarzio or Duncan offerings I had heard before.