Catswhisker pickups
HAND MADE IN ENGLAND
Catswhisker
      Pickups
Email : Catswhisker.pickups@virgin.net
Email: catswhisker.pickups@virgin.net
Humbuckers

Below is the S-Bucker, which utilises a unique coil arrangement and Alnico slug magnets in one coil instead of the usual iron slugs.  A common problem when splitting a normal humbucker is that there is a noticeable volume drop when one coil is cut. The S-Bucker has an additional section of coil on the slug bobbin that becomes active when the pickup is split, lifting the volume of the coil and the Alnico slugs ensure that the split tone is about as close as can be got to a true single coil pickup. In humbucking mode, the S-Bucker both coils are balanced for hum cancellation and the tone is all that you would expect from the classic series humbuckers, with a little bit of single coil sparkle thrown in. A push/pull or toggle DPDT switch is essential for this pickup and a pair of pickups can be operated from one switch, although two separate switches obviously increase the permutations available.

The Dethbucker to the right is the highest output pickup that I produce with DC resistances of 16.5k bridge and 16k neck.  As standard, these are fitted with Neodymium bar magnets and raised head screws, but flush hex type pole screws are available as an option.  

All of these pickups can be supplied in the “Dogear” format as shown below left.

The Little Lion is a crossover pickup that sits between  full size humbuckers and the mini-humbucker. The shape of the coils is a little thinner than a regular humbucker, a little fatter than a mini and this is reflected in the tone of the Little Lion. The Little lion utilises the same magnet wire as the 72 Classic; DC resistances of 11.5k  bridge and 10.5k produce a nice punchy and bright tone ideal for classic rock and blues (they can create some nice jangly tones as well with things cleaned up).

I make two mini-humbuckers; the closed cover “F-Bird” style and the more regular format with exposed pole screws. These two pickups share pretty much identical bobbins, but the magnet layout is totally different. For the closed version (Model F), each bobbin has a bar magnet at its centre, whereas the version to the right has a single bar magnet under the coils in the same fashion as a full size humbucker. I wind the bridge versions of these pickups slightly hotter than the neck to balance the outputs and fatten the tone slightly. Model F has a higher treble content than the standard mini-humbucker, however DC resistances are the same - 6.9k bridge and 6.5k neck.  Both styles of Minihumbucker can be supplied with P90 adaptors for direct fitment into guitars routed for P90 pickups.                                    

 

The Classic  2,3,4 and 5 humbuckers are fitted with  Alnico 2,3,4 and 5 magnets respectively; all feature  42AWG magnet wire. Standard winding  is 8.8k bridge and 8.4k neck but this can be tweaked for a customised tone. The 72 Classic is a variation that uses an Alnico 5 magnet and very different winding wire to create a more punchy sounding pickup with all the clarity and smoothness that characterise the others in this range. DC resistance is higher due the different wire gauge at 13.2k bridge and 12.5k for the neck but the actual turn count and consequently the output is similar to the Classics 5.

Finally for the more conventional humbuckers, the PG set;  This is a calibrated set with a modified neck pickup (reverse phase and special winding) that re-creates that sweet articulate bluesy tone when both pickups are selected.

The Ranger DLX departs from the more common humbucker arrangement of a single bar magnet placed between the coils.Instead this pickup has individually magnetised poles, three of which from each bobbin are visible through the cover. DC resistances are 8.6k bridge and 8.2k neck.  For full sized Wide Range style pickups, take a look on the T Style and Specials pages

 

 

 

 

T

HOME
T STYLE
SPECIALS