64 Guild single coil teardown

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Kinda of surprised that the whole coil isn't secured by a screw of any type, but that was good enough for the anti-hum to be unsecured. I'm going to have to measure the baseplate against the Gibson small humbucker kit I have.

Work is really interfering with fun!
 

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"She's dead, Jim."
 

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A little tape to secure the magnets before the autopsy.
 

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The pole pieces are 5-40 fillister head screws, same as Gibson humbucker.
 

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After removing the screws and retaining wire, the pickup comes apart easily.
 

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"Factory sealed for your protection!"

I can see why the previous owner chose to replace the pup, rather than repair it. It appears to have a tee-shaped form, consisting of the bottom plate and the hollow center (which the coil is actually wound on). A "cap" consisting of the top and the sides of the pickup then fits over the lower have and is painted with acetone, with melts the plastic into a solid, seamless block. The plastic appears to be 1/32 of an inch thick, less than one millimeter, so my best shot is to cut the sides off with a razor blade. Needless to say, that requires a steadier hand than 930 on a Saturday night.
 

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I think I got them from Philadelphia Luther supplies, but I think you can get them on Amazon, Stew Mac, and the usual suspects.
 

GGJaguar

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A "cap" consisting of the top and the sides of the pickup then fits over the lower have and is painted with acetone, with melts the plastic into a solid, seamless block.
That seems like it would have cost more (and be more dangerous due to the acetone), than just wrapping the coil with some tape. Thanks for the fascinating details!
 

AcornHouse

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That seems like it would have cost more (and be more dangerous due to the acetone), than just wrapping the coil with some tape. Thanks for the fascinating details!
Using acetone to glue plastics is commonplace in the guitar building industry. It’s even used to glue the plastic binding to the wood, as well as making up the custom binding patterns.
This is, of course, well before any VOC regulations or other OSHA oversight.
 

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There was a manufacturing reason for sure. I can't guess because I really don't know the coil winding industry. I have acetone here, and most luthiers use it for making custom layered binding, or binding a pickguard. Not a hazard unless you are using it near high heat. It could have been a tube of solvent or a small can.
 

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That seems like it would have cost more (and be more dangerous due to the acetone), than just wrapping the coil with some tape. Thanks for the fascinating details!
Another answer could be that they didn't choose to spend money on a multi piece injection mold. It would have been cheaper to make a two piece mold, probably in the range of a couple of Buick Rivieras. You pull it off the winder, solder a lead off the final wrap, paint the edges of the cover with solvent and you are done. Maybe no need for tape at all. I'll know when I cut the sides off.
 
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More thanks to Hans. I recently had a difference of opinion on FB about the second version of the Todd, the one shown with the non-Franz baseplate and cover. I thought it was a DeArmond and the other guy insisted it was a Hagstrom, but not the Mickey Mouse. We were both wrong!
 

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I'm still trying to find a MM pup, but it's hard to find them without a guitar attached.
 

matsickma

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I never realized the extra set of pickups I bought were Todds! I just assumed Franz updated the bobbin sealing method.
Knowing Todds provided parts for the smaller chrome "soapbar" pickup used on the early '60's S50, S100, M65 and T100 has me interested. They are great sounded pickups with a P90 type tone.
M
 
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