Franz Pickup-Question for Hans, others.

[matsickma]

Hi All,

I am re posting a question I had on Frans PUPs under the Misc section in the Hollowbody section because Frans PUPs were only used on Guild Hollowbodies.

I am requesting input from Hans but any one else's comments are welcome.

I will add the hyperlink to the origional post.

matsickma

http://letstalkguild.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=2773

p.s., Don if I am screwing up the LTG format I appologise.

 

[hansmoust]

Hi All,

I have been curious about a subtle item in regards to Franz pickups. I origionally owned a early 1960's M65 Freshman in excellent condition. When I examined the Franz pickup it had I removed the cream cover and found that a wire was strung along connecting each of the 6 screw polepieces. The wire was very thin and very stiff as if it was made out of spring metal. I assumed the wire was there to pull all the pole pieces to a common electrical potential. However I also wondered if the stiff wire was installed to prevent the pole pieces from vibrating and adding to the pickup microphonics. I experimented with and without the wire and could not hear a difference. The wire was long enough to span all the pole pieces and in the area of each pole piece it formed a partial loop to allow it to be captured by the polepiece screw.

Since that first experiance I have a few other occasions to examine Franz PUPs and did not come across that wire again. However last year a set of Franz PUPs sold on eBay and they did have the wire.

Now I can imagine that over 40 plus years many guitars with Frans PUPs may have lost the wire so it doesn't appear to often.

So I am interested if anyone has observed the Franz pickup pole piece wire I mentioned and has a good explaination of its purpose.

Thanks,

matsickma

Hello Matsickma,

Sorry, didn't notice the thread in the Miscellaneous section!

To the best of my knowledge that wire is a 'retainer' wire that keeps the polepieces from coming out spontaneously after the thread in the bobbin has 'loosened up'. The wire only keeps the polepieces in place as long as you don't disturb it. If you remove it you'd better make a new one because it will not be 'springy' enough to function properly.

Sincerely,

Hans Moust
http://www.guitarsgalore.nl

 

[Walter Broes]

Yep, all mine have the wire too.

My friend and tech has started getting into pickup winding about a year ago, and got serious about it, (and actually wound me two sets of pretty great telecaster pickups!), and one of these days I'm gonna give him a Franz to look at and see what makes these things tick.
They seem very similar to a Gibson P90 construction wise, but there's gotta be a different wire size or magnet size in play, because they do sound really different, unique, and.....SOOOO good!!!!