Mojo Lapsteel

Description

Mojo Lapsteel Pickup: Vintage Growl, Modern Soul

Elevate your steel game with a pickup that breathes fire and vintage character. Inspired by the legendary Valco designs of the mid-century, this Mojo Lapsteel pickup captures that raw, tactile honk while ditching the technical headaches of the past.

Hand-wound right here in the UK with 44AWG wire and loaded with custom-cast Alnico 3 magnets, this isn’t just a reproduction—it’s an upgrade. Expect a sweet, compressed top end paired with a midrange that punches through the densest of mixes. Whether you’re chasing swampy blues slides or clean, soaring country lines, this pickup delivers authentic “old-school” grit with touch-sensitive dynamics.

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The Details

• The Build: Nickel-plated UK-made parts for a classic look that ages beautifully.

• The Magnetics: Custom Alnico 3 magnets provide a smoother, more musical response than standard Alnico 5.

• Pairing Perfection: Unlike the vintage originals, we’ve corrected the phase issue. This means you can pair it seamlessly with our Gold Foils for a multi-pickup setup without that thin, out-of-phase “quack.”

• Installation Note: To accommodate the authentic internal architecture, a body route is required (approx. 86mm x 40mm x 3mm deep) as parts of the assembly protrude from the base.

Tech Specs at a Glance

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Installation & Wiring Guide

Because this pickup is based on the vintage Valco architecture, it isn’t a “drop-in” replacement for standard single coils. You’ll need to prep your instrument body to accommodate the underside assembly.

1. The Route

The base of the pickup features components that extend below the base. You will need to create a cavity with the following dimensions:

• Width: 86mm

• Length: 40mm

• Depth: 3mm (minimum)

Once your route is cleared, the pickup base sits flush against the body. Ensure your lead wires are fed through a pre-drilled channel to the control cavity before screwing the unit down.

2. Wiring: The “Mojo Duo”

(Valco-style Bridge + Gold Foil Neck)

Since this pickup is phase-corrected, you can use a standard 3-way toggle or blade switch without the phase issues typical of vintage pairings.

• Bridge (Lapsteel): Solder the Hot wire to the bridge lug of your switch; Ground to the back of the Volume pot.

• Neck (Gold Foil): Solder the Hot wire to the neck lug; Ground to the back of the Volume pot.

• Pot Values: We recommend 250k for a warmer vintage character, or 500k if you want maximum bite from the 44AWG windings.

How I make them.