Description

The 1950s Blueprint: Hand-Wound Alnico 3 Pre-CBS Pickups

Since 2011, my workshop has been a laboratory for one singular obsession: the recreation of the most elusive tones in electric guitar history. This Alnico 3 set is the result of years spent dissecting, playing, and cloning original examples from my private collection. For the “cork sniffer” seeking that specific, airy chime of the mid-50s, this is the definitive build.

The Alchemy of Alnico 3

Most modern pickups rely on the punch of Alnico 5, but the true vintage connoisseur knows the magic of 0.195″ Alnico 3. These magnets are the weakest in the Alnico family, offering lower magnetic pull, allowing your strings to vibrate more freely. The result is an incredibly transparent, woody tone with a high-end “shimmer” that never becomes harsh. We bevel every magnet in-house to ensure the correct magnetic field and period-correct stagger.

Period-Correct Engineering

• Fullerton-Spec Wire: Every coil is hand-wound using a true scatter-wind technique with 42 AWG Heavy Formvar wire. This wire is faithfully cloned and colour-matched to original Pre-CBS stock, ensuring the DC resistance and capacitance are historically accurate.

• Punched Flatwork: We reject modern laser-cutting. Our flatwork is traditionally punched for the correct fibre density. The bobbins feature hand-rounded edges and are finished with a nitrocellulose lacquer dip—a time-consuming process that mirrors the exact manufacturing methods of the 1950s.

• The “Black Bee” Secret: To preserve clarity and harmonic detail, these pickups are lightly wax-potted in a traditional blend of Black Bee and paraffin wax. This prevents microphonic squeal while maintaining the “openness” and touch-sensitivity that mass-produced pickups lack.

Technical Specifications & Calibration

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Calibrated Output for Authentic Feel:

• Neck: 5.4kΩ (Clear, bell-like, and exceptionally woody)

• Middle: 5.6kΩ (Perfectly voiced for that “in-between” quack)

• Bridge: 6.0kΩ (Biting and harmonic-rich without the ice-pick)

Built Without Compromise

Every set is a bench-built tribute to the “Golden Era” of guitar manufacturing. We use cloth-covered hookup wire throughout, and each set is supplied complete with period-correct covers and mounting screws. These are not “off-the-shelf” components; they are voiced for the player who demands the nuanced character and touch-sensitivity of a 60-year-old original.

Respecting the heritage. Reclaiming the tone.

More about Pre-CBS pickups here https://www.mojopickups.co.uk/the-ultimate-guide-to-pre-cbs-strat-pickups/