Skatterbrane Handwound Guitar Pickups
Tweet to @SKATTERBRANE_All SKATTERBRANE models are based on vintage specs. I use plain enamel 42awg coil wire, German silver backing plates and covers, steel slugs and pole screws, and individually rough sand cast magnets. None of my models are potted. All are scatter wound by hand. All covers are German silver, in either non-plated (raw), nickel plated or gold plated options. My premium covers, are P.A.F. replicas. None of my pickups have a under-plated layer of brass or copper. Most models have asymmetrical winds as per vintage P.A.F.s, a few are symmetrical as per Seth Lover's or Tim Shaw's specs.
SKATTERBRANES are also vintage spaced, that is 1-15/16" (49.2mm) for either the neck or the bridge position, just like vintage Gibson through the 70s and all reissue and Historic Gibson Les Pauls are. This would also be true for the highend replicas out there. Rest assured if you have an Epiphone or a USA Gibson that currently has a 2-1/16" spaced bridge pickup, the vintage spacing will work A-OK. I do not offer "F" spaced or 2-1/16" (52mm) pickups.
SKATTERBRANE custom handwound P.A.F. pickups are all known for basic tonal qualities like: articulation, string separation, complex overtones, open and woody when played clean, and great natural crunch when pushed. They are dynamic and sensitive to associated equipment, playing style and setup. I wind to a specific number of winds per set. I do not wind to a particular direct current resistance (DCR) like many winders do. Output is achieved by number of winds, and magnet strength. The DCR can vary as much as +/- 3% from my specs. But in any case, I wind my pickups in matched sets, so as to compliment each other and work in "harmony" (heh, heh) in the middle position. Check out all of the Custom handwound P.A.F and P90 pickups.
My wife asked why I only play male artists on the stereo when I wind. I told her that most of the great classic rock albums feature Les Paul guitars played by men, and I like to listen to great rock music played on Les Pauls when I build pickups, imagining that their tone and mojo are working through my fingers as I wind.
Neck Zebra vs Bridge Reverse Zebra, reference pole screw side:
PICK MY BRANES:
1. Yinbranes -- A2 Standard
7.6K neck/8.4K bridge. The original Alnico 2 pickups. Softer feel, more compressed midrangey and creamy tones. Think vintage or even jazzy smooth in for the neck. The bridge is dirty and dry. INFO, PRICING AND ORDER HERE
2. Yangbranes -- A5 Standard
7.6K neck/8.4K bridge. Harder feel, very touch sensitive. More scooped, neck is more open, bridge is more aggressive. If you have a lighter Les Paul, for example, this will grow it some balls. INFO, PRICING AND ORDER HERE
3. Quiescence Branes -- A5/A2 Standard
7.6K neck/8.4K bridge. Ah yeah! Take a little bit Alnico 5 and mix in some Alnico 2 and you are in vintage pickup harmony. If your current neck pup is a bit muddy and murky, and you do not want to add brightness to your bridge like the Yangbranes tend to do, here is your set. INFO, PRICING AND ORDER HERE
4. Metalbranes -- Hot A5 Standard
The hot vintage set, 8.5K neck/9.1K bridge. More for classic rock vs vintage tones. More energy to push more easily into overdrive, heavier tones, and versatile! Yeah, these pickups great for metal too. INFO, PRICING AND ORDER HERE
5. Earthbranes -- Vintage P.A.F.
7.6K neck/8.4K bridge. Now we get to my most popular set. Vintage tone with a more organic woody tone in mind. These are the ones you put in your number one. Hand selected individually sand cast magnets and available vintage correct covers. INFO, PRICING AND ORDER HERE
6. Goldbranes -- For Les Paul Customs
7.6K neck/8.0 middle/8.4K bridge. 24 karat gold plated. In two or three pickup sets. Just like vintage Les Paul Customs, the middle pickup has the magnet flipped for that airy thin tone. INFO, PRICING AND ORDER HERE
7. Ben-Wabranes -- Customers Requested!
7.6K neck/9.1K bridge. The most "vibrant" of the SKATTERBRANE line. Developed from customer requests. You want it all? INFO, PRICING AND ORDER HERE
8. Jazzbranes -- AlNiCu 3 Smooth Dynamics.
Symmetrical winds. 7.4K neck/7.9K bridge. Jazzy, but not just for jazz. The Jazzbranes are hand wound to give a smooth jazz vibe, and are very dynamic pickups, their custom handwound design allows you to go from clean to overdrive with your right hand technique. (or left hand, as the case may be) INFO, PRICING AND ORDER HERE
9. T-Shawbranes -- AlNiCo 5
Symmetrical winds. Looking for that Norlin 70s and early 80s tone? Here is my interpretation of the T-Tops and the Shaw reissue P.A.F.s of that period. 7.3K neck/7.5K bridge makes these dry and woody, a bit thin, but very articulate INFO, PRICING AND ORDER HERE
10. Firebranes -- P90s
7.7K neck/8.6K bridge. For the vintage P90 tone purists. Be careful they burn! INFO, PRICING AND ORDER HERE
11. Windbrane
The Minibranes, or Wind (not wind) Branes. More in the spirit tonally of the late 50s and early 60s Epiphone P.A.F minis, with 7.1K neck and 7.7K bridge. Available in chrome only. INFO, PRICING AND ORDER HERE
