My Latest Build: Hello Alligator!

[lbpesq]

Since I been stuck at home for the last month I've had time to work on my Alligator replica.  It's now almost finished - just a couple of electronic gremlins I need to address.  Plugged it into an amp today - the first time I've heard the pickups (which I built and wound to vintage Fender specs).  I’m quite pleased with how it came out.

Bill, tgo

[pauldo]

I like it Bill. It has a vintage custom vibe to it. 

Tell us more about the winding.  Is there a fixture / jig that you used or just clamp that bugger in a small vise and start twisting wire off a spool?

[edwin]

Looks great! I can't wait to hear some clips!

[lbpesq]

I have a Shatten winding machine.   It spins and counts as you hand feed it and hand scatter the winds as it spins.  For this build I used Alnico V pole pieces with a vintage bevel and staggered according to 50’s Fender Strat specs.  I used 42 gauge Heavy Formvar copper wire and did about 8000 winds per pickup.   They measure right at 5.9-6k, as they should.  In addition, like Jerry’s, I shielded the inside of the pickup covers and ran a connection to ground for each.  According to my research, this was done so that the strings didn’t need to be grounded and, as a result, no worry about electric shocks.  The first tone control, which traditionally controls the neck pickup, employs a dual pot like Jerry’s that also adjusts tone for the bridge pickup.  The second tone control adjusts the middle pickup and also has a push/pull function that bypasses the Blaster circuit when pulled up.  That is my own mod.

Bill, tgo

[pauldo]

Wow.
Was this your first journey into winding?

[lbpesq]

I’ve wound a couple dozen or so pickups over the last year.   I wasted A LOT of wire, but I seem to be improving as I go.  I’m thinking about trying some 1500-2000 wind low impedance PUs to use with an on-board preamp.

Bill, tgo

[edwardofhuncote]

In, with a grin. 

[rv_bass]

Cool guitar, Bill.  Cool that you make your own pickups too, certainly a custom instrument!

[paulman]

I had no idea what a Footmans Loop was, or that Alligator had one.


Thanks for the knowledge, and freaking great build!! 

[lbpesq]

I had no idea what a Footmans Loop was, or that Alligator had one.


Thanks for the knowledge, and freaking great build!! 

Roger, you must hang out over at rukind too?


One part I’ve never seen on an Alligator replica that I’m particularly proud of is the tremolo cavity cover plate on back.   I fabricated it from a piece of Swamp Ask using my newly acquired BladeRunner X2 portable table saw and Dremel routing table.  Interestingly, I had never seen the back of Alligator until the pics from the recent Bonham’s auction.

Bill, tgo

[mario_farufyno]

How cool is making your own PUs? Great, Bill!

[lbpesq]

Well, I FINALLY finished the Alligator replica.    Once I had it all together, I realized that the brass saddles were too low.   I spent months looking at eBay/reverb/craigslist searching for a new bridge, but found nothing that wasn’t crazy expensive.   I spoke with Mica, but Alembic doesn’t make these saddles anymore and would charge a lot to do them as a custom job (and who knows how long it would take).  So I bought some brass stock, some screw hole taps, and taught myself how to fashion brass bridge saddles and tap them for the adjustment screw!   I’ve put it up for sale in my reverb store with lots of build info and pics.   I though some around here might want to check it out.  Of course, if anyone around here was interested in purchasing, I’d give a significant discount.  Here’s a link to the reverb listing: 

https://reverb.com/item/37204718-jerry-garcia-alligator-guitar-2020-natural

Bill, tgo

[pauldo]

Now you need to add to you tag... stm (self taught machinist)! 


Looks great, bet it sounds even greater-er.

[cozmik_cowboy]

Most excellent!

Peter

[lbpesq]

Twenty minutes after I listed it on reverb I received a pretty good offer.  While I was considering it, about 1/2 hour after posting, someone else bought it for full price!  I'm thinking maybe I should get some brass channel and start making bridges.

Bill, tgo