476. How strong does a magnetic field have to be in a pickup?
This is very debatable as I like using various grades of Alnico and Ceramic magnets. I often calibrate my Alnico magnets and prefer weaker magnets for the tone I’m they give. I use strong Ceramic to weak Alnico’s for many models and applications. I don’t like using the rare earth magnets as they have more than a pickups needs. Using fully charged or magnetized Alnico magnets has made the Fender guitar sound brighter than earlier models as the quality of the magnets today are made to a higher standard. I really like the older pickups with older magnets gave the instrument a distant sound and tone. I bet that remagnetizing any old pickup with modern magnetizers will change the sound of the pickup. Doc Kauffman who worked with Leo Fender in the beginning showed me a magnetizers they used with two large coils and how they hooked it up to an old 6 volt car battery. He said, as they used the battery “it would become weak and hardly magnetize the magnet slugs and would have to be charged again overnight.” Those early Fender pickups sure did sound great!
477. Where can I locate pickup builder Bill Lawrence?
His current company is called William Lawrence Design Corp. and he can be located at: William Lawrence Design Corp., 217 S. Third St., Coopersburg, PA 18036.
Phone: 610-282-3861
Fax: 610-282-3890
Web: http://www.billlawrence.com
478. Where can I locate pickup builder Joe Barden?
Joe can be located at: Joe Barden Pickups, P.O. Box 1254, Vienna, VA 22183
Phone: 703-938-8638
479. Where can I locate pickup builder DiMarzio?
They can be located at: DiMarzio, Inc. 1388 Richmond Terrace, Staten Island, NY 10310. Contact Steve Blucher.
Phone: 718-981-9286
Fax: 718-720-5296
480. Where can I locate pickup builder EMG?
A great contact is Hap Kuffner, Doug Marhoffer or Rob Turner and they are at: EMG, Inc., P.O. Box 4394, Santa Rosa, CA 95402
Phone: 707-525-9941
Fax: 707-575-7046
Web: http://www.emginc.com
E-mail: EMGDoug@aol.com
481. Where can I locate pickup builder ESP?
In California contact Matt Masciandaro at: ESP Guitar Co. Inc. 1536 N. Highland Ave., Hollywood, CA 90028
Phone: 213-969-0877
Fax: 213-969-9335
Web: http://www.espguitars.com
482. Where can I locate guitar and pickup builder Fender?
Fender has offices in Arizona and building in California. For further information, they can be reached at: Fender Musical Instruments Corp. 7975 N. Hayden Road, Scottsdale, AZ 85258
Phone: 602-596-7143
483. Where can I locate guitar and pickup builder Gibson?
Gibson Guitars has several locations and they can be reached at: Gibson Guitar Corp. 1818 Elm Hill Pike, Nashville, TN 37210-3781
Phone: 615-871-4500
Fax: 615-885-6742
Web: http://www.gibson.com
Gibson Custom, Art & Historic Shop
This great shop is run by Mike McGuire, Rick Gembar and Terry Ryan. They can be contacted at: Gibson Custom Shop, 657 Massman Drive, Nashville, TN 37210
Phone: 615-871-4500
Fax: 615-391-2179
484. Where can I locate guitar builder Gretsch?
They can be located at the Fred Gretsch Company, P.O. Box 2468, Savannah, GA 31402
Phone: 912-748-1101
Fax: 912-748-1106
485. Where can I locate guitar builder Guild?
Guild Guitars is now owned by the Fender Company and they can be contacted at: Fender Musical Instruments Corp. 7975 N. Hayden Road, Scottsdale, AZ 85258
Phone: 602-596-7143
486. Where can I locate pickup builder Kent Armstrong?
American pickup builder living in England and the son of guitar designer Dan Armstrong. He can be located at: Kent Armstrong, Hazeldene, Nickley Wood Road, Shadoxhurst, Near Ashford, Kent, England TN26 1LZ
Phone & Fax: 01144-233-732527
487. Where can I locate pickup builder Lace Sensors?
They can be located at: Actodyne General Inc., 5561 Engineer Drive, Huntington Beach, CA 92649
Phone: 714-898-2776
Fax: 714-893-1045
E-mail: info@agi-lace.com
Web: http://www.agi-lace.com
488. Where can I locate guitar and pickup builder G & L?
They can be located at: G & L, 5381 Production Drive, Huntington Beach, CA 92649
Phone: 714-897-6766
Fax: 714-896-0736
Web: http://www.glguitars.com
489. Where can I locate pickup builder Lindy Fralin?
Lindy is a good friend and a great player, he can be located at: Lindy Fralin Pickups, 3415 Floyd Ave., Richmond, VA. 23221
Phone: 804-358-2699
Fax: 804-358-3431
490. Where can I locate pickup builder Bartolini?
Bill has been making a great number of pickups for years and he can be reached at: Bartolini Pickups, 2133 Research Drive, Suite 16, Livermore, CA 94550
Phone: 510-443-1037
Fax: 510-449-7692
491. Where can I locate pickup builder Ray Butts?
Ray worked with Chet Atkins in designing the Gretsch Filtertron pickups. Ray can be contacted through Butt’s Realty, 3918 N. Dickerson Rd., Nashville, TN 37207
Phone: 615-865-4676
492. Where can I locate pickup builder Dean Markley?
They can be located at: Dean Markley, 3350 Scott Blvd. # 45, Santa Clara, CA 95054
Phone: 408-988-2456
Fax: 408-988-0441
493. Where can I locate Rio Grande pickups?
They can be located at: Rio Grande Pickups, 3526 East T. C. Jester, Houston, TX 77018
Phone: 713-957-0470
Fax: 713-957-3316
E-mail: robintx@io.com
Web: http://www.io.com/~robintx
494. Where can I locate pickup winder Aero Instruments?
They are at: Aero Instruments, 315 First St. # 149, Encinitas, CA 92024-3528
Phone: 760-942-1185
Fax: 760-942-1186
495. Where can I locate VooDoo pickups?
They can be located through: Wood ‘N’ Guitars, P.O. Box 328, Honesdale, PA 18431
Phone: 717-253-1620
Fax: 717-253-4941
496. Where can I locate pickup builder Tom Holmes?
Tom has made several custom guitars and pickups. You can write to him at: Tom Holmes, P.O. Box 414, Joelton, TN 37080
497. Where can I locate pickup builder W. L. VanZant?
Mr. W.L. VanZant passed away in February of this year. While talking to family friend Steve Bounds who own’s Steve’s Guitar in Marshall, Texas, Steve said Mr. VanZant’s nephew will continue making pickups. They can be contacted at:
Phone: 214-476-8844
498. Where can I locate pickup builder Tom Doyle?
Tom has worked with Les Paul and can be located through Brian Moore Guitars: Tom Doyle c/o Brian Moore Guitars, Route 22, Brewster, NY 10509
Phone: 914-279-4142
Fax: 914-279-5477
E-mail: bmcguitars@aol.com
Web: http://www.bmcguitars.com
499. What are pickup patents?
For patent and trademark information a qualified patent attorney should be used for legal consultation. A pickup patent or any other patent is a document issued by the U.S. Patent and Trademark office. It grants the monopoly on a pickup or product for a designated amount of time for use and development of the invention. Regarding patents, it would be wise to have an international patent to protect your design and it would be costly for a smaller company to protect as you pay the legal fees for patent protection. There are three different kinds of patent issued by the U.S. Patent office. There is the Utility Patent, Design Patent and Plant Patent.
500. Why are pickup patents needed?
A pickup patent or any other patent issued by the U.S. Patent office is given so the inventor has priority over the design. It gives you first right over a design but you still have to pay attorney fee’s for patent infringements in case someone copies your design or utility.