With modern coil winding machines the winding has become precise to the exact number of turns. Some machines will begin to slow down as the counter nears the total number of turns. Some machines break at exactly the number of turns and often the bobbin will spin for a few more turns. The modern machines also have a precision pitch control or the amount of turns per layer left to right combined with precision tension devices. Some machines will allow the magnet wire to end on the left or right side of the bobbin to allow easier connection to the eyelets.

The good old fashioned hand winders also allow you to do special layering and have control over the tension of the magnet wire as it is being wound onto the bobbin. Some machines use a rubberband from the motor to the counter that counts the turns but often the rubber bands can slip and cause coils to have with various turns. This worked great for the ladies that wound the coils for Fender and the result were many incredible sounding pickups. Modern machines are great for production and consistency but hand winding to me produces the best sounding pickups. Who can argue with success when you listen to Roy Buchanan, Jeff Beck in the Yardbirds, The Ventures, Jimmy Bryant, Roy Lanham, Albert Collins and many other early legends with hand wound pickups.