Brooks Thread

BTL · November 19, 2025, 12:27:19 PM

Quote from: Basvarken on November 17, 2025, 12:11:31 AMYes it is. I hope to find a material that gives a smoother and shinier result. But for now this is fine.

Nice! If it's HP MultiJet Fusion, it's pretty tough to beat until you're ready to spend the money on an injection mold. Protolabs has the best pricing I could find the last time I had parts fabricated. Will you be selling these as aftermarket parts?

Basvarken · November 19, 2025, 12:49:23 PM

Yes, I hope to be able to sell them.
The prototype is a drop-in replacement.

I hope to use them in some new Brooks bass guitars.
As well as selling them for anyone who wants to put them into their bass or build.

At the moment I'm looking for chrome 6-32 UNC screws that are 3cm long (1 1/4 inch).
So if any of you guys know a source, preferably in Europe, that would be super.

Grog · November 19, 2025, 01:44:16 PM

Are you planning on having the chrome surrounds made also?

Basvarken · November 19, 2025, 01:54:37 PM

Yes. I have a vector drawing ready to send to a laser cutting service to make a small batch out of 0.8 mm copper sheet. And then have them chrome plated.

Alanko · November 20, 2025, 02:01:15 AM

Quote from: Basvarken on November 18, 2025, 09:34:27 AMI think that would damage the embossed logo...

I've seen good results with fine detail preserved on small figurines. I think they had used acetone fumes on ABS plastic.

In saying that, many of your designs span retro and modern aesthetics so matt-finish pickups wouldn't look out of place.

amptech · November 20, 2025, 03:59:04 AM

Quote from: Basvarken on November 19, 2025, 12:49:23 PMAt the moment I'm looking for chrome 6-32 UNC screws that are 3cm long (1 1/4 inch).
So if any of you guys know a source, preferably in Europe, that would be super.

I have used a guy in the UK that calls his company 'the screw guy' when looking for hard to find slot screws.
He was the only one I found with correct pickguard screws for old Höfners, for example.
I believe he specializes on wood screws, but he has a lot of knowledge and probably a lot of contacts. I kept his business card somewhere, with the slogan 'need a good screw?'.... Not sure if the company name should be googeled, unless you want spam

Let me check..

Basvarken · November 20, 2025, 04:09:09 AM

Unfortunately UK is no longer part of European Union. So buying something as simple as a bunch of screws has become a bit of a headache.

But if all other options fail, this may be the way to go.

BTL · November 21, 2025, 04:51:45 PM

Are you opposed to stainless steel machine screws? That's all I use and they look just fine with chrome.

Basvarken · November 22, 2025, 11:29:18 AM

That's basically the only option I have. And I have decided to accept it.
Still pretty hard to find within the EU. I have found a source in the UK and maybe it makes sense to have Gemini buy them and just include them with the pickup, since they are in Wales (UK)

BTL · November 22, 2025, 04:04:27 PM

Maybe have Gemini throw in a bag of 100 machine screws for your parts bin with your next pickup order. Win/win.

Does this pickup require a custom wiring harness with a transformer, or can it use standard wiring?

I'd love to offer it as an option.

Basvarken · November 23, 2025, 02:28:30 AM

The pickup has eight leads that have to be connected. So no, you can just use it as a drop-in replacement of say a P-bass.

I am contemplating on including an impedance transformer. But not a complete pre soldered wiring harness.

But I will offer a wiring diagram with each pickup.

BTL · November 23, 2025, 06:17:58 AM

I'm very interested to see what's involved. If there is a "simplified" way to wire these up, it might work for me. However, my control routs are Tele/Hotdog-style, so space is limited.

Grog · November 23, 2025, 08:21:39 AM

Would it be practical to make a "Balanced" version of this pickup. Add an extra connection like on the Les Paul Signature pickup that can either be used or not?

Basvarken · November 23, 2025, 08:36:00 AM

Quote from: BTL on November 23, 2025, 06:17:58 AMI'm very interested to see what's involved. If there is a "simplified" way to wire these up, it might work for me. However, my control routs are Tele/Hotdog-style, so space is limited.

You can always choose to only use just one coil tap. Then it's just the same as any humbucker . Except for the impedance.

I did that on this bass. I just used the last coil tap with full windings on both pickups.

Basvarken · November 23, 2025, 08:53:01 AM

Quote from: Grog on November 23, 2025, 08:21:39 AMWould it be practical to make a "Balanced" version of this pickup. Add an extra connection like on the Les Paul Signature pickup that can either be used or not?

I'm going to leave that up to the customer. So many options with this pickup.
But keep in mind that this is nothing like the pickup on the Jack Casady Signature bass. That pickup has only three leads. The built-in step impedance transformer in the JCS allows for the three choices on the rotary switch.

Whereas my pickup is based on the big black oval pickup for the Les Paul Bass / Triumph. With 8 leads coming out and three actual coil taps on the pickup itself. It is already balanced and can be used straight into a recording desk.