[Development Short Story] About the X Series

November 13, 2023

What is X Series?

When making pickups, the model number X is sometimes used, but what does it really mean?

The new series "X Series" currently under development at Nekodamari Kobo! ... No, it's a temporary model number given while we are making various prototypes and developing. This is the state before the product name, series name, and model number are decided.

Because our first priority is to "try making it", we cannot engrave or mark it until the specs are decided, but we decided to call it the X Series uniformly rather than have it become an unknown product.

The concept is decided to a certain extent before production begins, and the processing method, winding method, choice of material, etc. are fine-tuned, but since they are not official products, they are often provided to related parties as prototypes or used for experiments. They may also be sold as outlet items.

Example of production: Special material, blue

We aimed to create a pickup with a unique look. It is a coverless T-type that can be installed as is. There are pickups from various manufacturers, but we made this one with special materials, hoping to express the player's unique look and preferences. The sound specs are planned to be standard and easy to use.

It will be mainly single coils, but it is expected to be compatible with ST, TL, JB, PB, etc. We are considering whether it is possible to create P90 and humbucker specifications, including the jig and structure.

It is quite difficult to manufacture, but we plan to gradually commercialize it as soon as the winding specifications are decided. Estimated price (approximately 25,000 yen)

Production example Special material White?

Like the blue one, this one is made from special materials and is made with the aim of creating a pickup with a unique look. It is a coverless type and can be installed as is.

Although it is described as white, it is not simply white but has a unique color and pattern.

Like the blue model, the sound specs are planned to be easy-to-use standard specifications.

This is also quite difficult to manufacture, but we plan to commercialize it as soon as the winding specifications are decided. Estimated price (approximately 25,000 yen)

Production example: Special…? Material: Transparent

I'm not sure if it can be called a special material, but it's a transparent pickup.

This is also more difficult to make than a regular pickup.

Taking advantage of the specifications that allow the internal copper wire to be seen through, we made it in green color. In order to maintain transparency, we plan to make it naked without potting. It will be weak against howling, but I think many people will like the tone.

There are so many possible configurations that I can't yet imagine what it will look like as a product... I think it has a unique feel, so I hope to add more in the future.

Production example XX material

I won't say what it is, but it's a pickup made of special material.

Pickup covers of this style are sometimes used on show models of high-end guitars that cost around 1 million yen.

This is also difficult to produce... There are still some hurdles to overcome before it can be commercialized, but if we can overcome them as planned, the planned price will be in the 30,000 yen range. We hope to be able to supply this as a pickup with a high-end taste.

Compared to conventional manufacturing methods, it is possible to take measures against cracks and deformations, and there is hope, but the difficulties lie in the fact that there are large individual differences in the material and it is difficult to process.

A quick measurement revealed that the sound quality differs depending on the material, which is a complex issue... There are still many things that are undecided, such as whether we will start with a specific type and then roll out the product in order, but we are making progress little by little.

Example of Active Manufacturing Structure

We are currently developing a pickup product that utilizes what is known as additive manufacturing technology.

The traditional structure of a pickup is generally one made by assembling plastic molded parts or board materials, but we hope to utilize the recent developments in 3D printing technology in pickups.

Since it is possible to design structures that cannot be produced by molding or cutting, we are currently developing it with the aim of adopting it in a new series of entry-level models. Prototypes are being completed.

The idea is to start by replacing existing resin moldings, and then gradually develop it into a standard product that incorporates structural benefits.

Specifically, we plan to incorporate effects that can only be achieved by hand winding, such as anti-touch noise processing and special coil shapes, into the design, and ultimately aim to be able to produce it for general use.

This is a field with a fairly wide range of possibilities, so we are working on it little by little.

Planned production Old series

We have inherited a pickup manufacturing machine that has over 50 years of history, and we are currently planning to develop an old series using the old recipes that have been produced on that machine.

This is a series that faithfully produces pickups that are now called Japan Vintage, and we are planning two patterns of a series that improves noise resistance in the Nekodamari Kobo style.

There aren't that many varieties, but they all have a classic look.

Finally, if you have any questions, please contact us

Although this has become a long article, I will use it as a development anecdote about the X series (model under development). Detailed specifications will be released at the time of release, so I would be very happy if you could show your interest.

Also, regarding the pickup series described here, we may be able to produce some items even before they are commercialized, so if there is anything you are interested in, please feel free to contact us using the form below.

Nekodamari Kobo Co., Ltd.

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