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Post subject: I have a dead pickup!!
Posted: Wed Jan 07, 2009 7:03 pm
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I recently purchased a used 2003 MIM Strat with SSS pups. It seems the neck pickup is dead, no output at all in the mid/neck position or neck position on the 5 way switch. The mid and bridge pup work as well as the vol and tone controls, all work fine. All the solder joints look good, and I cleaned all the pots and switch with tuner cleaner/lube with no change. I visually inspected the pickup to look for loose/broken copper windings or leads, but found none.
My question is what are the steps to check the pickup to see if it is really dead. I can do most work on my guitars, but electronics are not my strong suit. Any help would be appreciated

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Posted: Thu Jan 08, 2009 7:58 am
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It could have been wired wrong when a previous owner tried to modify it. Try the suggestions from this link regarding if wires are wired correctly and use a voltmeter to check :

http://www.projectguitar.com/tut/pickupwiring.htm

Good luck!

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Posted: Thu Jan 08, 2009 10:01 am
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Good advice Mike. I hope you get it sorted out Paisley Strat! Let us know , if you will, what the problem was! :wink:


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Posted: Wed Jan 14, 2009 7:24 pm
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I went out and bought a new digital multi-meter and did some testing. My bridge pickups read 6.10k, my middle pup read 5.76k, and my neck pup read 0.0! Oh no!! Oh yes. It looks like it is dead, so I removed it and ordered a GFS Alnico V unit at 5.55k as a stop gap replacement until I can afford a set of Fender pickups. I am looking at the Fat 50's, Vintage noiseless or possibly some Duncans. I have to do some more research. I am trying to keep that 50's vintage tone, so I don't want anything hot or overwound.

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Posted: Wed Jan 14, 2009 8:01 pm
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paisley strat wrote:
I went out and bought a new digital multi-meter and did some testing. My bridge pickups read 6.10k, my middle pup read 5.76k, and my neck pup read 0.0!


did you check it at the solder points on the pickup itself?

If it reads 0 there, try to remove some of the coating from the thin wires coming off of the solder points and measure there. There's a good chance that all you have is a cold solder joint at one of the eyelets.

An easy fix. And easy on the wallet too.

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Posted: Thu Jan 15, 2009 9:02 am
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I completely removed the neck pickup from the pickguard. It still reads 0.0k. I can't see any windings that are loose or stray, so I am not sure what is up with it. The wire leads are soldered correctly at the bobbin holes, so why it doesn't work is a mystery. Not a big deal, I wanted to upgrade eventually anyway. It will either be Fender or Duncan,or Frahlin if I get some unexpected $$$.

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Posted: Fri Jan 23, 2009 9:04 pm
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Well, I installed the GFS Alnico staggered unit in my Strat and it sounds pretty good for an inexpensive pup. I was dissappointed becuz the Guitarfetish site said the pickup would test at 5.55k, and it only measured 5.12k!! It sounds okay, cuz I am not looking for a hot pickup, but it does have kinda low output. It matches the vibe of the guitar, and the other stock units well tho. I guess that is what you get for $18!! Not a bad deal tho all in all.

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Posted: Sat Jan 24, 2009 8:28 am
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paisley strat wrote:
Well, I installed the GFS Alnico staggered unit in my Strat and it sounds pretty good for an inexpensive pup. I was dissappointed becuz the Guitarfetish site said the pickup would test at 5.55k, and it only measured 5.12k!! It sounds okay, cuz I am not looking for a hot pickup, but it does have kinda low output. It matches the vibe of the guitar, and the other stock units well tho. I guess that is what you get for $18!! Not a bad deal tho all in all.


It might not look right on a meter, but I am not really sure how much of a noticeable affect .43k ohm is on the overall sound of the pickup.

Here's an interesting quote I found on another forum about the subject:
Measured pickup resistance doesn't really mean all that much - what matters most is the pup design, materials and inductance.

A quote from Bill Lawrence - "Tone and output mainly depend on the relation between inductance, magnetic strength and the efficiency of the pickup, as well as the relation between the inductance of the pickup and the capacitance of the cable."

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Post subject:
Posted: Sat Jan 24, 2009 12:43 pm
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paisley strat wrote:
I was dissappointed becuz the Guitarfetish site said the pickup would test at 5.55k, and it only measured 5.12k!! It sounds okay, cuz I am not looking for a hot pickup, but it does have kinda low output.


Oh, that is a low DCR.

Want to get rid of that dead pickup? :)

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Post subject:
Posted: Sat Feb 07, 2009 7:46 pm
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I have had pup covers cut the wire off the coil on the way to the eyelet. If you look really closely, maybe you can see if the wire got pinched. If this is the case, carefully using and exacto knife, scrape some of the insulation off the pickup wire, then lay another piece of wire on it soldering from the wire to the eyelet.


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