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Post subject: Non-working Vintage Pickup question
Posted: Tue Jul 19, 2011 3:54 am
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Hello,

I am hoping you all can help me out. I have a 1961 Fender Custom Esquire. It was give to me by my uncle and he purchased it in 1976. When he got it, the original owner had already made modifications to it (so sad). That being said, when it was given to me, I had it restored back to what it should look like. In the restoration, I found out that the original pickup was not working (confirmed by testing with voltmeter). My question is: Is there any value in this non-working pickup? Is it worth anything to anyone in this state? Should I consider having it re-wound and would that make it any more valuable or is it simply "trash" as this point and I shouldn't worry about it?

Thanks in advance for your help.

Brian


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Post subject: Re: Non-working Vintage Pickup question
Posted: Tue Jul 19, 2011 7:44 am
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If you want to play the guitar (and you should), you have two options:

1. Replace the pickup with a reproduction
2. Have it rewound to original spec.

I vote for #2. 8)

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Last edited by bluesky636 on Tue Jul 19, 2011 3:10 pm, edited 1 time in total.

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Post subject: Re: Non-working Vintage Pickup question
Posted: Tue Jul 19, 2011 8:20 am
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bluesky636 wrote:
If you want to play the guitar (and you should), yo uhave two options:

1. Replace the pickup with a reproduction
2. Have it rewound to original spec.

I vote for #2. 8)


+1!

Contact Lindy Fralin for a quality rewind.

Best of luck, HTH

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: Non-working Vintage Pickup question
Posted: Tue Jul 19, 2011 8:54 am
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Thanks for the replies. I should have also mentioned that the guitar does already have a pick up installed and is playable. I was more interested in the value of the original pickup and would the value decrease if I had it re wound. I am not sure that I need two pickups for a one pickup guitar so if I were to sell one, would the value go down greatly if it was re wound? I know value is in the eye of the collector, but just trying to get some thoughts from the experts here.

Thanks again
Brian


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Post subject: Re: Non-working Vintage Pickup question
Posted: Tue Jul 19, 2011 11:32 am
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It depends upon many factors.

What pickup is currently installed in the guitar, and how does it sound?

An original Esquire pickup in serviceable condition might be worth $200 -- a re-wind, somewhat less.

Would the guitar command more at re-sale time with the original pickup?

Certainly.

That said, I'd have every confidence that a Fralin restoration (or Curtis Novak for that matter) would sound as close to the original tone as humanly possible.

Food for thought......best of luck and HTH.

Arjay

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"Here's why reliability is job one: A great sounding amp that breaks down goes from being a favorite piece of gear to a useless piece of crap in less time than it takes to read this sentence." -- BRUCE ZINKY


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Post subject: Re: Non-working Vintage Pickup question
Posted: Tue Jul 19, 2011 3:09 pm
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Retroverbial wrote:
bluesky636 wrote:
If you want to play the guitar (and you should), yo uhave two options:

1. Replace the pickup with a reproduction
2. Have it rewound to original spec.

I vote for #2. 8)


+1!

Contact Lindy Fralin for a quality rewind.

Best of luck, HTH

Arjay


I couldn't remember who it was had been recommended here.

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Post subject: Re: Non-working Vintage Pickup question
Posted: Tue Jul 19, 2011 3:13 pm
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Retroverbial wrote:
It depends upon many factors.

What pickup is currently installed in the guitar, and how does it sound?

An original Esquire pickup in serviceable condition might be worth $200 -- a re-wind, somewhat less.

Would the guitar command more at re-sale time with the original pickup?

Certainly.

That said, I'd have every confidence that a Fralin restoration (or Curtis Novak for that matter) would sound as close to the original tone as humanly possible.

Food for thought......best of luck and HTH.

Arjay


OP said the pickup did not work. Seems to me a rewound, working original pickup would be worth more than a non-working original pickup. Unless you are intending to use it as a paperweight. :lol:

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Post subject: Re: Non-working Vintage Pickup question
Posted: Tue Jul 19, 2011 3:51 pm
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FWIW, it could be something as simple as one of the leads to the eyelet is broken where oftentimes, it could easily be reattached.

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Post subject: Re: Non-working Vintage Pickup question
Posted: Fri Jul 29, 2011 1:33 am
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If your pickup is the original transducer taken out of your Fender guitar------have it restored as your first option----if it cannot be saved, then have it professionally rewound.I have been restoring pickups since 1966-----Now at the age of 60, I have rebuilt or rewound hundreds of pickups------I am also a Fender Gold Level repair and warranty station-------You may call me during the day----Central Time-----My name is Skip Goez----phone:----314-647-1211-------If your pickup just cannot be restored, then you will have to rewind----and as always-----the more accurate the repair, the less devaluation-------Thanks-----S


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Post subject: Re: Non-working Vintage Pickup question
Posted: Fri Jul 29, 2011 2:51 pm
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jicjac wrote:
If your pickup is the original transducer taken out of your Fender guitar------have it restored as your first option----if it cannot be saved, then have it professionally rewound.I have been restoring pickups since 1966-----Now at the age of 60, I have rebuilt or rewound hundreds of pickups------I am also a Fender Gold Level repair and warranty station-------You may call me during the day----Central Time-----My name is Skip Goez----phone:----314-647-1211-------If your pickup just cannot be restored, then you will have to rewind----and as always-----the more accurate the repair, the less devaluation-------Thanks-----S


Posts for sales or commercial services are not allowed in this forum.

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Post subject: Re: Non-working Vintage Pickup question
Posted: Fri Jul 29, 2011 10:33 pm
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Sorry about bending the rules---my intentions were not to advertise my shop or my Fender credentials-----my desire was to talk to anyone on a personal basis on the construction, the various differences on all details of Fender design construction through the years------I thought that it would be easier to explain all the variables ----which are many, by having one to one conversations on difficult problems over the phone----that way I could reach more Fender players with their pickup questions-----I apologize for not utilizing the forum's parameters in the manner of it's proper design-----I just want to help those that are in need of correct information so that when someone has an issue with their pickups, I can explain in detail the best course to resolve the problem-----from now on, I' ll use the type written word------Feel free to ask------Jicjac


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Post subject: Re: Non-working Vintage Pickup question
Posted: Fri Jul 29, 2011 11:17 pm
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Location: Natural Bridge, Virginia
jicjac wrote:
Sorry about bending the rules---my intentions were not to advertise my shop or my Fender credentials-----my desire was to talk to anyone on a personal basis on the construction, the various differences on all details of Fender design construction through the years------I thought that it would be easier to explain all the variables ----which are many, by having one to one conversations on difficult problems over the phone----that way I could reach more Fender players with their pickup questions-----I apologize for not utilizing the forum's parameters in the manner of it's proper design-----I just want to help those that are in need of correct information so that when someone has an issue with their pickups, I can explain in detail the best course to resolve the problem-----from now on, I' ll use the type written word------Feel free to ask------Jicjac


You should send the OP a PM for any further discussion.

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Post subject: Re: Non-working Vintage Pickup question
Posted: Fri Jul 29, 2011 11:31 pm
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What do you mean?----send an OP to the PM----


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Post subject: Re: Non-working Vintage Pickup question
Posted: Sat Jul 30, 2011 1:17 am
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What Bill is saying is "send the OP (original poster) a PM (private message").

Note at the bottom of any post on this forum you'll see an icon labeled as "PM". Click on it and you'll be able to transmit a confidential communiqué to whomever you chose.

HTH

Arjay

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