Hello all.
My 2009 Am Std Strat requires a fair bit lower amp gain settings than does my 1972 SG Deluxe for about the same loudness. On the SG a single note dies away much faster than the same note on the Strat. I was wondering if any degradation has taken place with the Gibson Humbuckers over the years ie perhaps loss of magnetism in the pole pieces or maybe Humbuckers have an inherently lower output? I do find that the SG performance is a bit lacklustre.
My experience with older style magnetic material is that a gradual loss of magnetism is inevitable.
Pickup Gurus what say you?
Regards.

2009 Am Std Strat.
1972 SG Deluxe.
1981 ProReverb
1974 SG System Amp.

Actually, humbuckers should have HIGHER output than a single coil.

Now, your SCs on the Strat could be wound hotter, so they have higher output, or the pickups could be closer, or there could be bad wiring somewhere in the SG (unlikely), or many other things....

I'm not sure if magnetic deterioration can take place on a pickup, but I don't see why it couldn't.

_________________
Be polite, be professional, but have a plan to kill everybody you meet - Maj. Gen. James Mattis, USMC

Any magnet that gets exposed to high electromagnetic fields can be subject to deterioration. A degauss or demagnetizer uses that theory to work it's magic. I would suppose that a guitar could be degaussed somewhat if exposed to such high electromagnetic fields. So it's possible. I don't think magnets "wear out" as such without outside influences.

_________________
You're only as strong as
the drinks you pour,
the tables you dance on,
and the friends you roll with.

Yeah, that would definitely be a case of the magnet losing its charge over time. I know one can remagnetize a pickup, I just don't know how >_>

_________________
I traded my car in for a microphone.