My pickup on my guitar is starting to rust. Should I replace it or is there something that can fix it?

_________________
Squire by Fender HSS Strat, Frontman 15g amp.
METALLICA!!!!!!!!

Exactly which pickup are we talking about here? Is it the HB on your Squier or one of it's singles?

_________________
You dig?

It is a single one.

_________________
Squire by Fender HSS Strat, Frontman 15g amp.
METALLICA!!!!!!!!

The pickup doesn't have to be replaced. You could remove the rust from the polepieces by using steel wool or a lighter grit sandpaper. The thing is, you want to totally protect the pickup itself from the shards of the steel wool or the sand as you do not want them getting into your pickup or anywhere else in or on the guitar for that matter. The easiest way is to leave the pickup in the guitar and cover it and the immediate surrounding areas with masking tape to where only the polepieces themselves are showing.

Proceed to clean the polepieces as required and then, use the sticky side of even more masking tape to blot up the errant shards or sand. Once having done all this good stuff, you can use a thin coat of clear acrylic nail polish to preserve the polepieces. Don't worry, a thin drop will be acoustically invisible and not affect form, fit or function of your pickups. Once the polish has dried, remove the rest of the protecting tape.

You can also substitute wax but it is infinitely more involved, messy and the long term results aren't anywhere near as effective.

Granted, in time the nail polish will begin to wear away and then, you again, take whatever appropriate action as necessary, be it a polepiece cleaning or merely a recoating per the above.

It is indeed, a good thing to keep the polepieces clean as the rust will inhibit conductivity between the magnet and the string.

_________________
You dig?

Some people like it when their metal parts start to rust. It does give it a vintage look.

_________________
"My mind is a raging torrent, flooded with rivulets of thought cascading into a waterfall of creative alternatives." Blazing Saddles...