Hi guys,

I played with my old strat over the weekend and I notice something very weird. I don't remember having that problem before but it's been 5 years since I used my old baby so I don't know if I had that problem or not before.

It's so weird, I hear sound if I hit the pickguard, the volume or the tones controls with my pick and it's quite lound too. It's not noise, it's the sound of the pick. The same thing append if I tap on the pickguard with my finger. This is too sensitive, it's not usable.

Could it be a bad connection or something wrong with the ceramic inside? Any help will be very appreciate because I love the sound of that guitar, but it's too sensitive to be use right now.

Thanks,
StratQC

The CBS-era Strats were notorious for microphonic pickups due to the fact that they changed to a different type of coil wire, altered the method of winding it on the bobbin, and did not properly wax-pot the completed pickups. Aging compounds these issues but re-potting the pickups may provide some relief.

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

Sounds like the pickups are microphonic. A good luthier might be able to help you fix the problem.

I wish that I could find a '71 Strat. It's the year I was born. I had a '77, but sold it to my best friend. kind of wish I hadn't.

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1975 Sunburst Stratocaster rosewood finger board
1979 Stratocaster with roseowood finder board
2001 Candy Green Clapton Stratocaster
2007 Andy Summers Inspired Telecaster
2007 '51 P-Bass
2012 Taylor 110
2015 Mystic Ice Blue Deluxe Stratocaster Plus

Fortunately my 1971 Strat doesn't suffer from this. Worrying though.

Welcome.

Your problem is quite common. As has already been stated, your pickup is indeed microphonic. In your particular situation, the little bit of resin, varnish or whatever it was that CBS Fender basted on the outer coil windings of those pickups during those years tend to shrink and get brittle. Couple this with oxidization getting into the unprotected inner coil windings via the magnets. This in turn can and does dislodge the magnets and ultimately, destroy the coil.

I urgently recommend that without delay, you have the pickup fully potted ASAP by a COMPETENT tech.

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You dig?

Thank you all for your responses.

I will try to find someone to potted them asap.

I have found a good article on this subject and I might do it myself (carefully of course) if I can't find someone in my area.

Again thanks guys!
StratQc

On behalf of all, you're quite welcome. Again, don't delay!

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You dig?