Examing old pickups

[itar]

Still checking about that old JB J pickup

I'm wondering, how can I examine and check an old pickup for being undamaged and uncorrupted? What things can I look for and test before its fixed on my guitar to find out that its no good?

 

[Jester700]

Re: Examing old pickups

Use a multimeter to see if each coil gives a DC resistance of around 8kOhms. Tap lightly on the poles of each coil while it's touched to the leads of your cable and plugged into your amp - see if there's noise. Or even get it close to vibrating strings and see if it picks up!

 

[itar]

Re: Examing old pickups

Thanks for the reply Jester.
I'm more concerned about small defects rather than a dead pickup.
Do pickups at all tend to reduce in quality after say 10-15 years after production? Does anything but rusted poles regulary happens to pickups?

and of course I'm talking about Hi-Fi Seymour Duncan ones.

 

[Imp]

Re: Examing old pickups

naa, not noticably man - some prefer aged magnets! the antiquities have pre-aged ones..

and i have a double-cream jazz from before they were called jazzes, it sounds awesome you got nothing to worry about man

tom