OK, I'm REALLY stuck

[Jonny C]

A while ago I posted a question concerning my neck seth which sounded as though the coils had been split (despite only single conductor wiring). I was told the best idea was to check out the pickup to see if any of the internal wires had shorted to ground etc.

Well, I tried that and it seems soldered/insulated fine - just like the one in the bridge position. However, when I measured the resistance of each humbucker the neck one read infinite (as opposed to the bridge's ~8 ohms). Not good.

I've checked for continuity in the signal wire from the pickup to the pot and that's OK. I just can't figure out how I'm getting any signal coming from the pickup if there were to be a broken lead somewhere inside.

Help!

 

[jeremy]

when you measured the wires, were they not connected to anything else? sounds like you may have a problem with the winding. is this a new pup?

 

[Jonny C]

I've just had another look, and it seems as though it definitely is only the one coil in the circuit. I checked the resistance through the first coil and it registered as ~3.5 ohms, and the other was infinite. There must actually be some broken lead inside the coil.

So the question is, how do I fix it?

 

[Jonny C]

P.S. Yes, this is a new pup!

 

[Lewguitar]

This is a rewrite of my original post...thanks to Jeremy!

OK...remove the pickup and measure it unsoldered from anything in your guitar. It should measure around 7.2K or so if it's OK. If it measures about 3.5K you are only using one coil. I'd unwrap the black tape around the pickup and gain access to the red and white wires that should be soldered together. Put one test probe on the red and white connection and one test probe to the center wire of the shielded cable. You should get about 3.5K. Now do the same thing but measure from the red & white connection to the the braided shield of the cable. You should get about 3.5K again. If you don't, you've got a short or open coil. Lew

 

[jeremy]

most seths are single cond, im guessing you havent had your coffee yet lew or maybe i havent...
jonny it sounds like one of the coils has a break in it, not easy to fix. you said its a new pup so id bring it back and get a new one.

 

[Jonny C]

Assuming I send back to SD, how much will I have to pay? I've had it about 4 months and I got it through a mail order company (I live in the UK). I worried that because now I've tampered with it they'll be more inclined to charge a hefty sum to fix it. I'm only a student!!

 

[Lewguitar]

most seths are single cond, im guessing you havent had your coffee yet lew or maybe i havent...
jonny it sounds like one of the coils has a break in it, not easy to fix. you said its a new pup so id bring it back and get a new one.

Sorry about that! I was just helping a guy with problems with a 4 conductor Pearly Gates and had 4 conductor cable on my mind. Got the two pickups confused. Way off base on my response about the Seth Lovers...I'll re-write the post.

Lew

 

[jeremy]

oh thats no fun!

i always get a kick out of when someone that knows their stuff gives a weird answer, ive done it a few times. misread the first post and given an answer from left field. me- "oh just connect the red and white wires", responce "there is a blue and white wire, thats it" and the threads title is FENDER SINGLE COIL HAS LOW OUTPUT

 

[Lewguitar]

oh thats no fun!

i always get a kick out of when someone that knows their stuff gives a weird answer, ive done it a few times. misread the first post and given an answer from left field. me- "oh just connect the red and white wires", responce "there is a blue and white wire, thats it" and the threads title is FENDER SINGLE COIL HAS LOW OUTPUT

At least the folks on this board are more forgiving than the folks on SOME boards! Thanks Jeremy for catching that misinformation. Did I get it right the second time around? Lew

 

[jeremy]

 

[Jonny C]

Just thought I'd let you know...

I re-soldered all the joints in the pickup, and now it works! I think it was the coil that went to ground that had the bad connection (despite it appearing OK on inspection).

Hurrah! Now I won't have to send it to seymour duncan after all!

Thanks for your help guys.