The time and pick-ups...

[Metal Soul]

I have a small and stupid question...
"How does the time affect the OutPut Level, the tone of Pick-ups?"
And if the time affects the output level or the tone, what'll happen with a pick-up that has about 4 years old?
Could u give some experience? Thanks! ^_^

 

[idsnowdog]

Re: The time and pick-ups...

The breakdown of magnets is a very long process. People make a lot out of aged magnets but technically a magnet shouldn't lose much charge even 30 years later unless they are exposed to strong magentic forces like speaker magents. Although the wax used to pot the pickups will dry out after a while and the pickups will become microphonic. I think that when people talk about vintage warmth they are talking more about the potting breaking down than magnets losing charge. Potting is a crap shoot! Sometimes factory fresh pickups aren't potted very well and I recently repotted a Dimarzio PAF from 1978 and the potting was old, dry and crusty.

If the magnets do lose charge you will get less output.

 

[Dirt123]

Re: The time and pick-ups...

Genearlly, as a pickup ages the output will go down, but 4 years is not a very long time in the life of a pickup. A 4 year old pickup should have virtualy the same output as a new pickup. I have some 20 year old Duncans that sound pretty much like new.

D

 

[Metal Soul]

Re: The time and pick-ups...

yup, thanks guys! But, "the wax used to pot the pickups will dry out after a while and the pickups will become microphonic", do u know how to make it like new or replace it? I asked above question because a man wanna sell for me an 4 years old DiMarZio ToneZone with price about 40$, so i was in doubt until i read your posts...