Weak Bridge Pick-up

[ScoJoh]

Last week at the Gig I noticed loss of power in the bridge pick-up on my Les Paul. Thought it might be the toggle wearing out because I use it (abuse it) for an echo effect, and it was getting worn. Replaced it the next day, but pick-up was still clearly weaker then neck pick-up. Looked for bad solder joints, volume pot is'nt noisy. So I installed a new Duncan, Pearly Gates Pick-up.
The new pick-up is weak also. The Ohm reading on the old stock pick-up when removed from the guitar is 14.53. The Ohm reading on the new pick-up was only about 8.75, is that what the Duncan P.G. should read new?
Do volume pots sometimes go bad, losing signal strength without getting noisy? Any other ideas?
Any help would be welcomed.
Thanks ,
ScoJoh

 

[Curly]

Re: Weak Bridge Pick-up

the specs are on the main site, but over 8K is not low output

is that measured in the guitar? because, since you say you have a problem, I would also measure things in the guitar just to check the circuit ... do this by plugging in a guitar, then put the ground on the shaft and the hot lead on the tip with the volume up. The reading won't be exact, but you'll get an idea of what's going on with the circuit.

I use this method to avoid taking things apart when troubleshooting.

 

[ScoJoh]

Re: Weak Bridge Pick-up

Thanks Curly,
Ok I checked with a cord plugged in, neck PU is 7.80 Ohm, both together are 3.67 Ohm. And bridge PU is 6.93 Ohm.
It seem to read different every time I toggle back to the bridge position.
Sometime as low as 1.45, sometimes 6.9. Does this point to a problem with my new toggle? Such an easy install I'm sure I wired it correctly. Maybe a cheap aftermarket part, bought it at local music shop.
ScoJoh

 

[Curly]

Re: Weak Bridge Pick-up

you know, there's a whole section on troubleshooting in Seymour's Q & A section on the main site ...

I have a strat pickguard sitting out with a similar problem. The readings were off, and I tried troubleshooting, but I've decided it will likely be less work to replace the pots and switch than to try to track the problem down.

I often suspect the grounding is the first culprit. Certainly in your case, the intermittent readings suggest something's not kosher along the circuit.

 

[ScoJoh]

Re: Weak Bridge Pick-up

Pulled out toggel switch, looking closer, everything seemed to check out except this little tiny shred of plastic shrink wrap left over from the packaging.
It fell out from the switch area around where the connection for that Pick-up.
Tested and everything seems fine now! Hope that is all it was. It was so small that it was not much bigger than the head of a pin, but it had an indent in it shaped like the toggel switch connection.
Ya just never know what to expect!
Good luck with your project Curly.
ScoJoh

 

[Curly]

Re: Weak Bridge Pick-up

I'll only add that I sometimes have a problem with strat switches ... I would sometimes add too much solder and it dripped down and got in the way. I've gone to soldering quickly and cleanly, and using just enough solder for the joint.