What would make a pickup go "Weak"

B

Bill Dennis

New member
I got a jazz neck in a multi item swap. Didn't need it and sold it. The buyer asked to return because it sounded broken. I took it back and put in a guitar. Its light in output and thinner, but not out of phase thin. I know that sound. I can only think either coil damage or something with the magnet. Any other ideas on cause?
 
Corrosion or damage to the coil wires/insulation making it short at a lesser number of turns? (Just guessing.)

Actually, when I had a pickup go bad not too long ago, it got really dark sounding and the ohms read like 130k or something. But that was a single coil.
 
As Beau mentioned, shorted windings come to mind, measuring it with a ohmmeter would be the easiest way to check.
 
Also, sounds like red/white may have become disconnected. This can still produce sound because of the close coupling of the coils. Again . . . a meter is your friend.
 
I did a basic check of it before I installed it. I didn't note any corrosion or irregularity with the DCR. I will give it a closer look when I pull it back it out. I can replace mags and fix connections. Not sure its cost effective to rewind if that becomes necessary
 
My vote is demagnetized. It's pretty easy to do if you just toss pickups in a drawer next to each other.
 
And also . . . always try a different cable. They all work perfectly, until they don't. It's inevitable.
 
Yep, if the DCR is good it's likely been degaussed.
Might've been left next to a ceramic pickup, or passed too close to a strong field.
Even an old style TV set can do it.
 
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