Symptoms of a dying pickup

[danielboles]

My neck pickup went "out" recently and I'm trying to find out if it's truly the pickup is "dead" or maybe my switch is bad? I have a three-way switch between two humbuckers and neck position has very quiet clean/clippy sound when switched to it, the middle has full sound from the treble pickup although should be both I can't really tell a difference between middle and treble selection, but maybe it works properly there. Can anyone tell me how/if/what/why/can a pickup go out or does this just sound like a switch problem?

[Norcal_GIT_r]

Pickups pretty much just die without any signs. And very rarely do they fail.

I'd start by looking at your switch.

[Prages]

It's more likely a switch problem. Since pickups don't have any moving parts to wear out or get corroded, they normally don't just go out. It's possible to get a short in the coil of the pickup, but my first assumption would be that it's the switch. My last assumption would be that it's the pickup.

[Longhair]

[PunkKitty]

You don't mention what kind of volume/tone configuration you have. If the pickup has a dedicated volume, it may be the volume pot. If not, check the wiring to the switch and/or replace the switch.

[Artslinger]

Can pickups even die?

 

Replace a pot or switch.

[V-8]

Can pickups even die?

 

 

Yes. Rusting AlNiCo magnets can destroy Strat / Tele pickups by eventually causing a break in the magnet wire. Also, some magnets can become weak over time.

[Artslinger]

Yes. Rusting AlNiCo magnets can destroy Strat / Tele pickups by eventually causing a break in the magnet wire. Also, some magnets can become weak over time.

 

Thanks I didn't know that, what about all those vintage pickups you see, are they rebuilt?

[V-8]

Thanks I didn't know that, what about all those vintage pickups you see, are they rebuilt?

 

 

Those are typically un-potted vintage Strat / Tele pickups that have required a rewind job because player sweat accumulated night after night inside the un-potted pickup, which cause the magnets to rust and swell a bit, which in turn eventually pop a winding close to one of the AlNiCo rod magnets making for a dead pickup due to coil discontinuity.

[55gibby]

I would think a pick up that's dying would begin to talk a lot about it's childhood and loved ones who are already dead. When they begin to tell you how much they love you, you know the end is near

[Pope on a Rope]

Before replacing anything, try some lubricated contact cleaner in the switch and pots.

[V-8]

Thanks I didn't know that, what about all those vintage pickups you see, are they rebuilt?

 

 

Forgot to mention earlier that it's slightly possible to damage a Strat pickup (a Strat pickup with staggered-height poles) if you decide to reduce the height of a AlNiCo pole by filing too aggressively. You can reach the melting temperature instantaneously by filing aggressively. AlNiCo material starts to lose its magnetism as it approaches and exceeds its melting point.

 

Actually, the aggressive use of a file mentioned above is a bit overblown. If you find yourself needing to reduce the height of a pole in Strat pickup, all you need to do is perform one stroke at a time with the file and you should easily be safe from damaging the pole magnet. Whatever you do, just don't use a bench grinder.

 

 

 

PS: The most likely cause of the original poster's problem is a bad pickup selector switch.

 

 

 

[Meowy]

Bryan, correct me if I'm wrong, but I would think a pickup would die only if there was a short in the winding (break or perhaps corrosion of the insulator in an older pickup) , which in any case is just a short in the overall circuit

[Artslinger]

Forgot to mention earlier that it's slightly possible to damage a Strat pickup (a Strat pickup with staggered-height poles) if you decide to reduce the height of a AlNiCo pole by filing too aggressively. You can reach the melting temperature instantaneously by filing aggressively. AlNiCo material starts to lose its magnetism as it approaches and exceeds its melting point. Actually, the aggressive use of a file mentioned above is a bit overblown. If you find yourself needing to reduce the height of a pole in Strat pickup, all you need to do is perform one stroke at a time with the file and you should easily be safe from damaging the pole magnet. Whatever you do, just don't use a bench grinder. PS: The most likely cause of the original poster's problem is a bad pickup selector switch.

 

Thanks, all good information.

[Elias Graves]

I generally know a pickup is dead when I get slapped.

 

EG