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Topic: Question about aging pickups |
John Steele
From:
Renfrew, Ontario, Canada
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Posted 7 Jan 2009 1:03 pm |
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It is possible for pickups, when aging, to have great tonal changes ? I thought they either worked, or they didn't.
Recently I've been puzzled by the tone from a single coil pickup - not producing any sparkle on the top end, and being muddy on the bottom end. I can't dial it out. Any thoughts ? Thanks,
-John |
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Dave Mudgett
From:
Central Pennsylvania and Gallatin, Tennessee
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Posted 7 Jan 2009 1:15 pm
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Magnets can lose power over time. A lot depends on the magnet material and how they're handled. Some magnets don't like to be handled roughly. Of course, putting a magnet in the proximity of other strong magnets can wreak havoc. A shorted or opened up pickup coil should not produce the effects you're describing, but have you checked that?
Such effects could be something other than the pickup or pickup magnet. Volume pedal, cables, effects, amp, line voltage, you name it. |
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Scott Swartz
From:
St. Louis, MO
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Posted 7 Jan 2009 1:17 pm
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Sounds like a shorted turn to me, as the insulation breaks down on the wire this can occur.
If you could measure the L and Q now and had the numbers from when it was new they would be radically different.
Depending on the pickup design, if the wire shorts to the magnet, that can also cause a large tonal change.
You may or may not see a change in the DC resistance from these problems.
_________________
Scott Swartz
Steeltronics - Steel Guitar Pickups
www.steeltronics.com |
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Bob Hoffnar
From:
Austin, Tx
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Posted 7 Jan 2009 1:48 pm
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John,
I would try resoldering the pickup connections. Sometimes that will do it. If that doesn't do the trick than it is my expert opinion that your pickup doesn't work good anymore.
_________________
Bob |
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Jon Light
From:
Saugerties, NY
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Posted 7 Jan 2009 2:18 pm
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| Damned technical talk. |
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Lee Baucum
From:
McAllen, Texas (Extreme South) The Final Frontier
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Posted 7 Jan 2009 2:29 pm
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| Quote: |
| your pickup doesn't work good anymore |
Such poor grammar. Shouldn't it be:
"your pickup don't work good no more"? |
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John Steele
From:
Renfrew, Ontario, Canada
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Posted 24 Jan 2009 3:06 pm
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Thank you, Dave, Scott, Bob, Jon and Lee, for your input.
After some investigation, I've decided that I have a problem with my tone control, which has never worked right. Both necks are suffering from the same muddiness problem.
This is a mid 70's pp, and when the tone control is switched off (toggle to the left) the tone is very thin and nasally. When it's switched back in, it seems like if the knob would turn another half turn, it might get to where I want it. But it won't.
My tone control don't work good no more.
-John |
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Jim Bob Sedgwick
From:
Clinton, Missouri USA
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Posted 24 Jan 2009 4:59 pm
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John, You ever consider maybe your ears don't work good no more?  |
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John Steele
From:
Renfrew, Ontario, Canada
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Posted 24 Jan 2009 8:51 pm
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Jim Bob, actually that was my first guess.
I was hoping to blame it on something I could fix !
-John |
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