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Post new topic Front pickup on Fender Custom
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Author Topic:  Front pickup on Fender Custom
Herb Steiner


From:
Briarcliff TX 78669, pop. 2,064
Post  Posted 22 Jan 2013 3:51 pm    
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So I've had this Fender Custom (T-8 w/trapezoids) for a couple decades now, but never played it much after getting it because the front pickup was considerably less "full sounding" than the middle and rear pickups. More high-endy and piercing. I thought it probably needed work and so I didn't bother with it and put it in the closet where it's sat for the last 20 years.

Anyway, two other steel players recently told me that their Customs were exactly the same way. So that begs this question: is the guitar correct and that's the way it came from the factory, or do we all have guitars with congenitally weak pickups on the front neck?
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Mike Neer


From:
NJ
Post  Posted 22 Jan 2013 5:28 pm    
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Mine did not have that problem, Herb. Could it be the switching?
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Stephen Cowell


From:
Round Rock, Texas, USA
Post  Posted 22 Jan 2013 8:00 pm    
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Herb, if you've got an ohmmeter you could answer the question right away... just ohm the 1/4" plug as you switch necks. I'll bet the front neck's PU is open.
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Chris Lucker

 

From:
Los Angeles, California USA
Post  Posted 23 Jan 2013 10:59 am    
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Herb, do not over think it.

Just turn the guitar around.

I am interested if it is a wiring issue, or switch issue or an issue of being the pickup at the bottom of the case (is that right?) I was looking to acquire one of these guitars for a friend of mine and found two with the exact same issue. One I measured myself and the other I was told about over the phone.
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Chris Lucker
Red Bellies, Bigsbys and a lot of other guitars.
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Jim Bates

 

From:
Alvin, Texas, USA
Post  Posted 23 Jan 2013 6:52 pm    
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It could just be a dirty contact on the three way neck switch.

Thanx,
Jim
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Matthew Dawson

 

From:
Portland Oregon, USA
Post  Posted 23 Jan 2013 9:19 pm    
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That could be a short in the pickup (fairly common with trapezoid pickups in my experience). As Stephen said an ohmmeter will tell you. Also, I've noticed these pickups to be pretty inconsistent. Since each neck has a different thickness and therefore a different sound, you can shuffle them around and figure out which pickup sounds best on which neck.
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Erv Niehaus


From:
Litchfield, MN, USA
Post  Posted 24 Jan 2013 8:56 am    
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Herb,
You're lucky.
At least you've got a pickup.
I bought a Custom/with traps. off of e-bay and when I started to tune it, I couldn't get a signal from one neck.
Upon investigating, that pickup was missing, there was just the chome cover, no pickup! Sad
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