Pickup repair

James · Post by **James** » Sun Jan 25, 2009 11:01 pm

I have a 70s Fender single coil that is currently broke. There's a loose bit of copper from what looks like somewhere in the middle of the winding but I have no idea how to tell where it's from. Is this the sort of thing I could repair myself with some guidance? Or should I send it off somewhere to have to repaired/rewound?

It's not part of a set, I have two 70s ones but one is 73 and one 79 (this is 79) and i think both are neck pickups anyway. So if it's going to cost more to have fixed than the pickup is worth it's a no brainer not to do it and perhaps use the bobbin for a project/experiment/whatever.

I imagine it would be a right cunt to find the other end of the broken bit and reattach it and the most likely way would be to attach the broken end to the relevant solder point (although finding out which is the right solder point and which is the longest one of the broken ends are two things I have no idea how to do).

Halp.

stewart · Post by **stewart** » Mon Jan 26, 2009 12:03 am

speak to hurb, i seem to remember him fixing a pickup i'd completely fucked when i was a bit drunk one night.

Post by **Hurb** » Mon Jan 26, 2009 12:13 am

negative.
You can unwind it a little and if it is only 1 break a few winds in then you are cool. but more than likely (like Stewarts) it will be completly fucked so you will try and rewind with new wire and realise you are shit, it will work but will be too weak to sound good and you will hate yourself and want to die.

stewart · Post by **stewart** » Mon Jan 26, 2009 12:16 am

ah. i assumed you'd managed to fix it from the science vid you posted. worth a try though.

Post by **Hurb** » Mon Jan 26, 2009 12:19 am

stewart wrote:ah. i assumed you'd managed to fix it from the science vid you posted. worth a try though.

Just can't get the winds tight enough. so therefore cant fit enough winds on the pickup. so it works its just weak. need a multimeter to find out how weak. might have another blast at it at some point.

stewart · Post by **stewart** » Mon Jan 26, 2009 12:23 am

i suppose it'd be a case of trying to find a way of winding it that didn't take 3 years, but was as tight as doing it by hand.

Zack · Post by **Zack** » Mon Jan 26, 2009 7:13 am

Hurb: What are you using to wind the pickup?

Post by **Doog** » Mon Jan 26, 2009 1:55 pm

If memory serves, he used a sewing machine!

Post by **Hurb** » Mon Jan 26, 2009 2:14 pm

I used a drill this time.

Zack · Post by **Zack** » Mon Jan 26, 2009 11:47 pm

Ah, I've been using my record player, it's been working out rather nicely.

rodvonbon · Post by **rodvonbon** » Mon Jan 26, 2009 11:57 pm

A buddy I played with added a middle P90 on one of his Jazzmasters and took a couple of windings off the pickup an swore that it gave the guitar "his" sound.
I never understood the point of it, but now in hindsight it makes sense if it would lower the output and balance the sound with the other pickups.