Are Mustang pickups meant to be so weak?

jbgron · Post by **jbgron** » Sun Jun 30, 2013 9:02 pm

Hi guys,

I recently acquired a 90s MIJ Mustang 69 Reissue. It's a fantastic looking guitar but it has very low output compared to my other guitars. I first thought it was a problem with the volume pot or wiring but all the electronics are fine. I tested the DC resistance of the pickups and they only measure 2.7K.

Are Mustang pickups meant to have such low output?

Many thanks

John

StevePirates · Post by **StevePirates** » Sun Jun 30, 2013 9:24 pm

We need pictures of your guitar to adequately answer your question.

jbgron · Post by **jbgron** » Sun Jun 30, 2013 9:32 pm

Thanks for the quick reply. Here are some pictures as requested.

Fran · Post by **Fran** » Sun Jun 30, 2013 10:29 pm

Welcome to the forum John, great looking Mustang.

2.7k is really low and there must be a wiring or pickup issue. I cant remember off the top of my head the exact measurement but they should be at least 7k.
69 Reissues are not revered for having great pickups although a minority seem to like them. Personally i would upgrade the pickups to get the full potential from the guitar.

taylornutt · Post by **taylornutt** » Sun Jun 30, 2013 10:30 pm

I think they should have an output in the 5 -6K range.

StevePirates · Post by **StevePirates** » Sun Jun 30, 2013 10:34 pm

The CIJ Mustangs were widely thought to have intentionally weak output on their pups. The idea was to replicate the difference between strat hot pups and thin Mustang pups from the '60s.

My hunch is that your pickups sound as intended.... Which is a sound a lot of people really dislike.

See, e.g., people talking about the low output.

StevePirates · Post by **StevePirates** » Sun Jun 30, 2013 10:35 pm

Also. That's a really nice looking Mustang. Nice Marshall too.

Joey · Post by **Joey** » Sun Jun 30, 2013 10:36 pm

Did you measure output at the jack or pup itself. If you are at the jack, measure with the switches in different positions and make sure the volume pot is turned all the way up.

jbgron · Post by **jbgron** » Sun Jun 30, 2013 10:36 pm

Thanks guys, I thought they were insanely low. I'll disconnect them from the switches and measure them again tonight to get a true reading. Does anyone have any recommendations for replacement pickups?

jbgron · Post by **jbgron** » Sun Jun 30, 2013 10:38 pm

I measured the jack and then at the pickups themselves whilst they were still connected to the switches, there was no change to the resistance when I flipped the switches either. I even tried replacing the volume pot to no avail.

Fran · Post by **Fran** » Sun Jun 30, 2013 10:39 pm

The 65 RI's are supposedly way better, never owned one so i cant comment but i have had two 69 RI's and the pups were shockingly bad. Thin, no tone, no definition, no dynamics... I've heard better pups on entry level guitars.

Fran · Post by **Fran** » Sun Jun 30, 2013 10:45 pm

jbgron wrote:Does anyone have any recommendations for replacement pickups?

I've not tried any myself but you wont go wrong with stuff like Seymour Duncan Antiquities, Fralins if you have the money. Any Strat pup will fit as well.

jbgron · Post by **jbgron** » Sun Jun 30, 2013 10:53 pm

Thanks for clearing it up Fran, I agree that an entry level guitar has better sounding pickups. I'll try out some spare strat pickups I've got first before spending further cash on this guitar.

Chris Fleming · Post by **Chris Fleming** » Sun Jun 30, 2013 11:01 pm

Off topic - is that marshal in your house? Neighbors must love you

StevePirates · Post by **StevePirates** » Sun Jun 30, 2013 11:01 pm

Look at Fran bein' all helpful. The correct response is "No, there's nothing you can do, it's irreparably broken, you should just give it to me, I'll dispose of it in a dignified manner."

jbgron · Post by **jbgron** » Sun Jun 30, 2013 11:06 pm

Yes the Marshall is in my house, that is only one of many. My nearest neighbour is miles away so it's not an issue.

Doug · Post by **Doug** » Sun Jun 30, 2013 11:09 pm

StevePirates wrote:The CIJ Mustangs were widely thought to have intentionally weak output on their pups. The idea was to replicate the difference between strat hot pups and thin Mustang pups from the '60s.

My hunch is that your pickups sound as intended.... Which is a sound a lot of people really dislike.

See, e.g., people talking about the low output.

2.7...!!! No way to justify that, my friend. My 1965 Mustang measures 6.5 neck and 6.9 bridge. Not weak. Not "thin", Steve. And through my amps...Peavey Classic 30, Danelectro HoneyTone 50...my baby sounds great. I'd say you got a pale lemon

and need to contact the seller ASAP.

Cheers,

StevePirates · Post by **StevePirates** » Sun Jun 30, 2013 11:41 pm

I was under the impression that he measured both together parallel. If that's the rating for each individual pup... Then yeah. No bueno.

But I'd find it really odd if both were at 2.7. One at 2.7 and one at 5 or 6ish would make sense.... You'd have one bum pup. But for both to be halved, is possible but seems unlikely.

jbgron · Post by **jbgron** » Mon Jul 01, 2013 3:35 am

Could it be that the pickups are just wired in parallel when they should be in series? This sounds like most logical to me but I'll disconnect the pickups and test them individually when I get home from work tonight. I hate it when I have an epiphany at work and have to wait all day to test the theory!

taylornutt · Post by **taylornutt** » Mon Jul 01, 2013 3:40 am

Standard Mustang wiring is Neck, Bridge, both(parallel), both out of phase. It would only be in series it it was customed wired that way.