Ouch.

[Brian Krashpad]

Haha, yeah, since this is my most expensive guitar, I didn't wanna skimp on the pickup.

[thearabianmage]

The pickup just died??

I've never heard of that! How does it happen? And how was the techie able to tell that it was the pickup and not something else (this all sounds vaguely cynical, but it's not. I'm genuinely interested!)

[Brian Krashpad]

The pickup just died??

I've never heard of that! How does it happen? And how was the techie able to tell that it was the pickup and not something else (this all sounds vaguely cynical, but it's not. I'm genuinely interested!)

My luthier buddy still isn't 100% sure himself. We both have heard of it, though it is rare (this is the first of my pickups to die in some 30 years of dozens on dozens of pups). His theory basically gibes with what another guitarist friend of mine said on another site, so I'll quote him:

A pickup that isn't epoxy potted can go bad in several ways. If the bass dropped out along with output then likely a winding shorted out. This can be caused by corossion from sweat, beer etc. from excessive prolonged vibration, or from a shock or blow to the mounted pickup.


Basically a pickup is part of an electrical circuit, so with various meters a tech can find where the problem in a circuit originates.

That's how I understand it anyhow. Fwiw, ymmv.

[marnold***]

Yeah, that's most likely the culprit. I'm surprised that the pickup wasn't potted. I thought that they all were these days. The windings in a pup are pretty fragile. Once was is severed, the pup dies. It can be fixed, but it's a PITA. That's especially true if it broke on the inside. Then you'd have to rewind the whole stinking thing. Not worth it unless the pup is VERY valuable. Even then . . .

[Algonquin]

Hope the new P/U rawks for you Krash... I'm sure it will.
Cheers

[Brian Krashpad]

Hope the new P/U rawks for you Krash... I'm sure it will.
Cheers

Thanks, I'm sure it'll be fine too. For me the big test is always playing at volume with a band. So far I've only tested it at low volumes with my home practice amp and at medium-low volumes through a 2x10 40W at work.

[bigoldron]

Hey Brian, I think may have found an answer as to why your pickup went bad. In the August issue of Premier Guitar in the interview with Seymour Duncan:

So you did all those re-windings for these guys when their pickups went bad?

SD: Yeah, pickups can go bad when moisture gets in through the exposed poles. I call it ICPC - Inter-Coil Pole Corrosion. It's when the coil can actually rust and break down the insulation on the magnet wire. If you've ever pulled an old sixties Tele pickup that wasn't waxed, you'd see a lot of rust around the pole pieces when you take the coil off because there are all sorts of ferrous materials in the pole pieces that can actually rust. That's why it's good to use the old lacquer and wax, because that'll help to stop the moisture from permeating.

Sounds reasonable to me. :

[Brian Krashpad]

Hey Brian, I think may have found an answer as to why your pickup went bad. In the August issue of Premier Guitar in the interview with Seymour Duncan:

So you did all those re-windings for these guys when their pickups went bad?

SD: Yeah, pickups can go bad when moisture gets in through the exposed poles. I call it ICPC - Inter-Coil Pole Corrosion. It's when the coil can actually rust and break down the insulation on the magnet wire. If you've ever pulled an old sixties Tele pickup that wasn't waxed, you'd see a lot of rust around the pole pieces when you take the coil off because there are all sorts of ferrous materials in the pole pieces that can actually rust. That's why it's good to use the old lacquer and wax, because that'll help to stop the moisture from permeating.

Sounds reasonable to me. :

Thanks Ron. A net friend of mine from England bought it from me for a little dosh, so maybe he'll re-wind it. Although I don't sweat a lot there's always the possibility of beer contamination.

[bigoldron]

Thanks Ron. A net friend of mine from England bought it from me for a little dosh, so maybe he'll re-wind it. Although I don't sweat a lot there's always the possibility of beer contamination.

Gee, I can't imagine HOW that would happen???

[thearabianmage]

. . . pickups can go bad when moisture gets in through the exposed poles. I call it ICPC - Inter-Coil Pole Corrosion. . .

Do you think that fitting covers to pups would help this problem or is it just one of those 'take it as it comes - buy a new pup if one conks out' sort of jobbies?

[marnold***]

Do you think that fitting covers to pups would help this problem or is it just one of those 'take it as it comes - buy a new pup if one conks out' sort of jobbies?

Potting would take care of it normally. If the windings and pole pieces are covered in wax, moisture can't get there. Of course, if you poke at the windings on your humbucker with a screwdriver, all bets are off.

[tot_Ou_tard]

Potting would take care of it normally. If the windings and pole pieces are covered in wax, moisture can't get there. Of course, if you poke at the windings on your humbucker with a screwdriver, all bets are off.

: I'm just imaging Rev Rawk in the pew with an overwhelming urge to go home & poke his windings.:

[ShortBuSX]

Although I don't sweat a lot there's always the possibility of beer contamination.

But Florida humidity gets into everything.
Your pickup will sweat just about every time you leave the house with it.

[Brian Krashpad]

: I'm just imaging Rev Rawk in the pew with an overwhelming urge to go home & poke his windings.:

[warren0728]

now that's my kind of church! :

ww

[sunvalleylaw]

now that's my kind of church! :

ww

Looks like Brian invaded the Temple down south a piece from me in SLC!!

[bigoldron]

Potting would take care of it normally. If the windings and pole pieces are covered in wax, moisture can't get there. Of course, if you poke at the windings on your humbucker with a screwdriver, all bets are off.

Yeah, that's basically what Duncan said to help prevent it is to make sure they're properly potted. BTW, poking your windings with a screwdriver is kinda like checking to see if your gas tank is empty by looking in it with a lit match. :