Three weeks ago i just happened to check resistance at a friend Toms place with my '92-93 made MIJapan '62 Reissue Strat with, i think, usa pkups n pots. It was a temp-cool day of 21deg, nk = 5.9, md = 5.9, bdg = 6.1 ohms.
A week ago i noticed upper neck pkup height screw was loose from previously adjusting pkup height so i lifted upper pkgrd and too adventurously poked around with a thin wood probe causing a ding on the wiring and after a week of low volume it went dead - i had caught the corner of the pkup s wiring and dinged an unknown number of wire turns (see pic).
So back to a mates place to multimeter measurements yesterday - it was a warm sunny day 31 deg, but yep it was dead. Long story short we decided to try unwinding to damaged area and resolder thru the eyelet, it worked. As that era '62 the average turns was 8,350 (with original '62 strats) we figured that being not too deep a few unwinds wouldnt change the pkups values too much.
It took about 50 unwinds to reach a continuity reading ie a positive reading of resistance in Ohms compared to no reading meaning we hadnt unwound to the lowest broken wire. Checked the resistance to the eyelet point and bingo we had continuity.
Note: We didnt know what solvent would de-lacquer this wire, so Tom de-lacquered the wire end to gain a good solder join and contact point for the multimeter probes to contact properly, and this lacquer does not take solder, as the wire is totally coated in Lacquer which is a 'strong resistance to heat' type of lacquer used in transformers which carry a far greater current load, so sorting out the soldering iron temp was critical. So i held the soldering iron as Tom wiped the wire end thru a blob of solder on the iron to rid the wire of this lacquer. Note: under the lacquer the wire is noticeably copper coloured of course, not maroon due to lacquer.
So we ensured the damaged area was unwound using the multimeter and proceeded to the above de-lacquering of the wire's end then thread thru the eyelet and solder-up.
All went well and we measured resistance neck = 6.39. We put it back in adjusted height and measured resistance of all 3 pkups. Nk = 6.31, Md = 6.37, Bdg = 6.39 Ohms.
Now, being two different days in temperature, difference = 11 degs, and what had been done to the pickup ie a reduction of approx 50 winds of the wire, Ild say temp has a distinct affect on resistance readings, and taking off approx 50 winds doesnt affect the pickup value that much at all. And the volumes with each selector switch position are pretty equal - i cant note a difference, altho ild have to say there will be difference somewhere as i just havent detected it yet.
BUT ill get somewhere where i can turn it up and check all parameters, and I'll measure resistance several times over the next few weeks when i can to see whats what.
My friend Tom is in his mid 30's and works on most peoples guitars amps and pedals around this far south coast region of NSW; hes self taught and built his own amp based on a Dumble guitar amp .....and hes a damn fine bloke.
1st pic shows the damage to neck pkup at wind in foreground bottom edge,
A week ago i noticed upper neck pkup height screw was loose from previously adjusting pkup height so i lifted upper pkgrd and too adventurously poked around with a thin wood probe causing a ding on the wiring and after a week of low volume it went dead - i had caught the corner of the pkup s wiring and dinged an unknown number of wire turns (see pic).
So back to a mates place to multimeter measurements yesterday - it was a warm sunny day 31 deg, but yep it was dead. Long story short we decided to try unwinding to damaged area and resolder thru the eyelet, it worked. As that era '62 the average turns was 8,350 (with original '62 strats) we figured that being not too deep a few unwinds wouldnt change the pkups values too much.
It took about 50 unwinds to reach a continuity reading ie a positive reading of resistance in Ohms compared to no reading meaning we hadnt unwound to the lowest broken wire. Checked the resistance to the eyelet point and bingo we had continuity.
Note: We didnt know what solvent would de-lacquer this wire, so Tom de-lacquered the wire end to gain a good solder join and contact point for the multimeter probes to contact properly, and this lacquer does not take solder, as the wire is totally coated in Lacquer which is a 'strong resistance to heat' type of lacquer used in transformers which carry a far greater current load, so sorting out the soldering iron temp was critical. So i held the soldering iron as Tom wiped the wire end thru a blob of solder on the iron to rid the wire of this lacquer. Note: under the lacquer the wire is noticeably copper coloured of course, not maroon due to lacquer.
So we ensured the damaged area was unwound using the multimeter and proceeded to the above de-lacquering of the wire's end then thread thru the eyelet and solder-up.
All went well and we measured resistance neck = 6.39. We put it back in adjusted height and measured resistance of all 3 pkups. Nk = 6.31, Md = 6.37, Bdg = 6.39 Ohms.
Now, being two different days in temperature, difference = 11 degs, and what had been done to the pickup ie a reduction of approx 50 winds of the wire, Ild say temp has a distinct affect on resistance readings, and taking off approx 50 winds doesnt affect the pickup value that much at all. And the volumes with each selector switch position are pretty equal - i cant note a difference, altho ild have to say there will be difference somewhere as i just havent detected it yet.
BUT ill get somewhere where i can turn it up and check all parameters, and I'll measure resistance several times over the next few weeks when i can to see whats what.
My friend Tom is in his mid 30's and works on most peoples guitars amps and pedals around this far south coast region of NSW; hes self taught and built his own amp based on a Dumble guitar amp .....and hes a damn fine bloke.
1st pic shows the damage to neck pkup at wind in foreground bottom edge,