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There are little trick in pickup building that we’ve done to several Jerry Donahue instruments. We actually install a small capacitor in series with the hot output of a pickup and this can reduce bottom end in a particular pickup. With this method you can change the character of the pickup and making it sound…

I would probably say from all the broken pickups that I have rewound and restored is because of human error. When you start removing pickups from assemblies and mounting rings there is a greater risk of damaging the pickup. On single coil pickups the majority of pickups have exposed beginning and finish magnet wires and…

I’ve noticed that when the screw holes are drilled and the mounting screws are in place, in time moisture can penetrate into the screw holes and expanding the wood around the screws. The screws can oxidize from the moisture in the wood and become rough and pitted. When you try to remove the oxidized screw…

Make sure you have the proper tools and skill to work on your pickup without damaging it any further. I would send it to a qualified repairman experienced in working on pickups or the original pickup builder. About 70% of the broken pickups I get in can be repaired without rewinding. Just about any pickup…

I would say the majority of pickups get broken due to mishandling and abuse. Many times removing covers that are stuck to the coil can break the wires. Removing humbucking covers without total removal of solder joints can snag the coils. Pickups left exposed on work benches can attract screws and misc. tools which can…

If you look close at various model lap and pedal steel pickups you will find that the majority of them have a higher DC resistance, more turns and more sustain than a typical guitar pickup. Sho-bud, Emmon’s and after market lap and steel guitar pickups have more turns to increase sustain but will have reduced…

I’ve seen single coil pickups with rod Alnico magnets that had opposite magnetic polarities from pole to pole. Either someone rewound the pickups and accidentally put the poles in upside down or the poles were magnetized first then pressed into the flatwork. Having magnetized magnets while assembling the bobbin can cause several problems. It can…

It sounds like one coil is out of phase with the other in the humbucking pickup. Basically take one coil and reverse the leads connected to the second bobbin. If you are using a mini-toggle switch or it has 4 conductor wire make sure that you are using the correct wiring chart for that particular…

I’ve seen this quite often and recently worked on Neil Young’s pickup with the same problem. The problem most likely comes from the older shielded hookup cable that is soldered to the controls and ground from the pickup. The inside multi-strand conductor is coated with a rubber based insulation to keep it insulated from the…

I often get pickups like this and it usually occurs when the screws become oxidized, corroded and can easily break when being removed. I would first soak the rest of the screws including the bottom plate mounting screws with a penetrating oil to help lubricate and soften the oxidation. After letting the screws soak for…