Author Topic: Life Expectancy of pickups (Read 281 times)

aquaman · « **on:** June 15, 2008, 05:32:46 PM »

My Exploiter is over 24 years old and has a near mint finish. What is really surprising is how beautiful sounding the bass is and the question that springs to mind: just how long should these pickups last with average use? No moving parts must play a role in longevity, but what is reasonable to expect?

edwin · « **Reply #1 on:** June 15, 2008, 06:58:56 PM »

I would think many many decades, barring abuse resulting in broken wires or demagnetized magnets. However, rumor has it that Jerry Garcia would have his strat pickups remagnetized on a regular basis as felt they would lose their power. I find that very surprising as I have had my strat pickups since 1983 and they seem as good as new.

Edwin

David Houck · « **Reply #2 on:** June 15, 2008, 07:32:01 PM »

The impression I get from reading the posts here on the forum is that, while every once in a while someone reports a problem with a pickup, for the most part the pickups seem to age just fine.

elwoodblue · « **Reply #3 on:** June 15, 2008, 09:20:28 PM »

I have a 70's series 1 guitar...One pickup has been damaged...probably (as edwin mentioned) due to a little abuse.Most likely improper technique in adjusting pickup height.

The other still sounds great...though I've been using outboard preamps since the series electronics were disconnected when I received the guitar.
I've yet to experience the full glory of a stereo spread and a whisper quiet electronics package from the guitar.
I'll have to someday send her back to the mothership for an overhaul and calibration.

jbybj · « **Reply #4 on:** June 15, 2008, 10:37:18 PM »

I've got some passive Fender Jazz pickups that are 40 years old, and they sound as good as when I first heard them 33 years ago.

cozmik_cowboy · « **Reply #5 on:** June 16, 2008, 05:49:16 AM »

A couple of years ago I had the opportunity to play a Telecaster & a Nocaster with serial numbers 2 apart, making them either the last Nocaster & 2nd Tele, or the next-to-last Nocaster & 1st Tele. That would put them, at the time, just over 50 tears old. Two of the worst-playing guitars I've ever held, but the pick-ups sounded amazing. I've heard Fareed Haque play a jazz box (I forget the brand) from the early '40s, & they don't get much older than that. It, too, had great sound. P/ups should (and apparently do) last pretty much forever.

Peter

(Message edited by cozmik_Cowboy on June 16, 2008)

terryc · « **Reply #6 on:** June 16, 2008, 07:32:07 AM »

The theory is that as the magenetic field deteriorates the sound becomes mellow, Kent Armstrong (the pick up guru) here in the UK offers a re magnetising service if they become too mellow.
Does older sound better or is it all a myth and we are lead to believe it so

pauldo · « **Reply #7 on:** June 16, 2008, 05:39:28 PM »

Hey Rich,
Does your Exploiter have a small chip on one of the pick ups?

elwoodblue · « **Reply #8 on:** June 16, 2008, 06:29:59 PM »

hmmm...sounds familiar
here's mine...hurts to look at it

terryc · « **Reply #9 on:** June 17, 2008, 07:07:29 AM »

elwoodblue..how did that happen..did you hit it with a hammer??? Epoxy is tough stuff

elwoodblue · « **Reply #10 on:** June 17, 2008, 10:10:00 AM »

Thats how I received it a few years back.
It was my first alembic purchase and one of my first ebay guitar purchases (2001 or so).I was clueless as to what should be and how ebay sellers should have full and detailed descriptions.

a '76 (maybe 78 as the stamp is light on the second digit) series 1 #1100,
I got a fair deal looking back even though nothing electronically was functional.

...so there's only alot of opportunity for joy as I get her more functional...presently there is some passive pickups in it with some aria pro guts.
Plays like a dream...I bet someday it'll sound like an alembic should.

lbpesq · « **Reply #11 on:** June 17, 2008, 11:26:25 AM »

Elwoodblue:

With a serial number of 1100, it is a '78, not a '76. My '76 Series I guitar is #476 and my '77 Series I 12 string is, IIRC, #979.

Bill, tgo

elwoodblue · « **Reply #12 on:** June 17, 2008, 11:53:09 AM »

Thanks bill...I had a hunch 1100 was '78... I was gonna look closer in better light later today.

...much appreciated.

(it has a name on the truss rod cover, 'Bill Welton' ;
if this rings a bell with anyone let me know.)

(and my apologies for hijacking the thread)

edwin · « **Reply #13 on:** June 17, 2008, 06:30:16 PM »

Hey, Elwood, are the electronics still in the instrument? If you are anywhere near Colorado and want to bring it by, I'd be happy to take a look and see if I can get them running. Likewise, if I happen to come to a town near you and you want to come down after soundcheck. The electronics on Series instruments are very sturdy and should be in decent shape unless they've been hacked.

Edwin

elwoodblue · « **Reply #14 on:** June 17, 2008, 10:32:59 PM »

Edwin,
Let me gather it all over the next couple days and make sure I'm not missing anything(it's been shuffled thru the years ; I think I know which box and envelope to look for).
At one point I was using the humcanceller as a passive pick-up.

I'll have to have the pick-ups fixed first so no hurry.
I want to see ya live sometime...I saw you will be in idaho for the fourth with moonalice, unless the webpage I was looking at was a year old(wouldn't be the first time).

You might even be able to guide me thru it ...I'll start a thread with pics in a week or so.
I've been holding back because as good as she sounds with passive (gibson s-1 and a seymour strat pickup) guts she is magnet for criticism from purist alembicians.
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