Lap steel pickup problems

[nvb25]

I just got an old Oahu lap steel (mid 50's Supro). The pickup seems pretty weak, and I'm wondering if that's normal for one of these. Also the G string is much softer than the others. The pickup has six pole screws, but the range of adjustment looks kind of small. This is Ry Cooder's favorite lap steel I'm told. He's been known to make Cooder-casters (a stratocaster with Supro lap steel pickup). I can't imagine using this pickup in a strat, it's too weak.

[Ronsonic]

Do you have an ohmmeter and any electronic troubleshooting skills?

[David Schwab]

It could be weak magnets. Jason Lollar knows about these pickups.

[bramley]

Some of the student models had one real magnet and one wooden dummy , they tend to be weaker.
Some good info here.
http://www.horseshoemagnets.com/_sgg/m4m5_1.htm

[Sweetfinger]

I can't see the photo well enough to tell, but I don't think that is a "string through" pickup. It looks like a later National/Valco with a traditional string over design. If you can post a clearer pic of the pickup itself, I could be of more help. Sometimes the magnet in that type of pickup breaks into smaller chunks. If the coil reads over 20 K, it is open(dead).