To rewind or not?

[Rj777]

Hello every one, first post here after finding the forum last night.

I have always wanted to have a go at winding pick ups but don't really have much spare time right now. However one of my fender custom shop 69's recently died (no output and reads 8meg on the multimeter) and I'm not sure of the best course of action.

1. I can get professionally rewound for about £40-50 (boring)

2. I could try repairing it by unwinding etc.

3. have ago at rewinding my self. might need a few trial runs tho

Can anyone advise on the advantages/pitalls of these options or have any other ideas?

Thanks inadvance

[big_teee]

Hello every one, first post here after finding the forum last night.

I have always wanted to have a go at winding pick ups but don't really have much spare time right now. However one of my fender custom shop 69's recently died (no output and reads 8meg on the multimeter) and I'm not sure of the best course of action.

1. I can get professionally rewound for about £40-50 (boring)

2. I could try repairing it by unwinding etc.

3. have ago at rewinding my self. might need a few trial runs tho

Can anyone advise on the advantages/pitalls of these options or have any other ideas?

Thanks inadvance

You have a bunch of fine Pickup Makers and rewinders there in the UK.
This would be the best place to find one.
Good Luck,
Terry

[nosaj]

What do you think the pickup should be reading? 8000 ohm is right for some pickups.

jason

[David Schwab]

What do you think the pickup should be reading? 8000 ohm is right for some pickups.

jason

He said 8 megohm. That's 8,000,000 ohms.

Sometimes the connection is bad at the eyelets. Before you see about having it rewound, try heating the eyelets with a soldering iron and flow a little fresh solder on them. Don't over heat it, but heat it enough until the solder it came with melts.

That might bring it back to life.

If not, give it a go. You will see that it might just come out better than it was.

[Rj777]

You have a bunch of fine Pickup Makers and rewinders there in the UK.
This would be the best place to find one.

Thanks, I know! Bare Knuckles is not to far away and my local guitar shop has a guy that can do it .I'm not over the moon with these pick ups and I'm just worried that the rewind will be better than the original. which means i will ave to get the others done as well. £50 per pick up and the original £160 and its getting expensive

Sometimes the connection is bad at the eyelets. Before you see about having it rewound, try heating the eyelets with a soldering iron and flow a little fresh solder on them. Don't over heat it, but heat it enough until the solder it came with melts.

excellent, I will try that tomorrow. If i Do rewind it any ideas for an alternative to formvar? as I'm in the UK I only seem to be able to to get enamelled magnet wire.

Thanks for the responses
Ross

[jonson]

David's right, your starting out with nothing and if you end with nothing youv'e lost nothing. Do the eyelet trick or if no go strip a bit off or as you say have a go at rewinding you will lose nothing and may gain some experience. We all started out at the bottom and a lot of us did it before this forum came along and there is a wealth here and everything you need to know. Join the club and have some fun.

[big_teee]

Thanks, I know! Bare Knuckles is not to far away and my local guitar shop has a guy that can do it .I'm not over the moon with these pick ups and I'm just worried that the rewind will be better than the original. which means i will ave to get the others done as well. £50 per pick up and the original £160 and its getting expensive

excellent, I will try that tomorrow. If i Do rewind it any ideas for an alternative to formvar? as I'm in the UK I only seem to be able to to get enamelled magnet wire.

Thanks for the responses
Ross

69s should have 42 Plain Enam. PE.
PE is usually dark brown.
I like both on Strat Single coils.
You might check with Jonson and Spence.
They hang out here some.
T

[Rj777]

Thanks again for the help. I like these forums because everyone is so helpfull.

I'll try the eyelet thing. But if that fails is the there a good way to unwind the coil? i.e. do I need a coil winder type arrangement or is it ok to hold the pickup by hand?

[Rj777]

69s should have 42 Plain Enam. PE.
PE is usually dark brown.

Ok now I'm confused. I thought that PE was copper colour and Formvar was dark brown?

My 69's are dark brown so why is PE copper coloured over here? or is that because they are selling magnet wire?

[David Schwab]

Ok now I'm confused. I thought that PE was copper colour and Formvar was dark brown?

My 69's are dark brown so why is PE copper coloured over here? or is that because they are selling magnet wire?

The insulations don't really have a color. The color of the insulation is just a color they add. You can get magnet wire in almost any color, including black. PE is usually a dark purplish color. Formvar can be clear or a color like red, which is common for magnet wire.

[David Schwab]

But if that fails is the there a good way to unwind the coil?

Use an Xacto knife or scissors.

We don't unwind them unless you are either trying to find a break, or to count the turns per layer.

[big_teee]

Ok now I'm confused. I thought that PE was copper colour and Formvar was dark brown?

My 69's are dark brown so why is PE copper coloured over here? or is that because they are selling magnet wire?

If those are fender CS 69s and are brown in color, they would be PE.
For the most part Heavy Formvar is orangie copper color and PE is usually Brown.
Most SPN(Single Poly Nylon) you buy is Red.
Like David said it can be anyway they have it made, but like I said above is the Norm.
Look at these wires, you will get the idea.
Electrical Test Equipment, Industrial Supply MRO items in BAE MAGNET WIRE store on eBay!
T
**Edit Note
Be sure and check out the beginners Corner.
http://music-electronics-forum.com/f64/
There are tons of links and tips to basic winding found there.
Good Luck,

[David Schwab]

If i Do rewind it any ideas for an alternative to formvar? as I'm in the UK I only seem to be able to to get enamelled magnet wire.

When people say "formvar" they usually mean heavy build formvar. But it can be heavy build poly, and it will sound the same. Single build formvar will sound like single build poly.

I'm not convinced that plain enamel sounds any different, but I haven't used any myself.

[big_teee]

When people say "formvar" they usually mean heavy build formvar. But it can be heavy build poly, and it will sound the same. Single build formvar will sound like single build poly.

I'm not convinced that plain enamel sound any different, but I haven't used any myself.

I agree.
If all things are equal, they should sound the same.
T

[Rj777]

Ok so I dont know if I should be confused or embarrassed?

I was getting the patient ready for eyelet surgery and decided to do a quick check and now its reading 5,7K again.

Have I scared it in to working again? or dose this sound like an intermittent short that will come back when I refit it to the guitar?