Has anyone ever DEGAUSED their pickups?

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Nick Reed
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Has anyone ever DEGAUSED their pickups?

Post by Nick Reed »

I've noticed on one of my Emmons guitars, it has a lower output volume than the other where I have to crank the amp up a little more.
Image

I talked to Bobbe about it and he told me the pickups may need to be degaused. This guitar is now 40 years old and the pickups are the originals, so they probably have some build up that needs to be de-magnetized out.
My question is. . . have any of you guys ever had this done and did it seem to help your problem?

Thanks, Nick <font size="1" color="#8e236b"><p align="center">[This message was edited by Nick Reed on 05 April 2006 at 02:11 PM.]</p></FONT>
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Jay Ganz
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Post by Jay Ganz »

Hey Nick,
I do have a degauser, but I've never used it on a pickup before. Actually, I've never heard of this being a common practice on old pickups.
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Nick Reed
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Post by Nick Reed »

Let me add this, the volume levels between both my guitars are not that much off from each other, maybe just a hair!
IMO, the guitar with lower volume, sounds much better than the other one so I almost hate to mess with it. Tone is sometimes hard to get and this one as that magic Emmons sound. Don't get me wrong, both Guitars sound great, but a little different from each other even though their both P/P's. I think maybe I better leave well enough alone. <font size="1" color="#8e236b"><p align="center">[This message was edited by Nick Reed on 05 April 2006 at 02:46 PM.]</p></FONT>
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James Morehead
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Post by James Morehead »

Old pickups can be re-magnatized, so I've heard. Maybe that's what yours needs, Nick?
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Jay Ganz
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Post by Jay Ganz »

Do you know for a fact that the pickups in both are wound the same? Also, are they the same distance from the strings. You'd have to use the identical cords and volume pedal on both steels to really compare them.
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Jack Stoner
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Post by Jack Stoner »

Nick, if you "degauss" items you are demagnetizing them. You don't want to demagnetize a pickup (there are magnets in a pickup).

Kurt Kowalski
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Post by Kurt Kowalski »

Nick,

Be very carefull...

You "might" be referring to "Re-Magnatize"

FWIW...
I'm with my buddy Jack's statement.
(Hello Jack)

If you deguass (De-maganatize) a pickup it will CEASE to work.

What might be your problem, is that the windings in your old pickup are breaking down over age. (the varnish insulation on the pickup wire)
If this insulation breaks down, it creates internal shorts in the pickup. Therefore, degrading the performance greatly.

Call Bill Lawrence and ask him your questions. He will be pleased to speak with you. Just be prepared for a long winded conversation.

My very best to you Nick,
Kurt Kowalski<font size="1" color="#8e236b"><p align="center">[This message was edited by Kurt Kowalski on 05 April 2006 at 05:20 PM.]</p></FONT>
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John Bechtel
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Post by John Bechtel »

Nick;
You know me well, so; you also know that I'm by no means an expert on anything, however; IMHO to do a good co,parison of the two guitars side by each, you first need to put a meter on all (4)-necks, one at a time and write down each measurement. Then make sure all (4)-p/u's are the same distance below the strings. Then run a same/identical cord from each guitar directly to an amp. (If you use Imputs #1 & #2 of a Peavey Amp., all Gains will be the same. Then set the Amp. Master-Vol. at a reasonable/comfortable level and strum each E9-neck to compare volumes and each C6-neck to compare volumes. [I would hook up an audio power~meter if it were me, to measure/match volumes or if you don't have an audio power~meter; your ear will do!] They are available from Radio Shack. I have had three of them for quite a few years. Since they have stereo-capability, I used to use one (mainly for curiousity) to even out the volumes when I was using (2)-Amps.! Besides that, it looked good to have all these little lights blinking while I was playing! They're easy to hook up! Just run (2)-wires to your speaker w/alligator~clips.

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Nick Reed
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Post by Nick Reed »

The tone on my black guitar is absolutely SUPER, to my ears much better than my rosewood. I've decided to leave well enough alone. I can tell a slight volume difference between the two guitars but it's really not bad enough to mess with the original pickups. Nick<font size="1" color="#8e236b"><p align="center">[This message was edited by Nick Reed on 06 April 2006 at 12:39 AM.]</p></FONT>
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John Daugherty
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Post by John Daugherty »

Nick, rather than going to the trouble of changing pickups, I recommend a can of gloss black Krylon. It can do wonders for your tone. Image Image

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Erv Niehaus
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Post by Erv Niehaus »

See!
This is PROOF that black guitars sound best! Image
Erv
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Bobby Lee
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Post by Bobby Lee »

<SMALL>The tone on my black guitar is absolutely SUPER, to my ears much better than my rosewood.</SMALL>
There you have it. Black guitars sound best. Instead of messing with the pickup, you should be thinking along the lines of spray paint. That'll fix it. Image