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A brand new Texas Special Custom Shop pick up arrived with me yesterday. I couldn't help notice that there is a loose coil wind that was lightly waxed to the top of the bobbin, as if to secure it and stop it flying loose from the main coil. It doesn't appear to be broken, it comes out of the coil, loops out and then goes back into the coil. However, I don't want to f**k with it and examine it too closely as I know how fragile pickup winding wire is.

My question is, should I be concerned about this lose wind? Should I wax it back onto the bobbin to prevent it snagging when the plastic pickup cover is put on it? Will it result in 'microphonic feedback'? Or is it common to have at least one or two loose winds in a pick-up?

Cheers

Man, I don't recall ever seeing a loose winding on a new pickup, amp; I've been looking at them for 25 years now. It will probably work the way it is, but if it was me amp; I didn't mind waiting for a replacement, I'd try to return it. The wire will snag eventually, unless you stick the cover on amp; don't plan on ever removing it.

I completely screwed up a vintage Danelectro pick in my youth when I removed it from its cover. A loose winding snagged on the screw hole at the bottom of the tube/cover amp; I unreeled about a foot amp; a half of the winding before I realized what happened.

Your pickup will probably work OK, so if you want to keep it, I would say don't try to do anything with it. Stick the cover on amp; leave it be. If the loose wire breaks, you'll have a heck of a time fixing it.

Thanks Big Boy Bob. I thought it was unusual. Trouble with returning it is that I got it from Germany! ( from : localhost/And I'm really not sure I can be arsed with returning it.

I expressed my concerns to them in an email and you know what they said??

quot;nothing to worry about. It's quite normal with that quot;bit of wirequot; sticking out and soldered to the bobbin. It helps to minimise hum.quot;

(!) Helps MINIMISE HUM?? WHAT?! Unless they mean the waxing it down is done to minimise hum. Which begs the question, who does Quality control at Fender Custom Shop!

I'd like to test it somehow to make sure the loose coil wind is not a break. Do I just do a DC resistance test across the two terminals at the bottom of the pickup? If it's OK, I'll probably put the pickup cover on and never look at it again!

im not sure those guys know what they heck they are talking about, minimize hum???

if the pup works fine, i wouldnt worry about it. it is bad qc at fender that let it get out, but it should work ok. if you pulled the wire out of the wax so it is just dangling then i might put a drop of wax on it


Originally Posted by OdgeUK...

I'd like to test it somehow to make sure the loose coil wind is not a break. Do I just do a DC resistance test across the two terminals at the bottom of the pickup? If it's OK, I'll probably put the pickup cover on and never look at it again!

Yes, do a resistance test. I don't know what the resistance should be, somewhere between 7 amp; 10K ohms, I suppose.

amp; I agree with Jeremy, if it works, use it.

Good Luck


Originally Posted by jeremyim not sure those guys know what they heck they are talking about, minimize hum???

If the wire breaks . . . it'll definitely minimize hum.


Originally Posted by ArtieTooIf the wire breaks . . . it'll definitely minimize hum. cue rimshot.....