Do pickups lose volume/output as they get older?

NS2 · #1 05-28-2010, 08:29 AM

I've mostly played basses with EMG active pickups. I recently got a couple older basses (mid 80's) with EMG's and they seem to have a lot less output than the newer versions (same bass configuration, same pups).

Has anyone else heard of this?

Also, I'm looking around at a couple basses with stock passive pickups made in the early 80's. Would passive pickups be any different? I'm thinking of guitar players who rewire pickups after awhile.

SGD Lutherie · #2 05-28-2010, 12:42 PM

They shouldn't. I have some very old EMGs from the 80's and even an older Overlend EMG mini humbucker and they sound like they always did.

I believe they have changed their preamp since then, and that would probably account for the new ones being louder.

I also have seen some very early Strat SA pickups that were wound hotter than the newer SAs, so it's also possible they changed the specs of the coils.

maturanesa · #3 05-30-2010, 01:28 AM

Check the distance between the strings and the pickups. Closer= louder

Rano Bass · #4 05-30-2010, 01:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SGD Lutherie

I believe they have changed their preamp since then, and that would probably account for the new ones being louder.

+1
That could be the reason.

Jim C · #5 05-31-2010, 08:35 AM

Am curious about the question from the OP about passive pups that are not EMG's

Magnets loose their force over time (also due to vibration) and one could conclude that pups would have less output; my question - is this loss of output significant or akin to spitting in the ocean?

SGD Lutherie · #6 05-31-2010, 06:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jim C

Magnets loose their force over time (also due to vibration)

Magnets in pickups really don't lose any strength over time. Not anything that would be noticeable. They also don't lose any strength due to vibrations. If that were the case, then all those 50 year old Fender and Gibson pickups wouldn't work anymore!

Some magnets, such as alnico, drop a little in strength in the beginning but then stay were they are for a long time. Ceramic magnets don't lose any power at all. Some of the very early magnets used in pickups, like cobalt steel, do lose their magnetism after many years.