How do you know when rewinding is required?

Microbass · Sep 24, 2007

Hi guys,
I own three Gibson basses, a 73 Ripper, 75 G3 and a 76 Grabber.

The Grabber and Ripper definitely have the hottest output.

My G3 was clearly someone's project bass when I got it. My on stage antics have also result in a broken tone shaft, and the volume pot was always gritty. It was my main bass for about a year so I never really noticed the different in output.
I will be investing sometime into this instrument this year - including replacing the pots.

However, I'm wondering if perhaps the pickups could be an issue with this low output? I doubt any of my 3 instruments give as hot as an output compared to new basses. How do you know when rewinding is required? Can it affect the tone of the instrument if you get it done?

Cheers for any info.
:hiding:

Mon Rominee · Sep 24, 2007

Rewinding is needed when
a) the pickup no longer works but the magnet is good
b) you want a higher or lower output.

In your case, the magnets could be weak too...I imagine you could have them re-magnetized? I'm guessing, I've never done it.

A9X · Sep 24, 2007

Mon Rominee said:
Rewinding is needed when
a) the pickup no longer works but the magnet is good
b) you want a higher or lower output.

Agree.
If your pickups are producing a satisfactory level into your preamp so there's low enough noise, leave them alone. Don't assume newer pickups have more output, or that more output is better.

From your description it sounds as there may be other issues with the bass, not neccessarily the pickups.

Mon Rominee said:
In your case, the magnets could be weak too...I imagine you could have them re-magnetized? I'm guessing, I've never done it.

I'm massively skeptical about this. Magnets will only lose strength if placed in a very strong magnetic field for a time (long, not seconds) or they're heated above their Curie temp. If the latter were the case, the bass would be cinders.

theshadow2001 · Sep 24, 2007

A9X said:
I'm massively skeptical about this. Magnets will only lose strength if placed in a very strong magnetic field for a time (long, not seconds) or they're heated above their Curie temp. If the latter were the case, the bass would be cinders.

Doesn't mechanical shock cause magnets to demagnetize as well?

Trevorus · Sep 24, 2007

theshadow2001 said:
Doesn't mechanical shock cause magnets to demagnetize as well?

It depends on the magnet type.

A9X · Sep 24, 2007

theshadow2001 said:
Doesn't mechanical shock cause magnets to demagnetize as well?

Do you regularly hit your pickups with a mallet? A mechanical shock large enough to cause any significant demagnetisation would destroy the instrument.

GlennW · Sep 24, 2007

I wouldn't suggest rewinding a vintage pickup unless it's dead. They're worth big bucks.

Your "on stage antics" may have jarred a magnet loose which could lower the output.

theshadow2001 · Sep 24, 2007

A9X said:
Do you regularly hit your pickups with a mallet? A mechanical shock large enough to cause any significant demagnetisation would destroy the instrument.

Give water enough time and it can burrow its way through anything. What about loads of small ones over the years?

A9X · Sep 24, 2007

theshadow2001 said:
What about loads of small ones over the years?

I still don't believe that any 'shocks' that could come about from normal use that didn't significantly damage the instrument would be anywhere near enough to cause demagnetisation, even incrementally.

#include <MK> · Sep 28, 2007

GlennW said:
I wouldn't suggest rewinding a vintage pickup unless it's dead.

+1

Rewinding for substantially higher output may not always be possible and may not produce the desired results either.

Pbassred · Sep 28, 2007

I read a story in the eighties about the Police. Apparently they lent their guitars against their amps after a sound check. When the went back to them they were stone dead. They got the pups remagnetised and they were too bright. It took a while until they settled down.
At least, that's the story.

GlennW · Sep 28, 2007

Sounds like bs to me. They probably overindulged during their break and needed an excuse not to play.

A9X · Sep 28, 2007

GlennW said:
Sounds like bs to me.

Ditto.

Searcy · Sep 30, 2007

Sounds like bs to me. They probably overindulged during their break and needed an excuse not to play.

HA! I would have to agree. Great story though. You gotta love it.

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How do you know when rewinding is required?

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