Pick-up is weak.

Barnezy

Just bought a strat off the forum. 

Noticed the bridge PUP was quiet. Tested it with a multimeter. Neck and middle are 5.7 and the bridge is 4.1. 

Haven’t taken the pickguard off yet, but any thoughts on what it could be, and hat I should look for? 

Thanks

Barnezy

Found the issues. Broken wire and a cold soldier joint. Time to get the soldiering iron out  

Barnezy

Nope. Now the neck and middle are reading 5.8 and the bridge 4.4 at the jack. 

So measured the pups directly. Bridge is only 4.4. 

Is this an issue with the bridge pickup or is it normal that they are this much weaker? 

Pickups are Radioshop MB60’s. 

OilCityPickups

Shouldn't be that much weaker. It's got an issue. 

Barnezy

Thanks. Paul at Radioshop has been really good and offered to take a look for me. 

Funkfingers

5.8k is typical for vintage style single coils. 

For modern expectations, it is desirable that the bridge position pickup should have approximately 20-25% more output. i.e. 7-9k. 

Your reading of 4.4k would be within the range for a stacked coils, noise-cancelling pickup that has one disconnected or defective coil. 

One other thing that might make the pickup read 4.4 is being connected in parallel with a second pickup. There could be a defect on your selector switch. Inspect the little sprung leaf connectors. 

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A quick and simple test to eliminate the selector switch from enquiries would be to temporarily disconnect its white conductor from the switch. If the pickup still reads 4.4k, the selector switch is not responsible.

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Finally, there is the vexed issue of what to do about the offending pickup. IMO, it would not hurt to contact the seller by PM to discuss the matter.

Barnezy

Thanks, I’ve tested directly at the pickup, and it is 4.4 so that should confirm it’s the pickup and nothing else. 

LionAquaLooper

Do you happen to know what make/model pickups those are?  What were they advertised as?

Barnezy

I’ve spoken to the builder and it is not right. They have offered to look at them for me to see what’s wrong.