Univox Less Paul Pickup

[Low_Bridge]

Hey all - new here -

Late 60's Univox Les Paul Gold Top with an almost dead neck pick up-

any direction would be appreciated

Thanks

L_B

PS need to keep original

Edited November 28, 2006 by Low_Bridge

[Robert_the_damned]

Late 60's Univox Les Paul Gold Top with an almost dead neck pick up

in what way is it almost dead? that would help a lot in deciding the best way to fix it

There's not a lot to go wrong with a pickup so it'll either need rewinding (most likely that the insulation on the wire has broken down and is shorting inside the pickup reducing the output) or the magnets have started to demagnatise and need replacing (not so likely but still possible).

[Low_Bridge]

Late 60's Univox Les Paul Gold Top with an almost dead neck pick up

in what way is it almost dead? that would help a lot in deciding the best way to fix it

There's not a lot to go wrong with a pickup so it'll either need rewinding (most likely that the insulation on the wire has broken down and is shorting inside the pickup reducing the output) or the magnets have started to demagnatise and need replacing (not so likely but still possible).

Thanks for your reply- The neck pickup reads about 1.3 with the ohm meter & has little volume the other reads between 7 & 8 & seems fine-

L_B

[Robert_the_damned]

Yeah sounds like you've got a short inside the winding, I was tempted to say it was the series link in the humbucker but if its reading that low its got to be a short in one of the coils. You'll need to either re-wind your pickup yourself or find someone who will do it for you. As long as you ask them to re-wind it to complement your working pickup I can't see how it would make it any less original.

[Low_Bridge]

Yeah sounds like you've got a short inside the winding, I was tempted to say it was the series link in the humbucker but if its reading that low its got to be a short in one of the coils. You'll need to either re-wind your pickup yourself or find someone who will do it for you. As long as you ask them to re-wind it to complement your working pickup I can't see how it would make it any less original.

Here's a pic - do you know how difficult to do myself?

Let me know if you need a closer one of the pick up-

Thanks

Edited November 28, 2006 by Low_Bridge

[Robert_the_damned]

you'll have to completely take the pickup appart and remove all the wire from the bobbins inside. You then have to wind several thousand turns of wire very tightly onto the bobbin (using a machine really helps). I'd strongly recomend paying someone to do it if you're not well versed because otherwise you've got a lot of research to do before you even build a pickup winding machine to wind a pickup let alone getting a pickup wound to perfection!

[Low_Bridge]

you'll have to completely take the pickup appart and remove all the wire from the bobbins inside. You then have to wind several thousand turns of wire very tightly onto the bobbin (using a machine really helps). I'd strongly recomend paying someone to do it if you're not well versed because otherwise you've got a lot of research to do before you even build a pickup winding machine to wind a pickup let alone getting a pickup wound to perfection!

Makes sense I guess I'll change name of the post "Where to get a Univox Les Paul Pick Up Rewound"

Thanks so much

Opps doesn't look like an option

any US referals ?

Thanks-

Edited November 28, 2006 by Low_Bridge

[Robert_the_damned]

I should think these guys or these guys would be able to sort your pickup out. It might be pricey though.

[crafty]

Seymour Duncan, Jason Lollar, and Lindy Fralin are good re-winders, too. They also may be able to modify the stock pickups and give you a little better sound.

[lovekraft]

...need to keep original...

Out of curiosity, why? It may be none of my business (not that that's ever kept me from speaking my mind ), but my memories of those pickups aren't particularly fond ones. If you're worried about collector value, don't - there isn't any real collector's market for 70s Japanese imports. A really good one example might sell for $500+ if you can find the right buyer, but I can't see that replaced pickups would be seen as anything other than value added.

OTOH, if there's deep sentimental value involved, please ignore the previous paragraph.

[Low_Bridge]

...need to keep original...

Out of curiosity, why? It may be none of my business (not that that's ever kept me from speaking my mind ), but my memories of those pickups aren't particularly fond ones. If you're worried about collector value, don't - there isn't any real collector's market for 70s Japanese imports. A really good one example might sell for $500+ if you can find the right buyer, but I can't see that replaced pickups would be seen as anything other than value added.

OTOH, if there's deep sentimental value involved, please ignore the previous paragraph.

I am considering that - Why I think the market will continue to rise is the real ones aren't cheap -

What would you drop in her I can always let the future buyer have this dead pickup get it fixed I guess-

(Like that queen - tom scholz of boston sound)

Thanks

[crafty]

The thing both Queen and Tom Scholz had in common was ridiculously boosted treble on the guitars. Almost "plaid" boosted treble, if you don't mind my Spaceballs reference.

So, you can do it like Scholz did with a Dimarzio Super Distortion or like Brian May with a few high-power single coils and a Vox amp. Either way you'll have to use some type of EQ to get that treble boosted sound.

[marksound]

Seymour Duncan, Jason Lollar, and Lindy Fralin are good re-winders, too. They also may be able to modify the stock pickups and give you a little better sound.

Curtis Novak too.