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really stupid question

MattD1960

Well-known member
Joined
Mar 17, 2009
Messages
749
How would i test the output of my pick ups. i really just dont know, i like my set i just am curious and u guys are always throwing around 7.5 k and all that stuff so how do i go about finding out what mine are at ?
 

DanD

Active member
Joined
Apr 8, 2007
Messages
2,368
How would i test the output of my pick ups. i really just dont know, i like my set i just am curious and u guys are always throwing around 7.5 k and all that stuff so how do i go about finding out what mine are at ?

Those readings are OHM readings taken with a multimeter like this:

Multimeter.jpg


Set the meter to OHMs, connect one lead to the braid/ground wire and the other to the positive wire of the pickup and you'll have your measurement.

Not sure on how accurate the measurement is with the pickup wired into the circuit. I only measure them to see if the pickup is open (dead) and only ever have taken measurements with the pickup out of the circuit.

A functional meter for this purpose should cost less than $25. I'd try Radio Shack, Sears or Home Depot. :2zone
 

RevPearly

Active member
Joined
Jul 2, 2010
Messages
1,137
I'm not sure how accurate the readings are if checking the pups wired into the guitar, but I have done it before to compare relative
values of pickups in different guitars. I use a very short guitar cable plugged into the guitar, with the volume turned all the way up. Take one lead of the test meter and touch the tip of the plug and the other lead to the shank of the plug. This will give an approximate reading. (Make sure that the selector switch is flipped to just one pickup and no coil splitter (tap) is on.) On the few that I have checked both in and out of the guitar the values have been fairly close. This is the lazy man's way to do it since you don't have to take anything apart to check (I'm sure someone else will say the readings are not exact this way but again it works for comparison purposes). Hope this helps.
 

MikeSlub

Administrator
Joined
Jul 15, 2001
Messages
15,166
I'm not sure how accurate the readings are if checking the pups wired into the guitar, but I have done it before to compare relative
values of pickups in different guitars. I use a very short guitar cable plugged into the guitar, with the volume turned all the way up. Take one lead of the test meter and touch the tip of the plug and the other lead to the shank of the plug. This will give an approximate reading. (Make sure that the selector switch is flipped to just one pickup and no coil splitter (tap) is on.) On the few that I have checked both in and out of the guitar the values have been fairly close. This is the lazy man's way to do it since you don't have to take anything apart to check (I'm sure someone else will say the readings are not exact this way but again it works for comparison purposes). Hope this helps.

That's the way I do it -- close enough! :dude:
 
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