Tele neck pickup - need help!

[phool4fool]

guys! yesterday I took my new '52 Thin Skin Tele home. I was doing a ruitine set-up, raising the neck pickup a little (as the guitar was plugged in) when the output of the pickup suddenly dropped considerably and became very trebly. The bridge pickup still works fine, but an hour later the neck pickup is still barely there. Did I gry something in the circuityry? Di I kill the neck pickup somehow? Any help?

[mastermind]

does it returns to normal if you lower the pup back to where it was? you probably will need to remove the guard & give it a closer inspection.

[phool4fool]

No.... I just barely raised it at all. Maybe a quarter turn on the screw. The drop in volume happeneing almost immediately. I wonder if the screwdriver might have caused some demagnetiziation or something. It was one of those Leatherman multi-tool things.

[mastermind]

I don't think that could happend. I raise and lower pups all the time with a steel philips head driver. Could be something is shorting out under the hood some how.

[phool4fool]

I know, I set up guitars all the time & I have never experienced anything like this. This is the first time I have ever used this toool so naturally I am suspecting it for causing this strange problem.

[phool4fool]

sorry did not mentioned above that I was adjusting the bass side screw when the problem happened & the bass frequencies are what's missing from the neck pickup's output. It sounds really thin and trebly with only a fraction of the output it had when I first plugged the guitar in. With the tone pot off, there is almost no sound at all. With the tone pot full up, the neck p is extrememly bright and still very quiet when compared to the bridge. (They are both at the same height in relation to the strings)

[lee]

I think, You must already have had the pickguard off to be doing your adjustment if it is a '52 and I would have thought anybody who sets guitars up and is around them all day would have also had the control plate off pretty quickly to look for the problem.
The screwdriver won't have "demagnetized" anything. What you are looking for is cold solder joint, or a broken wire, or a short, on the ground side of the circuit. Obiously start at the pup end, and you need to take the pup out to look underneath, checking the ground to the chrome cover as welll as the wires. Then follow the ground back to the pots and jack. If you find a broken or cold solder joint take it to atech if you have not got a soldering iron.
Hope this will work for you.

[phool4fool]

Thanks lee, In spite of the condescending nature of your reply, I will try what you suggest. FWIW, I sell guitars and make minor adjustments, saddles, truss rod, pickup height. I don't often get into wiring. we have techs on staff for that. I was simply trying to fix this problem myself rather than asking for their help on a busy day at the shop.

[lee]

I suppose I assumed some instinct for such things would be obsorbed through idle chit chat in a guitar shop. Sometimes I forget I'm from a generation that was encouraged to take things apart and put them back together. I imagine one day somebody will cut their finger on a volume pot and Fender will sued into using temper proof screws.

[guitarist]

If your guitar was ok to start with go back to square one & look it over well, as often a simple oversight will cause alot of torture:( case & point. Third volume pot lug an ohmeter will get you though most of this.
wish it will work for you

[phool4fool]

Ok....I took it to the shop guys this morning & it looks like I did ruin the pickup. The screwdriver I was using must have slipped and nicked the coils, breaking ones. So that's all he wrote for that pu barring a rewind which I may do. Thanks for your help!

[Guitarbuilder]

well......before you rewind the pickup, take the pickup out and remove the cover. Gently try unwinding the wire from the break. Chances are you will only lose a marginal number of windinds. Un-solder the short, broken piece and toss it. Take the new end of the winding, gently rewind it and solder back onto the pickup lead. If the wire looks coated, gently scrap it clean befoer you solder it. I did this with my tele neck pickup. I lost maybe twenty windings, but its a great sounding pickup. Maybe even better than before.
Good Luck man!

[phool4fool]

you all really helped me alot. I'm really thankful to all of you.
guitarbuilder, I'll give it a try.
Thanks!