Methods to test a pickup?

[harvey49]

Can someone offer me some advice on how to confirm if a pickup is faulty or not?

Recently I bought a Rickenbacker 360 V64 12 String from the US and had it shipped to Australia. The bass pickup is dead as a dodo, I've taken the pickguard and panel off to look for the obvious, loose wire or if something is shorting across terminal etc, but no luck. When I change my next set of strings I want to remove the pickup and check it. When I contacted the person I bought the guitar from he was adament that the pickup worked before it was shipped, as he seemed a genuine sort of a character, I've got no reason to doubt it was. Is it a possibilty during shipping something has been altered in the pickup due to a severe jolt?

I can use a multimeter, what if any tests do you suggest? If the pickup prooves to be faulty is it an option to have it repaired to try and maintain it's originality and who would you recommend?

Ron

[ken_j]

Check the resistance across the 2 wires from the pickup it should not be open (infinite reading) nor should it read zero or close to it this would indicate a short. I believe that pick up should be in the 7k to 10k range or thereabouts. You may have to isolate it to get an accurate reading. Make sure you are getting continuity at the rest of the wiring and components. Sometimes a failure of a broken wire is common with vibration (from shipping). This happens right were the solder ends on a wire. If the solder wicks it's way under the insulation a break can occur but not be visible. Schematics are available a www.rickenbacker.com the factory site. Click on service then schematics. Hope this helps.

[harvey49]

Thanks for your help Ken resistance readings are what I was looking for, but never thought that wires could be broken near insulation and soldered connection. I will attack this problem as soon as the strings come off.

Appreciate your help

Ron