Decades into their working lives, many Fender single coils continue to function quite happily while others have required a visit to the workbench for a spot of TLC. They may take quite a beating over the years, but the sweat, humidity, ageing process and general wear and tear can all take their toll. If a pickup does go down, it’s certainly not the end of the world, however, and there are usually plenty of things to consider. “Pickups can often be repaired without needing a rewind, especially when it comes to pre-CBS Fenders,” says pickup guru Tom Brantley of Tom Brantley Rewinds. “I’ll always look at what can be done, because it’s better for the customer and it’s better for me.”
If you’re comfortable with a multimeter and soldering iron you may wish to attempt tackling the problem yourself, although many feel this kind of thing is best left to the experts. “One of the first things I do is reflow any visible solder joints,” Tom tells us. “There may be some residual insulation – formvar or enamel – inhibiting the connection between the copper and solder, or sometimes I’ll see cold solder joints on the other end going into the circuit. If the lead material wasn’t pre-tinned properly before the solder joint was made, going into a switch or pot, then that can cause problems.