Do magnetic pickups lose their charge?

[JimmyT]

...if you don't regularly plug them in? I've got a vintage silvertone with the single lipstick. It really seems like the guitar has lost some gain. I haven't played it out much in the past year, mostly just unplugged around the house.

 

[atomictoyz]

Everything loses its charge to some extent, but it may be increased resistance from old wires that have oxidized or corroded some how, plus potentiometers(volume &tone knobs) also suffer from corrosion, check those things 1st because that more likely than the other.

Peace,
Dennis

 

[Daddy-O]

Old lipstick tubes aren't very loud to start with. Even less gain than old Fender single coils----not a lot of wire windings

 

[Major Tom]

Magnetic pickups have no active electronic components to lose any "charge"; they are a magnet or set of 6 magnets inside a bobbin with very small gauge enameled copper wire wrapped around it. Pickups pump electrons, they don't receive any voltage. The magnets will lose their strength over time, but probably not a significant amount in one year. As far as the wire, I wouldn't worry, if it was corroding, your pickup(s) probably won't work more than about a week; copper gets eaten really quickly once this starts. Check or replace your potentiometers and tone capacitor, make sure all solder connections are good, a "leaky" component can short some of your signal to ground, weakening the signal. Try raising the pickup closer to the strings and enjoy your vintage instrument with "naturally aged magnets". Better yet turn up your volume! Don't let it sit so long again, how would you like being ignored for a year...

 

[Scott Tansley]

Yeh I agree, there's no charge there at all. Not like some condensor mikes if thats what he's worried about.
Just a bunch of magnets wrapped with copper (usually but not always) and you could put you guitar under the bed in its case for a hundred years and pickups will sound the same. But we wont be here then so dont worry man.

 

[Bodoc]

Magnets may lose it if you have been physically pounding them--I remember that from playing rough with magnets as a kid. I admit to have had to defend myself from some maniac charging on stage some years ago! No noticeable damage to the pickups, though the chap in question was slightly dented as was my Fender Jazz Bass--added "personality" to both parties .Still, "vintage" guitars are prized for their aged wood and funked out pickups...loss of strength need not be a problem. There are soooo many great preamps out there--if the signal is to your liking but somewhat weaker, just boost it.