New Nocaster Bridge Pickup's DC Resistance is 6.8K - Should I be worried?

[TooDeepToTurnBack]

Just brought a pair of Nocaster pickups from Ebay at a relatively cheap price, and I have never bought or replaced a pickup in the past. The specs from Fender say the neck pickup should measure 7.1K, and the bridge should measure 7.3k.

But I tested the resistance of the pickup with my meter, turns out that the NECK is 7.3K Ohms(3% Higher), and the BRIDGE is 6.8K Ohms(7% Lower). Are these variances acceptable? Should I contact the seller to return the pickups?

(Because of the bridge I ordered has not arrived, I do not want to replace my PU yet.)

 

[monkeybanana]

Not familiar with that specific line but the neck PU likely uses thinner wire thus can read higher and doesn't mean it is wound hotter if that is what you are worried about.

 

[TooDeepToTurnBack]

Not familiar with that specific line but the neck PU likely uses thinner wire thus can read higher and doesn't mean it is wound hotter if that is what you are worried about.

My main concern is whether there is a problem with the quality of the pickup. I am unfamiliar with the pickup, and according to my research, a good way for nonprofessionals to check the quality is to measure its DCR. But most websites didn't tell me how much variance was acceptable.

 

[SnidelyWhiplash]

Everyone's meter is different. Too many variables to consider. The meter, even the humidity or room temperature can affect a meters reading. If it bothers you that much, OP, send it back.

I once purchased a set of Fender PV 64 tele pups & they didn’t read the same as stated on the box. They sounded fine, nevertheless.

 

[monkeybanana]

Everyone's meter is different. Too many variables to consider. The meter, even the humidity or room temperature can affect a meters reading. If it bothers you that much, OP, send it back.

I once purchased a set of Fender PV 64 tele pups & they didn’t read the same as stated on the box. They sounded fine, nevertheless.

My meter is better than your meter

 

[Rob DiStefano]

Everyone's meter is different. Too many variables to consider. The meter, even the humidity or room temperature can affect a meters reading. If it bothers you that much, OP, send it back.

I once purchased a set of Fender PV 64 tele pups & they didn’t read the same as stated on the box. They sounded fine, nevertheless.

Ah, a voice of learned reason. DCR is a very amorphous value that is vastly meaningless for the most part, unless you actually understand a specific transducer's footprint, construction, and components. Don't buy into the hype.

 

[dsutton24]

You should sell your house, car and children and move to Arkintoofle Minor immediately. There's no other option. Just do it.

 

[Cjteleforum]

Ohm readings vary with temperature also. Colder will read lower.

 

[TooDeepToTurnBack]

Ah, a voice of learned reason. DCR is a very amorphous value that is vastly meaningless for the most part, unless you actually understand a specific transducer's footprint, construction, and components. Don't buy into the hype.

So this should not be too much of a problem right? And then how can I tell if a guitar pickup is good/real? Maybe I really shouldn't buy a pickup on eBay at a cheap price(I bought it for 139$, brand new), got me worried a lot lol

 

[Rob DiStefano]

So this should not be too much of a problem right? And then how can I tell if a guitar pickup is good/real? Maybe I really shouldn't buy a pickup on eBay at a cheap price(I bought it for 139$, brand new), got me worried a lot lol

The truth about passive guitar pickups is that most are marketed with a glut of pure hype, when in reality a blind purchase will always be a gamble of sorts.

Without a pickup stuck in yer guitar, with you playing, thru your entire system, you really won't know what it'll do for the music you wish to create.

At best, soundbytes might get you in the ball park - but that's someone else playing it, in their guitar, feeding outboard stuff that ain't yours.

So if ya bought, stick it in, plug it in, hear what happens. Not too happy? Mess with pickup height - most passive pickups are reasonably height sensitive. Use only yer ears.

Truly hope it works well for ya, no reason it shouldn't!

 

[Red Ryder]

You should worry. About everything except those pickups. And have that weird mole on the back of your neck checked out.

 

[YoGeorge]

I bought a pair of Nocasters maybe 10 years ago. They were supposed to be the 7.1/7.3 at that time also. The actual pickups read 7.09 neck, 7.05 bridge. They sound great.

 

[TooDeepToTurnBack]

You should worry. About everything except those pickups. And have that weird mole on the back of your neck checked out.

Sorry, I don't know much about pickups, and I'm not a native speaker either. I apologize if I offended you

 

[TooDeepToTurnBack]

The truth about passive guitar pickups is that most are marketed with a glut of pure hype, when in reality a blind purchase will always be a gamble of sorts.

Without a pickup stuck in yer guitar, with you playing, thru your entire system, you really won't know what it'll do for the music you wish to create.

At best, soundbytes might get you in the ball park - but that's someone else playing it, in their guitar, feeding outboard stuff that ain't yours.

So if ya bought, stick it in, plug it in, hear what happens. Not too happy? Mess with pickup height - most passive pickups are reasonably height sensitive. Use only yer ears.

Truly hope it works well for ya, no reason it shouldn't!

I see, thank you very much for your kind interpretation!

 

[Red Ryder]

Sorry, I don't know much about pickups, and I'm not a native speaker either. I apologize if I offended you

You're not offending me, I'm just being a wise a$$. Sorry

 

[Stubee]

I had a set of Nocasters and believe the bridge pickup was also about like your ohm reading. Don’t worry about it. Just play around with pickup height, your guitar tone & volume + amp settings and you’ll find what you like.

 

[telemnemonics]

Even the same pickup and same meter will give a different reading from one day tomthe next, mostly related to temperature.

But, if you bought unmarked pickups, second hand on ebay, from a hobby seller without much good reputation, then yeah, hard for us to say if you got what you paid for.

Fender really should stamp brand and model on their expensive pickups.
But then we might buy used more and new less.

 

[Rob DiStefano]

I bought a pair of Nocasters maybe 10 years ago. They were supposed to be the 7.1/7.3 at that time also. The actual pickups read 7.09 neck, 7.05 bridge. They sound great.

Do not get hung up on the minutiae of DCR values, that will do you a big disservice sooner than later. Let yer ears do the sonic evaluation of any passive pickup.

 

[Monoprice99]

I wouldn't be concerned for that, 51 Nocasters are currently spec'ed at 7.1 Neck & 7.18 Bridge. Worst case you have 52 Original Pure Vintage wound (7.2 Neck/6.6 Bridge spec). Henries are very similar too.

 

[Rob DiStefano]

ALL Leo Fender 1950 bridge pickups used the same footprint and materials = 43AWG coil wire over A3 rod magnets. The guitar names changed four times = Electric Spanish Guitar, Esquire (1 and 2 pickups), Broadcaster. January of 1951 saw the Gretsch "Broadkaster" drums letter arrive in Leo's mailbox and he removed the "Broadcaster" head stock label, making those guitars that were built but unsold in 1950 into what we unofficially call the "Nocaster". After Don Randall coined the "Telecaster" name in early 1951, Leo began transitioning his bridge pickup components by first using 42AWG coil wire over his remaining A3 rod magnets, and eventually at sometime in 1951 the full transition to 42AWG coil wire over A5 rod magnets was completed, and what is considered the appropriate bridge build for Tele and Esquire bridge pickups from 1952 to the current date.

More important than the above is the absolute random DCR values on Leo Fender pickups. Peruse Nacho's "The Blackguard Book" and you will see authentic 50s Leo Fender bridge pickups run a gamut of DCR values, from 5+k to 10+k. What does that tell us about Leo's pickups and DCR values?