Pick up problem?

[Uncle Roy]

One of our non computer members have ask me to post the question : what is the likelihood of a pickup going faulty on one string?
His third string on his Sho Bud sounds right on the lower octave but when he try's to pick say the 18th string or so the sound is reduced to just a clunk (in his words ).
This is a recent problem up until then the string would ring out with the rest.
Any comments welcomed.

[Will C]

Depends on the pickup, in my view. There's only two components in a pickup: magnets and the winding. The winding must be fine, or it would not pick up the other strings. If it's a single-magnet-per-string pickup, there is a vanishingly small chance of a single magnet losing its magnetism. BUT there is still the field from the magnets either side, so there should still be appreciable signal even then. For this type of pickup, I'd say it's hard to see now this could happen.

For those with blade or bar type pole-pieces, I'd say it's flat-out impossible. Just my 2c.

[Jason Lynch]

tell him to check that the pickup isn't too high, sounds like he's bottoming the strings out on the pole pieces. maybe pushing a tad too much on the strings?

[Will C]

Great thought, Jason, makes sense - it would kill any string vibration dead. You da man...

[Uncle Roy]

Thank you Will and Jason, I will pass that on to him, I think it could well be the single magnet problem as we have already spoken about pressure on the string as Jason suggest and he ruled that out. This is a 1975 LDG and the pickup could be showing its age maybe trying another pickup could be the answer?