Testing Axis pickups. Can't get reading on meter. Help!

[bsteff666]

I picked up a used Axis. It has had the pickups swapped...but luckily it came with the stock pickups.

I am trying to test the stock Axis pickups to be sure they work...but can't get a reading on my meter.

They are four conductor. Red, black, white, green, & clear.

I though Red was hot, Black & white were the series link wires, green & clear would be ground.

I expected that touching the red wire with one lead from my meter....and the green & clear with the other lead from the meter--- That would give me the reading.... But I am getting nothing.

What am I doing wrong?

 

[beej]

Have you connected the Black & White wires together before taking the measurement?

 

[bsteff666]

Yes. Black & white are together.

I am getting a reading of 14.84 for the neck pickup...which sounds right to me.

So I think its just the bridge pickup with an issue. I am getting no reading from it.

 

[beej]

Sounds right-ish.

You can try each coil of the bridge separately to see what's going on. Measure Red & Black, then White & Green.

 

[bsteff666]

Ok... The red & black gives me no reading.

The white & green gives me 8.69.

So... One coil not working.

 

[beej]

Perhaps follow the white & green wires back a bit, and see if you can find an obvious break in them?

You can also buy a replacement from EBMM, but you'd have to send the damaged pickup back first.

 

[Ed Hunter]

Ok... The red & black gives me no reading.

The white & green gives me 8.69.

So... One coil not working.

Yes from what i am seeing described you have the one coil shorted.(may be just a loose wire or a break in the wire?)
the other coil you are Not getting a reading from should have been about the same as the working one at 8.69 since these are both symmetrical wound pu's.
there may be a slight difference due to tolerance like a little higher 8.85K or lower at 8.55K but that coil would be in the general ballpark of the working one. Bottom line is you have wired it properly for testing full humbucking and each coil
so IF you feel adventurous, you could gently take off the wrapping tape Made from a fabric like material that wraps the p'u so the wires are protected and take a look, or just play it safe and send it to EBMM for a replacement.
That bridge is a Killer p'u and unfortunately there is no aftermarket dimarzio that sounds just like it.
The closest i have heard was a tone zone i modified and even then the Axis one just has it.