Have I broken a pick-up?

Littlejonny

I took the wiring out of my Ibanez AS73 because the neck vol pot was being intermittent. I assumed something was grounding out. When I took the wiring out, it seems that the neck pot is working perfectly, as is the neck pick-up. The bridge however has gone from hero to zero, and isn’t working at all. I’ve traced all the wiring and everything is clean and solid. I took an alligator clip and connected the output lug of the switch to the hot of the bridge pick-up and still nothing. If I touch the pick-up I get buzz, but it’s not picking up the strings. Also, if I tap something metal on the pick-up slugs it makes a tinny click, not a thump like you would expect.

anyideas?

Funkfingers

If the entire wiring loom is out of the guitar, try to take DC resistance readings for each pickup. Test between the baseplate of each pickup and its contact on the selector switch.

Post your meter readings. Sit back and wait for @ICBM to provide the explanation.

Littlejonny

Ok my multimeter is broken…better buy one

when you say baseplate - that sounds like I need to take strings off and remove pickups - gah

ICBM

Sounds like the ground connection to the pickup or its volume control may be broken.

Littlejonny

OMG ICBM you’re 100% correct. Thank you

ICBM

Theory
Logic
Experience

I (used to) do this for a living .

Littlejonny

Thanks ICBM, I was doing it whilst frazzled last night in not great lighting. I think if I’d waited until this morning I might have spotted it myself. 

One thing that annoys me is the feeble thin wires coming off the pickups and another is the amount of stuff that needs to be grounded. 

Anyway, thanks again, I’m going to sort it out tonight hopefully and get her back in business.