How do you measure a guitar's pickup voltage & current?

Question

I am looking into building a very simple amp for the guitar, problem is right now that I'm trying to get and idea of what voltage and current the pickup produces. Since I'm trying to avoid de-stringing the guitar to get to the pickup's leads, I'm just using a guitar cable and clipping some alligator clips at the end to measure current. When i do this, i get nothing. If i then take the alligator clips, hook them in series with a pot. and try to measure voltage, i still get nothing. Any clue whats up? (I also got an oscilloscope but my voltmeter should pick up something at least...right?) Thanks for the responses in advanced.

Answer 1

Unless you have active electronics (known for the battery in the back of the guitar), which I doubt since you are building your own amp, There is no voltage or current in a guitar pick-up. It's just a magnet. That's all. You can stick your toung or privates on it all day without getting a shock.

The cable has the juice in it, but only if you plug it into the amp. The power comes from the amp. It goes through the cable, hits the contacts in the guitar, and then goes back to the amp, and through the speaker.

Answer 2

Make sure your voltmeter is set to detect AC voltage, rather than DC.

An oscilloscope should definitely pick up the signal.