What to look for when buying vintage pups?

I know it's a crap shoot and there are fakes ahoy everywhere. Is there a reputable place to buy them from? Or am I stuck to rolling on feebay?

I was figuring I would go for a single mustang pickup from the mid 60s. I was thinking since these are much less sought after there would be a lower chance of a fake than a PAF or tele bridge pickup.

A Duncan antiquity would not cost that much less. An extra $30-$40 won't break my back, especially since I'm only after one.

Any links to a site that covers vintage pickup info? I see some listed as 64 65 66, I guess they can they say that based on the materials? I know they have stamps also, is there anyway to tell by those?

Any recommended sellers on eBay, this or mylespaul forum or actual stores?

Thanks all, just starting to dig for info after I post this.

Bump

You see the Mustang/Master all the time on ebay for $150. I think there are sellers that sell from a stash so do check the feedback. I don't like it when replys try to desuade posters from their quest, but I will mention that I sold my '60s Strat p/ups because I found modern sets that either sounded exactly the same or had all the + qualitys of the old, plus more, to sound even better at a fraction of the price.

to me, "vintage pickup" just means a certain build and sound. the components are easy to acquire. the rest is in the build, and that usually comes down to the flatware/bobbin footprint, coil wire, magnets, the tpl (turns per layer) and the turn count. pickup resistance is at best a guideline, as expressed by the coil wire gauge and the turn count - it is NOT the be all, end all.

"real vintage pickups" can vary enormously in build AND TONE ... quite true in the case of early fender single coils where there is no perfect standard.

the build spex for most "vintage pickups" is readily available via the web.

in essence, most any pickup winder can make a "vintage pickup". once again, it's not rocket science or "mojo", it's just good common sense knowledge. or, for lots more dollar$, you can buy a "real vintage pickup". :mrgreen:

I know it's a crap shoot and there are fakes ahoy everywhere. Is there a reputable place to buy them from? Or am I stuck to rolling on feebay?

I was figuring I would go for a single mustang pickup from the mid 60s. I was thinking since these are much less sought after there would be a lower chance of a fake than a PAF or tele bridge pickup.

A Duncan antiquity would not cost that much less. An extra $30-$40 won't break my back, especially since I'm only after one.

Any links to a site that covers vintage pickup info? I see some listed as 64 65 66, I guess they can they say that based on the materials? I know they have stamps also, is there anyway to tell by those?

Any recommended sellers on eBay, this or mylespaul forum or actual stores?

Thanks all, just starting to dig for info after I post this.
I don't think there is much mojo in vintage Mustang pickups
I had a Customers late 60's Mustang in my shop ,he wanted the original pups rewound or replaced because they were dull & lifeless
so I wound a new set which he's very happy with

"What to look for when buying vintage pups?"

Your chequebook??

"What to look for when buying vintage pups?"

Your chequebook??

precisely. yer paying for bragging rights, at most. :mrgreen: