How can you tell?

[Turtletwang]

If someone is selling a Tele and claims that it came with, or has been upgraded with a certain pickup such as Lollar, Nocaster, Don Mare, etc. how would the buyer know for sure? With the exception of Seymour Duncan, do pickup makers put any special markings on their pups?

[DMace]

I believe Don Mare writes his name on the bottom of each pickup. No idea about the others. Do some ebay searches. Invariably, there is a picture of the bottom of the pickup that you can use as a reference.

[ghosttour]

• Don Mare engraves the bottom of his pickups with the date and (I think) his name - it has been a while since I looked.
• Lollar humbuckers (can't speak for the single coils) have a cool little engraved tag on the bottom made out of what appears to be a piece of fiberboard bobbin.

[boris bubbanov]

I'm looking at a Lindy Fralin from Bill Callaham and in this case, you would have to be familiar with small details associated with the manufacturer. I just recognize it because I've bought them before. The "D" polepiece is raised just a fraction, copper plated baseplate and white cloth around the windings, but others do that as well.

Serious question. Know your vendor, I suggest.