hot OV bridge, red dot 8k+

yegbert · October 19th, 2005, 11:04 PM

I recently bought a used set of AlNiCo 3 Fender OV pickups through the TDPRI garage sale. I was surprised to discover that the bridge pickup measures between 8k and 8.5k ohms.

The pickup has a red marker dot on the top side of the lower flatwork (first pic below, just to the left of the yellow lead), and on both lead wires near where they connect to the pickup (second pic below):

The seller assures me the pickups are in fact Fender OVs, and I believe him. My guess is that the bridge was marked from the factory to flag it as wound hotter than the 7.2k spec.

I have these installed in my '50s Classic Tele. I bought the neck first and the bridge later, and I had the neck installed initially paired with a stock '50s Classic 6.4k flatpole, and I didn't think to measure the neck pickup's resistance before installing it. But I had noticed it had a stronger output than the '50s Classic stock neck pickup, I had to lower the OV neck pickup and raise the Classic bridge pickup from where I would have set the Classic set, to get them balanced.

This is my first set of AlNiCo 3 pickups I've had in a Tele, I've had AlNiCo 5s and 2s and ceramics. The AlNiCo 2s were a set of Duncan AlNiCo 2 Pros, and after I used them a while I tired of their tone, decided I liked the Duncan Broadcaster or a Classic series bridge pickup (both AlNiCo 5) paired with a Classic series neck better.

I think I like this OV neck, but I actually liked it better paired with the Classic bridge than with the OV bridge. I'll give the bridge some time and see if I learn to appreciate it.

Anyone else here seen an OV bridge wound this hot, or marked with a red marker dot?

Darrell · October 20th, 2005, 07:29 AM

If I remember correctly, the early 90's OV's were actually overwound Alnico V pickups.

Or it could be an early run of Alnico III, before they reach a final agreement on 7.2.

Mark Davis · October 20th, 2005, 11:06 AM

Some of the earilest 82 52ri's had red bottom pickups but I havent seen the red dot before?

red is usually + and its next to the + wire so maybe thats all it is?

The A3 52ri pickups were made from 98-present.

October 19th, 2005, 11:04 PM	#1 (permalink)
yegbert Friend of Leo's Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Clinton, Maryland (US) Age: 54 Posts: 4,509 77 Photos	hot OV bridge, red dot 8k+ I recently bought a used set of AlNiCo 3 Fender OV pickups through the TDPRI garage sale. I was surprised to discover that the bridge pickup measures between 8k and 8.5k ohms. The pickup has a red marker dot on the top side of the lower flatwork (first pic below, just to the left of the yellow lead), and on both lead wires near where they connect to the pickup (second pic below): The seller assures me the pickups are in fact Fender OVs, and I believe him. My guess is that the bridge was marked from the factory to flag it as wound hotter than the 7.2k spec. I have these installed in my '50s Classic Tele. I bought the neck first and the bridge later, and I had the neck installed initially paired with a stock '50s Classic 6.4k flatpole, and I didn't think to measure the neck pickup's resistance before installing it. But I had noticed it had a stronger output than the '50s Classic stock neck pickup, I had to lower the OV neck pickup and raise the Classic bridge pickup from where I would have set the Classic set, to get them balanced. This is my first set of AlNiCo 3 pickups I've had in a Tele, I've had AlNiCo 5s and 2s and ceramics. The AlNiCo 2s were a set of Duncan AlNiCo 2 Pros, and after I used them a while I tired of their tone, decided I liked the Duncan Broadcaster or a Classic series bridge pickup (both AlNiCo 5) paired with a Classic series neck better. I think I like this OV neck, but I actually liked it better paired with the Classic bridge than with the OV bridge. I'll give the bridge some time and see if I learn to appreciate it. Anyone else here seen an OV bridge wound this hot, or marked with a red marker dot?

October 20th, 2005, 07:29 AM	#2 (permalink)
Darrell Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Houston, Texas Age: 48 Posts: 2,448	Another thought If I remember correctly, the early 90's OV's were actually overwound Alnico V pickups. Or it could be an early run of Alnico III, before they reach a final agreement on 7.2. __________________ "Yeap, I like the American Standard Telecaster, I can even live with one a them PCB amps, and I even use one a them mul-tie-effects things too."

October 20th, 2005, 11:06 AM	#3 (permalink)
Mark Davis Doctor of Teleocity Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Bakersfield Ca. Age: 57 Posts: 12,236	Some of the earilest 82 52ri's had red bottom pickups but I havent seen the red dot before? red is usually + and its next to the + wire so maybe thats all it is? The A3 52ri pickups were made from 98-present. __________________ I'm so blind my seeing eye dog needs glasses.