CuNiFe demensions v. Shawbucker HH

[Southlaw 68]

I want to pull the trigger and build a Fender Telecaster Deluxe Mod Shop, only to pull the Shawbuckers out and replace them with the CuNiFe pickups. I wouldn't want to purchase the guitar only to find out that the Shawbuckers are larger than the CuNiFe pickup ( or vice versa). Does anyone know the dimension of the Shawbuckers and/or the CuNiFe pickups? Do they drop in or is there other work needed (routing, string spacing, etc..).

Just an FYI, I'm lefthanded. I bring this to you attention because many of you will ask why I don't just buy an AV or a Deluxe reissue. The answer is simple, Fender never offers cool guitars to lefties.

 

[old_picker]

Shawbucker is a standard size humbucker. I dont see the wide range humbucker for sale at least at Fender Australia.

The wide range humbuckers were built traditionally with CuNiFe slugs which are cast from a metal based alloy. Another example of an alloy used for pickup slugs is AlNiCo. The letters signify the metals used in the alloy the slugs are cast from. The problem Fender had with CuNiFe slugs was machining the thread onto the cast slugs. These slugs were notoriously brittle and there was a high failure rate during the process of machining the threads onto the slugs. After a while Fender discontinued the production of wide range humbuckers. Fast forward to present times the old wide range humbuckers are suddenly flavour of the month and the value of old guitars with them aboard have become well sought after.

There is also the fact that wider longer coils have a different magnetic field to standard humbuckers. This may also have a good effect on tone. I recently installed a set of wide range humbuckers built by Martin A Smith an Aussie winder in one of my deluxe builds. I have to say they sounded fabulous. Martin used AlNiCo slugs in these pickups.

In recent years the wide range humbuckers are back at Fender. Either they have managed to address the problem that had them discontinued first time round, or the word is not describing the alloy the slugs are cast from but used as a brand name. Notice the convention of naming the elements has been discarded. eg CuNiFe - Cunife

Be aware that Cunife is a magic code word and may be being used as a different type of magnet that has nothing to do with strings.
Call me a cynic if you like but that's my take on it. If anyone has good info on this I'd love to hear it.

 

[Peegoo]

I wouldn't want to purchase the guitar only to find out that the Shawbuckers are larger than the CuNiFe pickup ( or vice versa).

I have both the Shawbucker and the WRH of pickups in my guitar pile.

The Shawbucker is a standard humbucker format (Gibson, etc.). The Wide Range humbucker (WRH) has a substantially larger footprint and is not a direct replacement. The difference is not trivial; it's not something you can easily tweak to make them fit. The WRH is 1/4" wider and 3/8" longer, so it takes some major surgery with a router to remove wood from the body and increasing the size of the mounting holes in the pickguard.

The WRH also uses a different mounting scheme: four screws vice the two screws of the standard humbucker.

For reference...

Standard HB and Shawbucker is 1 1/2" wide x 2 3/4" long
WRH is 1 3/4" wide x 3 1/8" long

 

[TimTam]

Unless the body is routed specifically large enough for WRHBs they won't fit. Even teles with swimming pool routs are not big enough.

 

[Peegoo]

In the 80s and 90s you couldn't give away a Tele with a pair of WRH in it. Sort of like Mustangs and Jazzmasters. Not many players wanted 'em.

What's old is new. Three-screw Stats and Teles are the same way today.

 

[Southlaw 68]

I have both the Shawbucker and the WRH of pickups in my guitar pile.

The Shawbucker is a standard humbucker format (Gibson, etc.). The Wide Range humbucker (WRH) has a substantially larger footprint and is not a direct replacement. The difference is not trivial; it's not something you can easily tweak to make them fit. The WRH is 1/4" wider and 3/8" longer, so it takes some major surgery with a router to remove wood from the body and increasing the size of the mounting holes in the pickguard.

The WRH also uses a different mounting scheme: four screws vice the two screws of the standard humbucker.

For reference...

Standard HB and Shawbucker is 1 1/2" wide x 2 3/4" long
WRH is 1 3/4" wide x 3 1/8" long

Thank you, that addresses my concern. I was willing to build out a Mod Shop with the Shawbuckers, but only if the measurements of the CuNiFe was comparable. There is NOT a lot of room left between the bridge and the bridge pickup to perform a clean routing job. Way too thin for my liking, not to mention I'm not the guy to take a brand new guitaar and perform major surgery on it.

I truly do appreciate the information.

 

[milocj]

In the 80s and 90s you couldn't give away a Tele with a pair of WRH in it. Sort of like Mustangs and Jazzmasters. Not many players wanted 'em.

What's old is new. Three-screw Stats and Teles are the same way today.

This is true, but everybody was also ripping PAFs out of their Les Pauls as well. I've always loved the '70s variation of the Custom and own one today.

The CuNiFe versions definitely sound different than the versions that are just a humbucker in a larger cover.