Telecaster Bridge Pickup Identification

[rtaylor76]

So I purchased off of Reverb a pickup that he says was a 90s or 2000s pickup. It has

phenolic black bobbin
white cotton wrap
metal bassplate
staggered pole pieces
wax potted
vintage cloth pushback wire
Measures 7.1 kΩ

I thought it might be a Texas Special bridge, but that one is 10 kΩ. I know it would not be a 60s, because those would be in the 6.4 kΩ range with the PV pickups. However, it would not be a 50's or blackguard with black cotton. And it would not be anything modern because of the cotton wrap and pushback wires as well as the staggered pole pieces. Anyone have any idea. The Tex Mex bridges were also plastic bobbins and did not have a metal bassplate.

Any ideas on what Fender pickup this is?

PS - It is one the best sounding bridge pickups. It has body, but not too ice picky, but it also has clarity. Not too twangy, not too hot and thick.

 

[SnidelyWhiplash]

Not much info to go on. No real id marks. Could be anything.

 

[Boreas]

It looks like a PV64. But just a guess. If so, it is a keeper. I have two sets of them installed.

 

[Boreas]

Try measuring the resistance again. Per Fender, a PV64 should only read about 6.0K, Inductance 2.8 Henries. So it may not be a PV64.

 

[rtaylor76]

Try measuring the resistance again. Per Fender, a PV64 should only read about 6.0K, Inductance 2.8 Henries. So it may not be a PV64.

A PV64 would also have grey bottom. From what I have gathered from two different sources, here are the list of changes by year for the bridge pickup.

1948 - 43ga formvar wire, black tape wrap
1950 - 42ga wire
1951 - zinc plated cold rolled steel plate changed to copper plated
1951 - black cotton string wrap
1952 - white cotton string wrap
1955 - staggered pole pieces
1964 - grey bottoms
1965 - machine auto wound, no wax potting
1968 - enamel wire
1981 - wax potting returns

This is not mentioning that between 1965 and 1968 that DC resistance changed because of auto-winders finally settling around 6.4K. From 1951-1965 or so would be around 7.5K.

However, this does tell me that Telecaster bridge pickups between 1955 - 1964 or so would be staggered poles, black fiber bottom, and white cotton wrap. It’s only because most pickup makers just make three types: 1950 Broadcaster version, 1952 version, 1968 version and basically forget between 1955 - 1965. Either that or they don’t know (or care really) of the true pickup history.

Also, I was told this came off a 90’s 1952 Reissue. So it could be original, but most of the ones from that era I remember being flat poles. So who knows where it comes from. All I know is that there were not many pickup manufacturers back then like there are today. And then ones back then had to know what they were doing because it was not quite the market it is today. It was like DiMarzio, Seymour Duncan, and Bill Lawrence. I’m also not counting out that it could be from the Fender Custom Shop. All I know besides all that is that the quality shows because the build quality is impeccable and it sounds incredible.

 

[rtaylor76]

Also, in doing research, I found this site. Very interesting.

Guitar Pickup Database

Compare all available electric guitar pickup specifications in an a simple data table. All pickups, easily compared.

guitarpickupdatabase.com

 

[monkeybanana]

A PV64 would also have grey bottom. From what I have gathered from two different sources, here are the list of changes by year for the bridge pickup.

1948 - 43ga formvar wire, black tape wrap
1950 - 42ga wire
1951 - zinc plated cold rolled steel plate changed to copper plated
1951 - black cotton string wrap
1952 - white cotton string wrap
1955 - staggered pole pieces
1964 - grey bottoms
1965 - machine auto wound, no wax potting
1968 - enamel wire
1981 - wax potting returns

This is not mentioning that between 1965 and 1968 that DC resistance changed because of auto-winders finally settling around 6.4K. From 1951-1965 or so would be around 7.5K.

However, this does tell me that Telecaster bridge pickups between 1955 - 1964 or so would be staggered poles, black fiber bottom, and white cotton wrap. It’s only because most pickup makers just make three types: 1950 Broadcaster version, 1952 version, 1968 version and basically forget between 1955 - 1965. Either that or they don’t know (or care really) of the true pickup history.

Also, I was told this came off a 90’s 1952 Reissue. So it could be original, but most of the ones from that era I remember being flat poles. So who knows where it comes from. All I know is that there were not many pickup manufacturers back then like there are today. And then ones back then had to know what they were doing because it was not quite the market it is today. It was like DiMarzio, Seymour Duncan, and Bill Lawrence. I’m also not counting out that it could be from the Fender Custom Shop. All I know besides all that is that the quality shows because the build quality is impeccable and it sounds incredible.

Not to get super nerdy but white wrap comes a little later more like '57 and it becomes black again for a little in the early 60s and then goes white again and then later goes black again.

Resistance varies quite a bit as well.

 

[rtaylor76]

Not to get super nerdy but white wrap comes a little later more like '57 and it becomes black again for a little in the early 60s and then goes white again and then later goes black again.

Resistance varies quite a bit as well.

Aren’t we all in her me because we’re super Tele nerds?

Anyway, I suspect you are correct. I only gave a slight brief history/breakdown. Especially the varying resistance values. I mean going from 43 to 42ga wire. And then all the variances after auto-winders. Then there is the whole wax potting ceasing.

Either way, I like the white cotton wrap look to match my surf green single bound body with rosewood neck.

I got most of my info from The Fender Telecaster book (Duchossior), and this site:

Fender Telecaster Pickups

Telecaster/Esquire pickups are often considered the heart of their unique twangy tone.

www.fuzzfaced.net

 

[fasteddie455]

PS - It is one the best sounding bridge pickups. It has body, but not too ice picky, but it also has clarity. Not too twangy, not too hot and thick.

What is this "Too Twangy" you speak of?

 

[rtaylor76]

What is this "Too Twangy" you speak of?

Seriously though, I may live in Nashville and play Teles, but play other kinds of music that is not Country or Western.

 

[Vibroluxer]

I'm gonna guess, if it's a Fender, a AV 62 RI.

 

[SnidelyWhiplash]

Since it seems that everyone & his mammaw are winding F-style pups nowadays, I'd venture that it isn't a Fender product.

 

[fasteddie455]

Seriously though, I may live in Nashville and play Teles, but play other kinds of music that is not Country or Western.

On a Tele,that's what the neck pickup is for!


just kidding with ya...

 

[rtaylor76]

Since it seems that everyone & his mammaw are winding F-style pups nowadays, I'd venture that it isn't a Fender product.

I would think that as well, but the person I bought it from has had it since the late 90's early 00's. Not near as many pickup makers back then, only a handful. I have since looked at some other images of Fender Custom Shop pickups and I am pretty sure that it is where it came from. Some kind of '55-'64, although even Fender back then did not have a good history of their own stuff back then and could have been one from a '52 RI Tele. Either way, it sounds great and I'm keeping it.