(Another) help me ID these pickups thread

[Guitarkiwi]

Sorry everyone I know there's a ton of these threads out there I've looked at a bunch of tables and charts but just can't find a solid answer. And full disclosure it's only for my own curiosity and doesn't matter at the end of the day as they sound great which is the main thing. I know it's most of the time impossible to conclusively ID fender pickups that aren't labelled etc. But would be cool to get some thoughts from the strat experts (that's you guys)
So with that out the way here goes: I got these at a little local music shop they had literally been kicking around in someone's parts box for years and years. They were absolutely filthy, so I got a little brush and cleaned them up to replace the originals in my standard series strat. I was disappointed with the sound (mostly because the wiring was half soldered but didn't know that till I opened the guitar up to replace them) they came in an old school Texas specials box from the 90's probly. Anyway I'm fairly certain they are not TS's as the readings are alot lower than TS's from my research and they are supposed to have red and blue dots too I believe. These ones have the old school black fibre type bases and tops and no bevels on the pole pieces. Readings on these are
N-5.91k
M-5.83k
B-5.83k
Anyone got any clues or opinions?

 

[bluejazzoid]

They *could* be original 57/62s before they switched to Formvar. I'm not saying they are, but considering age, looks, wire, DCR readings - they are all in that ballpark.

 

[Guitarkiwi]

They *could* be original 57/62s before they switched to Formvar. I'm not saying they are, but considering age, looks, wire, DCR readings - they are all in that ballpark.

Interesting yeah I did see a reference chart and noticed that the 57/62s were a close match both physically and in terms of resistance, I'm picking that these were original pickups in a guitar that were switched out for the TS's and just put in the Texas special box. Were the 57/62's offered in a strat from factory? Also am I right in thinking that it's safe to assume these are not Texas Specials?

 

[stratman323]

They *could* be original 57/62s before they switched to Formvar. I'm not saying they are, but considering age, looks, wire, DCR readings - they are all in that ballpark.

I follow your logic, but those pickups are rare & expensive. Texas Specials are everywhere, unfortunately. Seems unlikely

 

[bluejazzoid]

I follow your logic, but those pickups are rare & expensive. Texas Specials are everywhere, unfortunately. Seems unlikely

Yeah, but because they aren't labeled in any way, early 57/62s might not be on everyone's radar and end up in a box just like these. Like, I'm sure there are plenty of SRV-wannabes who have ripped out 57/62s and went all-in with Texas Specials without blinking (esp back in Stevie's heyday).

But I do agree with you... unlikely, but plausible just because people do dumb stuff.

They could also be a nice homebrew set.

 

[bluejazzoid]

Were the 57/62's offered in a strat from factory? Also am I right in thinking that it's safe to assume these are not Texas Specials?

Yes - 57/62s were standard pickups in any AVRI Strat. And honestly I'm not sure it's safe to assume anything about them... just guessing here.

Sadly, there's no way to really know what the pickups you have actually are... they look nice tho!

 

[stratman323]

Yes - 57/62s were standard pickups in any AVRI Strat. And honestly I'm not sure it's safe to assume anything about them... just guessing here.

Sadly, there's no way to really know what the pickups you have actually are... they look nice tho!

True, but there were two very different versions of them. But apparently the same name, which is confusing.

 

[Guitarkiwi]

True, but there were two very different versions of them. But apparently the same name, which is confusing.

View attachment 610035

Thanks guys appreciate the input, so when you say "Original 57/62's" are you referring to what is AVRI 82 - 98 on this chart (4th from top)? Readings on mine look slightly higher than what's on most 57/62's as well (but theres a range on these too right?) As suspected there's probly no way of knowing for sure it's all hairsay maybe AVRI's but who knows? But they look to be really well made with old-school cloth wire I don't think they are el cheapo knockoffs. Only thing with them is the bridge wiring had been cut stupid short so had to lengthen the wire as you can see. One thing I can be fairly certain of is that they are not TS's and would be whatever was in the original guitar back in the early 90's when the thinking was "to sound like Stevie first thing you gotta do is rip out whatever pickups you have and put in Texas Specials" they are really great sounding pickups so I'm pleased to have them, they aren't going anywhere. Thanks for the input happy to hear other opinions.

 

[stratman323]

Thanks guys appreciate the input, so when you say "Original 57/62's" are you referring to what is AVRI 82 - 98 on this chart (4th from top)? Readings on mine look slightly higher than what's on most 57/62's as well (but theres a range on these too right?) As suspected there's probly no way of knowing for sure it's all hairsay maybe AVRI's but who knows? But they look to be really well made with old-school cloth wire I don't think they are el cheapo knockoffs. Only thing with them is the bridge wiring had been cut stupid short so had to lengthen the wire as you can see. One thing I can be fairly certain of is that they are not TS's and would be whatever was in the original guitar back in the early 90's when the thinking was "to sound like Stevie first thing you gotta do is rip out whatever pickups you have and put in Texas Specials" they are really great sounding pickups so I'm pleased to have them, they aren't going anywhere. Thanks for the input happy to hear other opinions.

In this context we are talking about the version of the 57/62s with enamel windings, not the more orange formvar windings of the post 1998 version. That's why I posted the chart.

I still think it's unlikely that the pickups are early 57/62s though, they are rare & hard to find. Texas Specials are everywhere, unfortunately, like a pandemic.

At the risk of repeating myself, if only Fender weren't so ****ing lazy they would label their pickups like most other decent pick up makers do. Then nobody would ever need to have these stupid discussions again. Thanks for that, Fender

 

[stratgeek]

Sorry everyone I know there's a ton of these threads out there I've looked at a bunch of tables and charts but just can't find a solid answer. And full disclosure it's only for my own curiosity and doesn't matter at the end of the day as they sound great which is the main thing. I know it's most of the time impossible to conclusively ID fender pickups that aren't labelled etc. But would be cool to get some thoughts from the strat experts (that's you guys)
So with that out the way here goes: I got these at a little local music shop they had literally been kicking around in someone's parts box for years and years. They were absolutely filthy, so I got a little brush and cleaned them up to replace the originals in my standard series strat. I was disappointed with the sound (mostly because the wiring was half soldered but didn't know that till I opened the guitar up to replace them) they came in an old school Texas specials box from the 90's probly. Anyway I'm fairly certain they are not TS's as the readings are alot lower than TS's from my research and they are supposed to have red and blue dots too I believe. These ones have the old school black fibre type bases and tops and no bevels on the pole pieces. Readings on these are
N-5.91k
M-5.83k
B-5.83k
Anyone got any clues or opinions?

They are single-coli pickups, and that's probably the most information you're going to get, no matter how hard you stare at them.

 

[76standard]

Sorry everyone I know there's a ton of these threads out there I've looked at a bunch of tables and charts but just can't find a solid answer. And full disclosure it's only for my own curiosity and doesn't matter at the end of the day as they sound great which is the main thing. I know it's most of the time impossible to conclusively ID fender pickups that aren't labelled etc. But would be cool to get some thoughts from the strat experts (that's you guys)
So with that out the way here goes: I got these at a little local music shop they had literally been kicking around in someone's parts box for years and years. They were absolutely filthy, so I got a little brush and cleaned them up to replace the originals in my standard series strat. I was disappointed with the sound (mostly because the wiring was half soldered but didn't know that till I opened the guitar up to replace them) they came in an old school Texas specials box from the 90's probly. Anyway I'm fairly certain they are not TS's as the readings are alot lower than TS's from my research and they are supposed to have red and blue dots too I believe. These ones have the old school black fibre type bases and tops and no bevels on the pole pieces. Readings on these are
N-5.91k
M-5.83k
B-5.83k
Anyone got any clues or opinions?

Custom Shop Texas Special Pickup Specs

Those numbers you quote are way off from Custom Shop specs. Use the link.

 

[Guitarkiwi]

Custom Shop Texas Special Pickup Specs

Those numbers you quote are way off from Custom Shop specs. Use the link.

Yeah that was the first thing I noticed and made me think straight away they aren't Texas Specials, then the next question was hmmmm I wonder what they are then. As I mentioned they sound great and are clearly good pickups it's just the enjoyment of trying to solve a mystery however in this case the mystery is unlikely to ever be solved conclusively.

 

[stratman323]

You can't place too much value on the readings various different multimeters may give. Readings on a single meter can vary a lot depending on time of day, temperature etc. Mind you, Guitarkiwi says that they "sound great". If that's true they can't be Texas Specials.

 

[Guitarkiwi]

You can't place too much value on the readings various different multimeters may give. Readings on a single meter can vary a lot depending on time of day, temperature etc. Mind you, Guitarkiwi says that they "sound great". If that's true they can't be Texas Specials.

Haha

 

[76standard]

Sorry everyone I know there's a ton of these threads out there I've looked at a bunch of tables and charts but just can't find a solid answer. And full disclosure it's only for my own curiosity and doesn't matter at the end of the day as they sound great which is the main thing. I know it's most of the time impossible to conclusively ID fender pickups that aren't labelled etc. But would be cool to get some thoughts from the strat experts (that's you guys)
So with that out the way here goes: I got these at a little local music shop they had literally been kicking around in someone's parts box for years and years. They were absolutely filthy, so I got a little brush and cleaned them up to replace the originals in my standard series strat. I was disappointed with the sound (mostly because the wiring was half soldered but didn't know that till I opened the guitar up to replace them) they came in an old school Texas specials box from the 90's probly. Anyway I'm fairly certain they are not TS's as the readings are alot lower than TS's from my research and they are supposed to have red and blue dots too I believe. These ones have the old school black fibre type bases and tops and no bevels on the pole pieces. Readings on these are
N-5.91k
M-5.83k
B-5.83k
Anyone got any clues or opinions?

Did a little surfing on Fender’s website and think the specs you mention in your post are closer to their Pure Vintage ‘65 pickups. One last thing about Custom Shop pickups, they usually have the CS sticker on the bottom of the pickup. Doesn’t mean someone could have removed the sticker. But why would you? Here’s a link to Fenders Pure Vintage ’65 pickups. Click and expand the Specs tab, then scroll down.
Fender ‘65 vintage pickup info

 

[Guitarkiwi]

Did a little surfing on Fender’s website and think the specs you mention in your post are closer to their Pure Vintage ‘65 pickups. One last thing about Custom Shop pickups, they usually have the CS sticker on the bottom of the pickup. Doesn’t mean someone could have removed the sticker. But why would you? Here’s a link to Fenders Pure Vintage ’65 pickups. Click and expand the Specs tab, then scroll down.
Fender ‘65 vintage pickup info

Yeah good point, looks like they've got grey bobbins these are black but they probly just used whatever back then.

 

[stratman323]

Yeah good point, looks like they've got grey bobbins these are black but they probly just used whatever back then.

No, they didn't. The PV 65s used grey fibre bobbins, same as the 69s. It's because of endless queries like this over many years that I took the time to make up the chart in post 7. It's best to start the ID process with colour/type of bobbin & colour of windings, those won't change. Resistance readings may/will change.

Shall we have a whip round & buy some paper labels for Fender to use on their huge range of pickups in future?

 

[Guitarkiwi]

It's a good list thanks for that. So tell me, the AVRI 82-98 on your list there 4th from the top are they a pretty common pickup that was available in strats in late 80s-90's?

No, they didn't. The PV 65s used grey fibre bobbins, same as the 69s. It's because of endless queries like this over many years that I took the time to make up the chart in post 7. It's best to start the ID process with colour/type of bobbin & colour of windings, those won't change. Resistance readings may/will change.

Shall we have a whip round & buy some paper labels for Fender to use on their huge range of pickups in future?

 

[stratman323]

It's a good list thanks for that. So tell me, the AVRI 82-98 on your list there 4th from the top are they a pretty common pickup that was available in strats in late 80s-90's?

No they weren't. I don't recall them ever being offered for sale on their own but I think some people on here might have seen that. They only came in the AVRIs, which means that you only got them separately if you parted out an early AVRI or if someone changed the pickups & sold the old ones.

My favourite Strat pickups.

 

[Guitarkiwi]

No they weren't. I don't recall them ever being offered for sale on their own but I think some people on here might have seen that. They only came in the AVRIs, which means that you only got them separately if you parted out an early AVRI or if someone changed the pickups & sold the old ones.

My favourite Strat pickups.

Oh right, yeah pretty sure the ones I have are ones out of a guitar that had the pickups switched out for the Texas Specials back in the 90's. One thing I know for sure now is that I will probably never know what they are! But thanks guys