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FDP Forum / Fender Guitars: Stratocasters / Fender 1968 pickup/pickguard identification - help needed

JimiHammerix 87

Germany

May 21st, 2012 02:25 PM Edit Profile Print Topic Search Topic
Hi Fender folks,

I've finally purchased an old 60s player's Strat which sounds very nice and especially the neck feeling is something the Custom Shop can't reproduce in my oppinion. I was well informed about the issues (new electronics, refinished body, 1 replacement saddle), but I do have some conerns about the black bottom pickups. Should be grey bottoms with pencil date, I know... The pickguard looks like taken from a '63/'64 Strat - or a good repro at least. So both of them could be the real deal from an earlier Strat? Not all of the magnets look beveled to me, it's hard to tell. Possibly a repro as well? The previous owner had the guitar for more than 20 years and the pickups were already in the guitar.

Would be thankful about some helpful comments. Thanks! :)

http://s14.directupload.net/file/d/2897/2gyke86p_jpg.htm

http://s14.directupload.net/file/d/2897/hzkbif6p_jpg.htm

http://s14.directupload.net/file/d/2897/q6iytzon_jpg.htm

http://s14.directupload.net/file/d/2897/4ipihr6o_jpg.htm

http://s14.directupload.net/file/d/2897/i6fwisc7_jpg.htm

http://s14.directupload.net/file/d/2897/s6vsbr54_jpg.htm

http://s14.directupload.net/file/d/2897/g8xah3wl_jpg.htm

(This message was last edited by JimiHammerix 87 at 02:41 PM, May 21st, 2012)

Peegoo
Contributing Member
**********
**********

That chicken

is WRONG, baby.
May 21st, 2012 03:44 PM Edit Profile Print Topic Search Topic
The pickups look like late 60s to early 70s models. Fender ceased the staggered poles and went all flush in 1974.

What are the codes on the pots?

JimiHammerix 87

Germany

May 21st, 2012 03:58 PM Edit Profile Print Topic Search Topic
The pots and the switch were replaced, so this won't help us. Shouldn't the pickups be grey bottoms? The Fender history is quite confusing, even though I studied this site a lot: http://home.provide.net/~cfh/fender.html#specs

One thing I forgot: The DC resistance is ~ 5,2 kOhm for the neck pickup and ~ 5,8 kOhm for the middle and bridge pickup.
(This message was last edited by JimiHammerix 87 at 04:02 PM, May 21st, 2012)

Peegoo
Contributing Member
**********
**********

That chicken

is WRONG, baby.
May 21st, 2012 04:49 PM Edit Profile Print Topic Search Topic
It's hard to determine exactly what you have there without an expert, hands-on inspection and appraisal. The pickups certainly appear to be the real thing. Right now, it looks to be a mix of real-deal 60s/70s Fender parts.

JimiHammerix 87

Germany

May 22nd, 2012 03:38 AM Edit Profile Print Topic Search Topic
Thanks for your reply. I see, that was my guess, too. The seller replied me quickly last afternoon and told me that he bought the guitar in 1992 in South Africa. At that time and that location it was almost impossible to get replacement pickups by Dimarzio or Duncan. But it's hard to get a good impression from the pictures. But I did find out something useful: In '73/'74 Fender produced black bottom pickups again with staggered magnets, but they are easily to identify by the plastic wires. As mine do have cloth wires and were waxed, it's very possible that they are old black bottoms from the 60s. But I will need an expert to prove this.

Here's a '73 Strat with black bottoms: http://www.vintageauthority.com/index.php?art=137&c=1&y=1973
(This message was last edited by JimiHammerix 87 at 03:39 AM, May 22nd, 2012)

Fenderman

May 22nd, 2012 08:12 AM Edit Profile Print Topic Search Topic
the pickups should be grey with stamped 4 digit code, like this:

http://www.vintageauthority.com/images/177/IMG_2897_1.jpg

those light grey bobbins were introduced in the mid 60-s and were later replaced by darker grey material, as you probably know. the wire was dark purple or some similar color, but not copper like in your pics. IMO, to have both bobbins and wire wrong is an indicator that these pickups are not from the period. to me these look like older 57/62 RI pickups.
(This message was last edited by Fenderman at 08:13 AM, May 22nd, 2012)

JimiHammerix 87

Germany

May 22nd, 2012 10:11 AM Edit Profile Print Topic Search Topic
Do you know when Fender started the production of the 57/62 RI pickups? Because the seller told me, the magnets already had that oxidized look in 1992 when he purchased the guitar. So they had to be at least 5 years old at that time, probably much older. Your guess of older RI pickups would make sense as Fender didn't make them with beveled pole pieces until 1998 and these pickups here don't look beveled to me when I compare them to those of my 1960 RI.

There you go: http://www.fenderreissue.com/fender-stratocaster-reissue-strat-pickups I think, we have a winner... An expert would be at least 120 miles from me in the land of beer, weisswursts and pretzels (Bavaria)... But I will inform the seller first and ask him what he means. It would definitely devalue the guitar.
(This message was last edited by JimiHammerix 87 at 10:49 AM, May 22nd, 2012)

FDP Forum / Fender Guitars: Stratocasters / Fender 1968 pickup/pickguard identification - help needed

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