can anybody ID this Jazz pickup?

meatwad · #1 09-24-2011, 08:51 AM

It's at least 20 years old, and there are no markings or numbers anywhere. The big button poles would be the only real distinguishing factor, but I've never seen another set like them.

Thanks!
Wade

meatwad · #2 09-25-2011, 09:41 AM

Anybody?

SGD Lutherie · #3 09-25-2011, 02:07 PM

Wow, thats a weird one. I have no idea what it is.

Stealth · #4 09-25-2011, 06:04 PM

Definitely unusual. Both the row of five polepieces below-deck and the "fake" button tops up top.

meatwad · #5 09-25-2011, 08:23 PM

It's too bad that I only have this one, and the cover of the other one left. This one was in my old '71 Jazz (bridge position) for several years, but eventually came out for a QP, and went in a parts box for about the last fifteen years. It gives a reading of 8.7k, but I've not installed it in anything yet to know if it actually still works or not.

I remember it being fairly bright sounding, nothing great if soloed, but pretty good when both pickups and the tone knob were on full. I hope somebody can finally put my curiosity to rest here, as to who made these things.

walterw · #6 09-26-2011, 12:50 AM

the old look plus the "not quite right" shape and construction make me think it's an early import pickup, like from a clunky japanese instrument made back when they weren't really doing them right yet.

SGD Lutherie · #7 09-26-2011, 07:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stealth

Definitely unusual. Both the row of five polepieces below-deck and the "fake" button tops up top.

I thought those were magnets on the bottom as well, but they might just be holes in the flatwork. But who knows, maybe they stuck steel caps on the top.

You don't see the magnets in the holes, and the middle hole, which is for mounting on the winder, looks the same as the rest.

meatwad · #8 09-26-2011, 11:32 AM

There is a flat magnet (ceramic, I suppose) attatched to the bottom plate on the inside of the pickup. The coil sits on top of the magnet, and the buttons are mounted by screws that pass through the center of the bobbin.

meatwad · #9 09-26-2011, 11:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by walterw

the old look plus the "not quite right" shape and construction make me think it's an early import pickup, like from a clunky japanese instrument made back when they weren't really doing them right yet.

This sounds very likely. The quality of the build isn't the best I've ever seen, either.