Vintage Fender Pickup Rewinding / Specs

[spellcaster]

Hello, I have a Fender bridge pickup from 1977 that needs a rewind. I also have another Fralin neck PU that I will need to pair it to. As of now they both have been sent off to the Fralin shop for a rewind but yet to make a final judgment on what specs to wind them to.

With this bass (Geddy Lee body w/ Rosewood neck) I'd like to stay as close to original 70's specs as possible and want to achieve a very open vintage tone with raw dirty overtones.

Has anyone been through this rewinding process and have any insight what winding specs might be best to go with?

Also, I've been compiling some Fender winding specs from ebay and other sources as a reference point. Please feel free to add to the list! Thanks!! Nick



Neck: -- Bridge: -- Year:

6.69 ----- 8.56 ----- 72
6.93 ----- 6.83 ----- 66-7
6.05 ----- 7.0 ----- 66
7.15 ----- ---- ----- 78
6.83 ----- 7.11 ----- 68
6.89 ----- 7.01 ----- 71
---- ----- 7.30 ----- 76
7.30 ----- 7.58 ----- 81
7.37 ----- 7.83 ----- 73
6.93 ----- ---- ----- 73
7.01 ----- 7.14 ----- 71
7.00 ----- 6.67 ----- 68
6.71 ----- 9.07 ----- 74
7.15 ----- ---- ----- 70's
7.25 ----- 7.75 ----- 70's


...

[GlennW]

I think the standard guestimate for JB pickups is 8500 turns each. The bridge will have a slightly higher DCR due to it being wider across the magnets.

I favor JB pickups wound in the 7.25K - 7.75K range for tone, 8K tops; that's with 42 awg (as if Lindy doesn't know).

One more thing...I believe he uses Formvar for his. I'd ask him if he has any 42 PE (plain enamel) instead of the Formvar and go with the PE.

I know that's not a direct answer to your question, but might help anyway.

[spellcaster]

Thanks Glen! Your thoughts confirm alot. I will certainly be going with the enamel wire to keep them closer to the original 77 pickup.

Also to pass along some extra info I found out that the Fralins that Lakland was putting in their basses were all custom overwound 10% over the stock set.

[GlennW]

Glad to help.

The PE is dark auburn/purple, sometimes almost black. I suggested PE because that's what the Fender Geddy Lee pickups use, as well as SD ANT II's (my favorites).

I think the Fender Custom Shop JB's are Formvar.

The thing with JB pickups, is when you get below 7.25K they get thin sounding; and when you go above 8K they can start getting muddy. That's just my opinion, and what I like could very easily disgust someone else.

Good luck.

Edit: I just checked my notes, and mine were
Fender Geddy Lee - 7.43K and 7.70K 42 PE
SD ANT II - 7.70K and 8.21K 42 PE

[rickdog]

Originally Posted by spellcaster

Hello, I have a Fender bridge pickup from 1977 that needs a rewind. I also have another Fralin neck PU that I will need to pair it to. As of now they both have been sent off to the Fralin shop for a rewind but yet to make a final judgment on what specs to wind them to.

With this bass (Geddy Lee body w/ Rosewood neck) I'd like to stay as close to original specs as possible and want to achieve a very open vintage tone with raw dirty overtones.

Based on my experience, you've sent your pickups to the right guy. Lindy rewound both pickups in my '72 jazz because they had both crapped out. They came back sounding great, better than I remembered them ever sounding.

So I'd say tell him just what you said here: "Geddy Lee ... original specs ... vintage tone with raw dirty overtones." I bet he'll know exactly what to do

[narud]

Originally Posted by GlennW

Glad to help.

The PE is dark auburn/purple, sometimes almost black. I suggested PE because that's what the Fender Geddy Lee pickups use, as well as SD ANT II's (my favorites).

I think the Fender Custom Shop JB's are Formvar.

The thing with JB pickups, is when you get below 7.25K they get thin sounding; and when you go above 8K they can start getting muddy. That's just my opinion, and what I like could very easily disgust someone else.

Good luck.

Edit: I just checked my notes, and mine were
Fender Geddy Lee - 7.43K and 7.70K 42 PE
SD ANT II - 7.70K and 8.21K 42 PE

wow, you got an ant 2 what was 7.7?!? ive owned a bunch of antiquity sets and have never gotten one that low. i have sent some back to get unwound to around 8.1k that set probably sounds great.