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Early DiMarzio J-PUs or not?

Discussion in 'Pickups & Electronics [BG]' started by Cadfael, Jul 11, 2013.

  1. Jul 11, 2013 #1
    Cadfael

    Cadfael

    Jan 4, 2013
    Germany, EU
    Hi,

    I received an email by a German bass player who has a "Maya" Jazz Bass (as good as early Ibanez basses in the late 1970s).

    He showed me a photo of the PUs.
    They look like early DiMarzio PUs (and the colours are right)

    QUESTION:
    Do early to late 1970s DiMarzio PUs have a "DiMarzio" on / within the creme cover or was there a time without "DiMazio" within the PU cover?

    The pickups have a "Patent Applied For" paper glued on their back - which made me think that these are no Maya copies but real early DiMarzio pickups???

    Thanx in advance for your help!
    Andreas
     
  2. Jul 11, 2013 #2
    walterw

    walterw Supportive Fender Commercial User

    Feb 20, 2009
    alpha-music.com
    The dimarzio logo in the plastic is a newer thing, so you're probably right.
     
  3. Jul 11, 2013 #3
    iiipopes

    iiipopes Supporting Member

    May 4, 2009
    Pix! We need pix!
     
  4. Jul 11, 2013 #4
    bassclef112

    bassclef112 Supporting Member

    Sep 2, 2003
    Astoria, NY
    If they have the PAF sticker they are genuine early DiMarzios. The stickers were on the original DiMarzio versions of J and P pickups until the patents got sorted out. No logo either - that came much later.

    About 8 or 9 years ago I was able to purchase a PAF set still sealed in a box from a fellow up in Canada and I held onto them for a special build, Several years ago I realized that idea and built a Warmoth J stacker with these pickups.

    This is one of the best sounding jazz basses I own. I love these pickups.

    P.S. As an aside, I have had several DiMarzio PAF P pickups and some time ago bought a brand new one with the logo. They sound identical. But, I think there's a cool factor having the original PAF's even though the new ones sound exactly the same.
     
  5. Jul 11, 2013 #5
    TonyP-

    TonyP- Excuse me but you have your I-IV-V in my II-V-I Gold Supporting Member

    Aug 21, 2003
    Boston Mass
    A-Designs Mike Lull GK Tsunami Cables GHS Strings RMI Basswitch Nordstrand Pickups Darkglass
    I can send a sound sample with Dimarzio Model J from 1979 if you like.
    Go to the last pages of the J sticky, I have soundcloud file up there.
     
  6. Jul 11, 2013 #6
    Cadfael

    Cadfael

    Jan 4, 2013
    Germany, EU
    I understand this very well!
    But I don't have the permission (and didn't ask for) to publish his selfmade photo ...

    Funny thing: One sticker is vertical, the other horizonal bought on.
    Looks really handmade!

    The cover is not removable but in a clear/white something (epoxy?). The dirt and the colour change seems to be "correct". I have an X2N PU I bought in 1982 and know how a worn out DiMarzio should look like. ;)

    Thanx already for the answers! This helped me a lot to state that these might be original DiMarzios.
     
  7. Jul 12, 2013 #7
    Cadfael

    Cadfael

    Jan 4, 2013
    Germany, EU
    I have the permission to post the Maya pickups now ... :)

    Here they are. I think these are original early DiMarzios (late 70s - early 80s)and no Japan copies?
    Many Japanese instruments were equipped with DiMarzios during this periode of time in Germany - so, the "story makes sense" ...
     

    Attached Files:

  8. Jul 13, 2013 #8
    Cadfael

    Cadfael

    Jan 4, 2013
    Germany, EU
    Can anybody varify by the photo if this is an original old DiMarzio?
     
  9. Jul 13, 2013 #9
    TonyP-

    TonyP- Excuse me but you have your I-IV-V in my II-V-I Gold Supporting Member

    Aug 21, 2003
    Boston Mass
    A-Designs Mike Lull GK Tsunami Cables GHS Strings RMI Basswitch Nordstrand Pickups Darkglass
    I'm pretty sure those are DiMarzios...
    I have a set from 1979 and they look just like that.

    The set screw pole pieces and cream covers ect...
     
  10. Jul 14, 2013 #10
    Cadfael

    Cadfael

    Jan 4, 2013
    Germany, EU
    Thanx basswave!

    Yes, these might be from the same year.
     
  11. Jul 15, 2013 #11
    iiipopes

    iiipopes Supporting Member

    May 4, 2009
    That looks like the same kind of DiMarzio J pickups I purchased in 1981. The older ones had a tad more wire, and therefore a tad more midrange, at the cost of a tad less treble, than the new ones.

    They slot the mix very, very well for standard rockin' gigs, with no noise.
     
  12. Jul 15, 2013 #12
    Cadfael

    Cadfael

    Jan 4, 2013
    Germany, EU
    Thanx iiipopes!

    The Maya bass was bought (used) in the early 1980s with the pickups already in.
    I am sure the owner always thought that these were the original pickups.
    There were copies indeed - but the "original look" and the PAF made me guess that the bass was equipped with DiMarzios (like many German bass players did during this period).

    My Rockinger "Cadicaster" Tele guitar has an old 1982 DiMarzio X2N at the bridge (which I bought for my first guitar - a Kasuga LP Custom) and a 1984 DiMarzio PAF at the neck.