Help: trying to identify/date some P Bass pickups

[rboyce]

Hi.

I just bought a used P Bass Pickup on the 'bay that was sold to me as taken from a "American P Bass", but I'm not convinced of this. There is a number on the bottom of the pickup - "048614". I assume this is a Fender part number? I tried wading through the mnay on-line Parts Lists pdf files on the Fender web site, but I could not find a match.

Can anyone out there confirm what Fender P Basses (if any) used a pickup with the number "048614" stamped on the back?

Thanks in advance,

Ray

 

[Luis Fabara]

Hi.

I just bought a used P Bass Pickup on the 'bay that was sold to me as taken from a "American P Bass", but I'm not convinced of this. There is a number on the bottom of the pickup - "048614". I assume this is a Fender part number? I tried wading through the mnay on-line Parts Lists pdf files on the Fender web site, but I could not find a match.

Can anyone out there confirm what Fender P Basses (if any) used a pickup with the number "048614" stamped on the back?

Thanks in advance,

Ray

According to the Ebay Item.. it is a serial number. and in no place that auction says "American"
It came out from a Fender Deluxe P-Bass Special

The pickup is this: Vintage Special P-Bass Pickup , made with alnico polepieces.

Where did I get this info?

I work for the NSA, and I know all your moves.

 

[rboyce]

That would be a funny post if you were correct, but you are wrong.

The ebay item # is 735613709. It is clearly stated in the auction description (as well as through emails with the seller) that it came out of a 2001 Fender American Precision bass.

Hah!

Anybody else out there with some helpful info?

Thanks,

ray

 

[Luis Fabara]

Ok I wanted to be funny...
BUT.

now for real.. The info I posted is correct in what matters to you.

That number is present in the pickups that come of a Fender Deluxe P-Bass Special and has THE SAME NUMBER on the bottom as yours.
So the pickup is the SAME.


The pickup is this: Vintage Special P-Bass Pickup , made with alnico polepieces.

 

[Luis Fabara]

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=7354249864&category=41428

There it is.. even with pictures of the number.

I did research whay pickups came with it on that year, so thats why I put that on my earlier post.

 

[rboyce]

Luis -

Thanks...I understand your point. That's a good start in trying to track down this pickup. However, this info neither confirms nor rules out that my pickup came out of a 2001 USA P Bass. Maybe it did, maybe it didn't.

For example, couldn't the same pickup (based on the part #) be used in many different models of Fender P Basses (not just the "Deluxe P Bass Special" that you found on eBay)? Also, doesn't Fender make Deluxe P Bass Specials in Indonesia, Mexico and the USA? So, in theory, this pickup could have potentially been manufactured anywhere.

All I'm really trying to figure out if this pickup is 1) a genuine Fender and 2) made in the USA.

It would be great if the Fender web site had a searchable parts database, but it doesn't. Unless I'm missing something.

Thanks again,

ray

 

[Luis Fabara]

Oh I see...

Most posibly it is made in U.S.A. and the same pickups are used on the Special, wich is Mexican.

I have searched everywhere I can on that part number, and No, there is no info on that, and we can think that it is in fact a Part Number and not a serial...

A normal number for a US P Bass Pickup is 2046-000

Somebody here could check his American P Bass to check the number. So.. Im out! Have no power here.

 

[rboyce]

FWIW...someone from Fender customer support actually responded to my question regarding the origin of this pickup. I'm updating this thread with his info with the hope that it will help someone else out at some point down the road:

---------------------------------------

Hello,
The number on the bottom is actually the part number for the pickup bobbin. These specific bobbins are indeed the ones that are used for the American Series (standard) P-Bass pickups. Below are some specs for you.
Best regards,
John-
Fender Musical Instrumets

Pickup: American Standard Precision
Position: Rhythm (Toward Neck)
Used On Models: American Standard Precision Bass
American Deluxe Precision Bass
California P-Bass Special
American Standard Precision Left Handed
Part Number: 0056004000
Description: The P-Bass has been at the heart of popular music for five decades. This is the bass sound heard on countless popular recordings, live performances, and is the most recognized sound throughout the music world. The classic split pickup design is humbucking, and the pickups
are offset to produce the unique qualities of tone found only with the P-Bass. The Standard series P-Bass pickups maintain this tradition with a sound that is smooth and punchy, and the woody tone quality the P-Bass is known for.
Wire: #42 Polysol
Turns: 10,000
Bobbin: Plastic
Magnet: Alnico 5 Level
Polarity: North
DC Resistance: 5.30 K - 5.90 K Ohms (10.5 K Ohms Both Coils)
Inductance: 5.9 Henries (Both Coils)
DC Resistance: 5.30 K - 5.90 K Ohms (10.5 K Ohms Both Coils)
Appearance Details: Classic Fender split coil humbucking design, Ainico 5 magnets, flush magnet array / non staggered, polysol magnet wire, vintage construction, plastic pickup covers. Changed from Fiber to Plastic bobbin in 1999

-----Original Message-----
From: Ray Boyce [mailto:[email protected]]
Sent: Tuesday, October 18, 2005 1:50 PM
To: Consumer Relations
Subject: Can you help me identify some Fender P Bass pickups?

Hi.

I just bought some used P Bass Pickups that was sold to me as taken from
a
Fender "American P Bass", but I'm not convinced that it is. There is a
number on the bottom of the pickup - "048614". I assume this is a Fender
part number? I tried wading through the many on-line Parts Lists pdf
files
on the Fender web site, but I could not find a match. (A searchable
Parts
database would be really helpful).

Could you confirm what Fender P Basses (if any) used a pickup with the
number "048614" stamped on the back?

Thanks in advance,

Ray

 

[WretchedExcess]

I just pulled some pickups out of my 2004 Fender "Deluxe Precision Bass Special", which is a passive MIM P-Bass with a P-J pickup set and V/V/T controls. I found the number 048614 on the P-pickup bobbins and searched TB for "048614" to figure out what I had.

The bobbin numbers on the bottom of the P-Bass pickups are 048614. So it seems that the other poster is correct -- those bobbins are indeed from the pickups for an MIM Deluxe P-Bass Special.

It's interesting that in response to your inquiry, Fender responded that these bobbins are "from an American P-Bass." I think you told them what you wanted to hear in your email, and they responded with the answer that you said that you wanted to hear.

The specs for the Mexican Deluxe Precision Bass Special say nothing at all about the bass having "American" pickups. The line sheet from 2003-2004 only says that the P-type pickups are a "Standard Alnico Split Single-Coil Precision Bass Pickup". The specs say nothing about using "American" pickups in the Mexican bass.

I wouldn't put too much faith in the pickup's identity, just because you've ID'd the number on the plastic bobbin. It's entirely likely that several different pups are wound using the same plastic bobbin and that part number won't tell us much.

 

[MikeTranch]

Hi All, my first post to TalkBass. I found this thread by googling "p bass pickup 048614." I got a 2014 Fender American Special P Bass, brand new at GC. It has this same pickup, or at least the same number. It has yellow, white and black plastic wires. It's wired in series. It's not clear to me if this "bobbin number" could have been used on various pickups (e.g. different wire or magnets)?

 

[JimmyM]

Hi All, my first post to TalkBass. I found this thread by googling "p bass pickup 048614." I got a 2014 Fender American Special P Bass, brand new at GC. It has this same pickup, or at least the same number. It has yellow, white and black plastic wires. It's wired in series. It's not clear to me if this "bobbin number" could have been used on various pickups (e.g. different wire or magnets)?

Pretty sure that's the American Standard pickup, or as I call it, the worst pickup in the history of Precision basses.

 

[Jonathan Ojeda]

FWIW...someone from Fender customer support actually responded to my question regarding the origin of this pickup. I'm updating this thread with his info with the hope that it will help someone else out at some point down the road:

---------------------------------------

Hello,
The number on the bottom is actually the part number for the pickup bobbin. These specific bobbins are indeed the ones that are used for the American Series (standard) P-Bass pickups. Below are some specs for you.
Best regards,
John-
Fender Musical Instrumets

Pickup: American Standard Precision
Position: Rhythm (Toward Neck)
Used On Models: American Standard Precision Bass
American Deluxe Precision Bass
California P-Bass Special
American Standard Precision Left Handed
Part Number: 0056004000
Description: The P-Bass has been at the heart of popular music for five decades. This is the bass sound heard on countless popular recordings, live performances, and is the most recognized sound throughout the music world. The classic split pickup design is humbucking, and the pickups
are offset to produce the unique qualities of tone found only with the P-Bass. The Standard series P-Bass pickups maintain this tradition with a sound that is smooth and punchy, and the woody tone quality the P-Bass is known for.
Wire: #42 Polysol
Turns: 10,000
Bobbin: Plastic
Magnet: Alnico 5 Level
Polarity: North
DC Resistance: 5.30 K - 5.90 K Ohms (10.5 K Ohms Both Coils)
Inductance: 5.9 Henries (Both Coils)
DC Resistance: 5.30 K - 5.90 K Ohms (10.5 K Ohms Both Coils)
Appearance Details: Classic Fender split coil humbucking design, Ainico 5 magnets, flush magnet array / non staggered, polysol magnet wire, vintage construction, plastic pickup covers. Changed from Fiber to Plastic bobbin in 1999

-----Original Message-----
From: Ray Boyce [mailto:[email protected]]
Sent: Tuesday, October 18, 2005 1:50 PM
To: Consumer Relations
Subject: Can you help me identify some Fender P Bass pickups?

Hi.

I just bought some used P Bass Pickups that was sold to me as taken from
a
Fender "American P Bass", but I'm not convinced that it is. There is a
number on the bottom of the pickup - "048614". I assume this is a Fender
part number? I tried wading through the many on-line Parts Lists pdf
files
on the Fender web site, but I could not find a match. (A searchable
Parts
database would be really helpful).

Could you confirm what Fender P Basses (if any) used a pickup with the
number "048614" stamped on the back?

Thanks in advance,

Ray

Wow Ray! thanks I just bought a set of pbass pickups and I had exactly the same problem.. I wanted to know if they were from an american pbass.. so here is the answer my pickups have exactly the same number in the back.. so thanks!! a few years later this information is still useful

 

[Funkdified]

Just found this number on the bottom of my 2018 Tony Franklin sig fretless p-pup. Took them out to do some shielding, hums like a bee when near poopy (TB edit) electric wiring. A set of emg gzr pj are in order too.

 

[Yaralag]

Pretty sure that's the American Standard pickup, or as I call it, the worst pickup in the history of Precision basses.

What makes you say that? I ask because I have a Precision Bass Special with EMG GZRs loaded. I do love the way they sound but I wanted to make the bass active again. (The original active electronics were so corroded I pulled them and the original pickups out) I seem to remember liking the sound of the original pickups but I can't remember what was special about them. I just bought an Audere preamp and I was going to put that in with the original pickups and maintain the integrity of the EMGs wiring system. I take it you think I should leave the EMGs and modify the wiring to solder to the new Audere? I play this bass as my primary and I want it to have the most versatility. I play mostly classic rock and blues and Ampeg amps.

 

[JimmyM]

What makes you say that? I ask because I have a Precision Bass Special with EMG GZRs loaded. I do love the way they sound but I wanted to make the bass active again. (The original active electronics were so corroded I pulled them and the original pickups out) I seem to remember liking the sound of the original pickups but I can't remember what was special about them. I just bought an Audere preamp and I was going to put that in with the original pickups and maintain the integrity of the EMGs wiring system. I take it you think I should leave the EMGs and modify the wiring to solder to the new Audere? I play this bass as my primary and I want it to have the most versatility. I play mostly classic rock and blues and Ampeg amps.

LOL! Well I say that about that pickup because I hated it. I bought an 09 AmStd bought that the owner never bonded with, and I immediately heard why. I tried it on a gig once thinking hey, it's a Fender, worst that'll happen is I'll need to re-EQ. Well it turns out it wasn't that simple. It was so lacking in mid response that I might as well have not been there. I had to turn up the mids so loud my amp got noisy, and it still didn't have enough mid.

So I switched to a Fender 62 Original, which was better but way too bright and still not very middy. So a friend who used to work at EMG as AR sent me a couple Geezers to try about a month before they came out, and I never looked back. All my PJ's and my P now sport Geezers, even though he's long gone from EMG and now works at Kiesel.

So if you want to active them up, you could wire them to the Audere that way, but I'd definitely leave the Geezers. To me, they're what a Precision is supposed to sound like.

 

[Yaralag]

LOL! Well I say that about that pickup because I hated it. I bought an 09 AmStd bought that the owner never bonded with, and I immediately heard why. I tried it on a gig once thinking hey, it's a Fender, worst that'll happen is I'll need to re-EQ. Well it turns out it wasn't that simple. It was so lacking in mid response that I might as well have not been there. I had to turn up the mids so loud my amp got noisy, and it still didn't have enough mid.

So I switched to a Fender 62 Original, which was better but way too bright and still not very middy. So a friend who used to work at EMG as AR sent me a couple Geezers to try about a month before they came out, and I never looked back. All my PJ's and my P now sport Geezers, even though he's long gone from EMG and now works at Kiesel.

So if you want to active them up, you could wire them to the Audere that way, but I'd definitely leave the Geezers. To me, they're what a Precision is supposed to sound like.

Well to be honest I never played live with those original pickups. Maybe they just sounded good in my bedroom. I do like the Geezers and you convinced me to keep them in. Thanks.

 

[dragonrob1952]

The specs for the Mexican Deluxe Precision Bass Special say nothing at all about the bass having "American" pickups. The line sheet from 2003-2004 only says that the P-type pickups are a "Standard Alnico Split Single-Coil Precision Bass Pickup". The specs say nothing about using "American" pickups in the Mexican bass.
As for the number on the bobbin, it's quite possible that is meaningless in trying to determine origin of the pickup.

I've heard it postulated that Fender may often just use what's on hand at the time as far as pickups. I mean, say they had a stockpile of a certain pickup that was used in American made basses. It's perfectly plausible that they used such pickups in certain MIM models. I always wondered if Fender just doesn't mention that they are American pups because 1) it would be too hard to keep track so it's easier to just use the generic descriptions in the ads or 2) they want you to buy American models so why advertise that a certain non-American model has American pups, which could influence one to choose the 'lesser' model.
I've opened up Squires and MIM's that had pups with the vintage cloth pushback insulation and lots that had plastic insulation. Don't they typically use the cloth on the 'better' pups? I don't know for sure, just speculating.

 

[Brkls]

Pretty sure that's the American Standard pickup, or as I call it, the worst pickup in the history of Precision basses.

I just intalled a set of those on a frankenbass with alder body, rosewood fretboard, a year old labellas 760fl set + foam mute and i thought it was the best sounding p i have ever played.
Guy who sold them to me said they were taken from it's roadworn p and that they sounded so close to a set of CS62 he just installed that he didnt bother changing them back and just sold them to me for cheap. ( 60$ CAD )

So i'm guessing they don't sound like the CS60 which is the only 3rd party pick up from fender i haven't tried i think. I prefer it over the PV63 and the ORi62 and like it a tad more then the spb-1 cause it has less bottom.

 

[JimmyM]

I just intalled a set of those on a frankenbass with alder body, rosewood fretboard, a year old labellas 760fl set + foam mute and i thought it was the best sounding p i have ever played.
Guy who sold them to me said they were taken from it's roadworn p and that they sounded so close to a set of CS62 he just installed that he didnt bother changing them back and just sold them to me for cheap. ( 60$ CAD )

So i'm guessing they don't sound like the CS60 which is the only 3rd party pick up from fender i haven't tried i think. I prefer it over the PV63 and the ORi62 and like it a tad more then the spb-1 cause it has less bottom.

We’re all different and I get it.