Hello guys , is there anyone out there that knows about serial numbers on Fender pickups? I just got these old pickups supposedly off a Jazz Bass from the 60's , the only marks on them is a serial number , here it is: 3460 is there a way to check on this serial to find out what year they were made?? any help is appreciated.
Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
Join free Log in
Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.
What year are my fender jazz pickups??
- Thread starter user0627
- Start date
- Aug 21, 2008
- 10,386
- 253
- 68
- Disclosures
- Owner, SGD Music Products
its exactly what the ad states. 1970. fender used a 4 digit code during that era. the 0 is what year (0=70,1=71 etc). the number before it is the week.
Adding to naruds post ...
The "plastic" wires were introduced about 1968/69?
So, this can't be an earlyer J-PU. And a long time in the 1960s the numbers were written by hand and not stamped.
The "3" MIGHT mean Wednesday - as on necks (on other place of the number).
So, 3460 MIGHT be Wednesday, 46th week 1970.
I made a lot investigations on neck numbers but I am not sure about the PU numbers. But what narud writes makes very much sense to me!
The "plastic" wires were introduced about 1968/69?
So, this can't be an earlyer J-PU. And a long time in the 1960s the numbers were written by hand and not stamped.
The "3" MIGHT mean Wednesday - as on necks (on other place of the number).
So, 3460 MIGHT be Wednesday, 46th week 1970.
I made a lot investigations on neck numbers but I am not sure about the PU numbers. But what narud writes makes very much sense to me!
- Aug 21, 2008
- 10,386
- 253
- 68
- Disclosures
- Owner, SGD Music Products
That's interesting. because they also put the year on it too. Here's a '76 with the flatwork assembled the wrong way:
And the '74 P bobbin was from a set I bought new in '74.
When did they make the switch from the 4 digit code?
i think the 4 digit was the first coding used before transitioning to the entire last two digits of the year. pops up in 74'ish maybe? i had some pickups dated 74 as well that had the entire last two digits of the year.
- Aug 21, 2008
- 10,386
- 253
- 68
- Disclosures
- Owner, SGD Music Products
its a 70. a 60 would be a black bottom. an 80 would have gibson style leads and the longer code. 69-74 (give or take)
IF they are 100% original, they are surely not older than about 1968/69! Until then, Fender used no "plastic mantles" for the wires but the "cloth wires" (don't know the correct English expression).
As your PU has the plastic mantle, it MUST be post 68/69.
At Fender never say never! Maybe someone found "cloth wires" somewhere in the corner in 1970 and used them. The change between the wire types also depends on the instrument type! No one said: "From today on all instruments are wired like this - and throw away the old wires." !!!
4 DIGITS / 6 DIGITS ...
Fender introduced the first stamp in March 1962 - but only for stamping necks. This stamp type survived many changes and was still in use when other stamps were long in use.
In 1969 a new code of 6 to 8 digits for the neck was introduced which was very confusing - and surely many necks were stamped wrong!
In this method, the first or first two digits were for the instrument, then came 3 digits (worker???) and 2 or 3 digits for MONTH plus YEAR. A 40 was April 1970, a 122 was December 1972.
So, the 3460 might mean 46th week 1970 OR July 1970???
The "calender week" system for the necks was introduced in 1972. Maybe the week-system was used before for the bobbins?
The next neck-stamp-system came in 1976.
So, there were lots of changes with difficult number systems. Some of the systems have been decoded, some systems are still miricale (in some parts).
Problem is, that some systems were not understood by all workers - and so we have totally wrong numbers which don't match the system.
4 digits
were also used in many neck pockets of the bodys (for quality control?).
Very interesting info Cadfael , thank you very much. If someone perhaps had a 1970 bass so that we could compare his pickups to mine that would certainly put this to rest. Or even someone with a 1960 pickup (if someone is out there) please post pictures so that we can compare build differences like wire insulation, bobbin windings , flatwork color and so on...thanks everyone
- Aug 21, 2008
- 10,386
- 253
- 68
- Disclosures
- Owner, SGD Music Products
It's not a 60's pickup. The flatwork would black on the bottom. It was already shown to be from 1970. I think you are picking the answers you want to hear! 
.
.It's not a 60's pickup. The flatwork would black on the bottom. It was already shown to be from 1970. I think you are picking the answers you want to hear!
I don't think so , the pickups came from a bass that had multiple mixed pieces, like e.g. the tuners where 60's , the pickguard was 60's , the neck was unbranded , the pot's were 70 the body was 70....so if the pickups are 70 i'm happy with them because its what I paid for in any case, I just don't want to throw some 1960 pickups in a cheap japanese bass, I'd rather sell them to someone who is a collector...if the pickups are 80's that sucks because my bass is 80's , plus the price was high...that's all I'm not picking this or that , if they are 1970 I'm a happy camper and I'll install them in my MIJ bass no problem thanks everyone..
It's not a 60's pickup. The flatwork would black on the bottom. It was already shown to be from 1970. I think you are picking the answers you want to hear!
SGD...MOREOVER DUDE ...FENDER WENT BACK TO BLACK FLATWORK SOMETIME IN THE 70'S ...SO BLACK FLATWORK DOESN'T NECESSARILY MEAN 1960'S ...WASSUP WITH THAT?
youve already gotten your answer numerous times. in bass pickups, there are random occurrences of black flatwork showing up. there wasnt a switch over and were probably just leftover stock. ive seen a 68 with black flat work and my buddy has a 74 jazz with a black bobbin pickup. those are anomalies though. the overwhelming majority of 70's pickups are gray bottoms like yours. the 4 digit date stamp was only used in that short period of years.
- Aug 21, 2008
- 10,386
- 253
- 68
- Disclosures
- Owner, SGD Music Products
They didn't, and why are you typing in all caps. Those are not from 1960.
I think between me and Narud we have handled more of these than you have. Him even more so.
Been reading through here looking for specifics on "Wire color" - I'm trying to identify a set of jazz pickups I have with red/black leads - these may be from my 70's fender Tri-bolt that was sold with Duncan's installed, can't remember if I kept them or sent them with the bass...
