When did Fender change the bobbin, magnet and the coil wire?

[Super Real]

Could you answer my question (about vintage Fender JB pickups) in the title?

OK, more exactly I'd like to know what year they change the flatwork color (from Black to Grey), the diameter (and length, if available) of each magnet piece and the wire insulation material (from Heavy Formvar to Plain Enamel).

Thank you in advance.

 

[Super Real]

Anyone know anything about these?

 

[iiipopes]

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[Abyssus Sonum]

Very interesting read, thanks.

Interesting also, that an article from the Fender website itself would refer to it's CBS Overlord Management as a "ham-fisted cost- and corner-cutting regime"
I'm sure they know best...

 

[Grinderman]

I wonder why there's a common contradiction between sources about which wire pre-CBS Fender used for P pickups; some claim heavy Formvar, others claim plain enamel coated.

This looks like plain enamel to me.

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This one too.

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Klein uses plain enamel coated. The color of the wire on my Epic '58 matches the wire color on the above examples.

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[dmk]

Even Fender doesn't know which wire was used in the early years. My Custom Shop NAMM Limited Edition 1958 had one pickup wound with Formvar and the other with Plain Enamel. I guess they decided to play it safe.

 

[dmk]

1962 Precision - Plain Enamel.

 

[Grinderman]

All enamel.

'64

 

[Grinderman]

Even Fender doesn't know which wire was used in the early years. My Custom Shop NAMM Limited Edition 1958 had one pickup wound with Formvar and the other with Plain Enamel. I guess they decided to play it safe.

Those both appear to be enamel to me. The apparent color shift or discrepancy between the two coils could be due coming from different spools from different production lots of plain enamel. I've got a set of FCS '62 P pickups, they have plain enamel.

Formvar looks much lighter and more golden.

 

[JimmyM]

Very interesting read, thanks.

Interesting also, that an article from the Fender website itself would refer to it's CBS Overlord Management as a "ham-fisted cost- and corner-cutting regime"
I'm sure they know best...

CBS no longer owns it and hasn't for 40 years, and it's dead on accurate. So they have nothing to lose.

 

[dmk]

Those both appear to be enamel to me. The apparent color shift or discrepancy between the two coils could be due coming from different spools from different production lots of plain enamel. I've got a set of FCS '62 P pickups, they have plain enamel.

Formvar looks much lighter and more golden.

You're just going to have to trust me on this one, especially if you could see it in person. One was Formvar and one was Plain Enamel. Also, confirmed by Fender.

 

[Super Real]

Wow, I didn't know there were people who could help me.
Thank you all for your valuable time to write here, I really appreciate.
I will read all the posts carefully, have a good weekend!!

 

[Grinderman]

I wonder why there's a common contradiction between sources about which wire pre-CBS Fender used for P pickups; some claim heavy Formvar, others claim plain enamel coated.

This looks like plain enamel to me.

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This one too.

Link Removed

Klein uses plain enamel coated. The color of the wire on my Epic '58 matches the wire color on the above examples.

Invalid Link Removed.

Thread dredge...

The bottom line--the Q&A--that I forgot to come back here for is this:

How much difference does it make whether it's plain enamel, poly nylon or heavy Formvar really, really, truly?


That question is setting aside perceptions or concerns about being period-correct materials, and pickup brand marketing speak/copy. By difference I mean in terms of pickup performance characteristics, direct compared, and also in comparison consider as one link off the entire chain, meaning the sum of the whole instrument's parts plus amplification equipment, etc.

I suspect any difference is very subtle as far as the performance of the pickups alone and by extension I think it's completely buried and lost in the big picture, among all the other factors or variables.

 

[JimmyM]

Thread dredge...

The bottom line--the Q&A--that I forgot to come back here for is this:

How much difference does it make whether it's plain enamel, poly nylon or heavy Formvar really, really, truly?


That question is setting aside perceptions or concerns about being period-correct materials, and pickup brand marketing speak/copy. By difference I mean in terms of pickup performance characteristics, direct compared, and also in comparison consider as one link off the entire chain, meaning the sum of the whole instrument's parts plus amplification equipment, etc.

I suspect any difference is very subtle as far as the performance of the pickups alone and by extension I think it's completely buried and lost in the big picture, among all the other factors or variables.

Right. All that stuff is fairly cosmetic. What they need to do is quit putting those VMods on American basses and put good ones on them again.