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Help for mysterious PAT NO. pickups

mondogen

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Joined
Oct 4, 2016
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4
Hi everybody, I'm trying to identify a couple of PAT NO. pickups.

They come from an Ibanez Les Paul Custom Copy (1975).

Resistance is 7.37K (B) and 7.54K (N).

I don't know what's the black thing (glue or wax?).

Thanks.

IMG_0007.jpg


IMG_0008.jpg
 

TM1

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Joined
Jun 27, 2003
Messages
8,349
Those are basically late 70's T-Top's or even Tarback "Dirty Fingers". I'm betting T-Tops looking at the resistance and somebody dropped some epoxy on each coil bobbin screw to keep it from moving.
 

chasenblues

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Jul 3, 2006
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1,228
Just throwing this out there for consideration..If that stuff is epoxy i wouldn't attempt to remove the covers you'd probably damage the pickups.
 

mondogen

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Oct 4, 2016
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Isn't it strange that N has more resistance of B? They have different poles on the back, too.
 

guitplayer

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Mar 8, 2008
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Without date stamps on bottom, these T-tops would
date to 1974-76
 

TM1

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Jun 27, 2003
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Isn't it strange that N has more resistance of B? They have different poles on the back, too.

Back then there wasn't any specific "bridge position" or "neck position" pickup. The readings are right in the range of what was being wound by Gibson. A difference of a couple of hundred ohms is not much in the way of output. I have an early Pat.# that reads 7.4k and it's a really Loud pickup. I use to have it in the neck of my LP Custom but could never find a bridge pickup that could compete in volume. I ended up putting it in the bridge position and use a couple of mid Sixties T-Tops in the neck and middle. I installed ThroBak A-4 magnets in those T-Tops and the guitar has a perfect balance now! It's an `04 R-7 Custom that's been to Historic Makeovers!
 

latestarter

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Nov 9, 2009
Messages
4,173
Isn't it strange that N has more resistance of B? They have different poles on the back, too.

Easily fixed. Install N into B hole and vice versa.

My '60 ES-335 had a 8.4K PAF in the neck and 8.0K in the bridge. Sacrilege I know, but when I put the harness back in I swapped them. Glad I did.
 
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mondogen

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Oct 4, 2016
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4
How much are they worth (maybe t-top, maybe tarback, maybe potted paf from late 70s/early 80s) ?
 

Hamerfan

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Dec 20, 2004
Messages
791
Without the epoxy and in unaltered state maybe 150 a pop. But in this shape, whatever you get for. You can't even set the pole screws. The covers could be aftermarket, because every Gibson humbucker i have seen had two solder blobs on the back.
 

mondogen

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Oct 4, 2016
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The previous owner told me they are from a Gibson ES 335 Artist from 80-81, but I have no evidence. This model seems to have active electronics by Bob Moog.
 

Kris Ford

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Jan 6, 2007
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4,003
The previous owner told me they are from a Gibson ES 335 Artist from 80-81, but I have no evidence. This model seems to have active electronics by Bob Moog.

Artist pickups as far as I know had low DCR...

Oddly enough, I had a RD Custom..but never took the pickups out...:hmm:hmm
 

Big Al

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Apr 24, 2002
Messages
14,537
The double row of pole piece drew holes on the bottom plate was a common feature of later Gibsons. In their present state I wouldn't attach much value on them. If they work and you like 'em, use 'em. If not, whatever you can get is all you can realistically expect.
 
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