Pat# Pups With Ink Stamp Date...Shaws?

[scottknouse]

Just picked up an absolutely beautiful near dead mint 1980 Tobacco Burst Les Paul Custom. Opened her up and saw these pickups. The era is right, but I'm just not sure they are Shaw pups. They sound far, far better than any other Gibson I own. I don't have an ohm meter to check the output, but man, they crank! What do y'all think?
(Got a slideshow of the whole guitar if anyone's interested.)

 

[CutieJones]

Late T-Top. I dont think they are Shaw PAFs, they had specific number code for neck and bridge positions like XXX137 and XXX138 respectively.

 

[Henk]

I would say they are Shaws since they are made during the time Shaw managed the pickup production for Gibson, people usually say that about these TTops anyway. The 137/138 models were initially designed for the heritage reissue series as a sort of PAF type reissue pickup, later these were used on more models i think and it is this pickup design some seem to refer to as the 'Shaw pickup' which is not correct since Shaw designed more types of pickups under Gibsons flag.

 

[CutieJones]

When people talk about Shaws they are generally referring to the PAF re-issue. Not the other pups that were also available during that era.

 

[Wilko]

That is very early to be a "Shaw PAF", plus it's not marked as such, and in the wrong guitar.

 

[Korina& Mahogany]

I have a few pairs of 1980 Shaws, and a pair
of Post T-Top bobbin, Dated 1980 Pups as you shown here.

The one set was OEM, NOS, and it's 1980 light Blue Gibson box
packaging Said..."Original Humbucker"
The Base Plate had the date of Dec 1980;
what I call a Non-Shaw. They came covered.
Besides the T-tops and my 1985 Shaws...all were
Zebra and or reverse zebra.

If you have Dark Wire and Not the shinny New Penny Color,
that is the Shaw wire. The Magnet is more difficult.
Could be a Shaw, most likely not.

I also had a Pair of T-tops that were dated Feb 1980.
Literally one of the last sets of T-top-ed bobbins made.
They had a thinner looking magnet and
the New Penny colored wire.
All of these were made at the same time Shaws were...1980.
So, no maybe not a Shaw, but all mine sound good.
All were around 25 gauss, and 7.5k.
so the mags were on the weaker side.

 

[scottknouse]

I have a few pairs of 1980 Shaws, and 2 pair
of Post T-Top bobbin, Dated 1980 Pups as you shown here.
IMHO, these were made at the same time Shaws were...1980.
One set was OEM and it's 1980 light Blue Gibson
packaging Said..."Original Humbucker" Non-Shaw. Dec 1980.
So, no maybe not a Shaw, but all mine sound good.
If you have Dark Wire and not the shinny Penny Color,
that is the Shaw wire. The Magnet is more difficult.
Could be a Shaw, most likely not.
I also had a Pair of T-tops that were dated Feb 1980.
I sold those, they had a thinner looking magnet and
the New Penny colored wire. All were around 25 gauss,
so the mags were on the weaker side.

GREAT INFORMATION! I APPRECIATE IT.

 

[Korina& Mahogany]

Thanks.
Just a very narrow point of history I was able to see
due to the Dates on all of the 1980 Base Plates.
:salude

 

[sickboy79]

Great info in this thread. Post of pic of the guitar! Tobacco burst is one of my favorite "burst" finishes!

 

[scottknouse]

Great info in this thread. Post of pic of the guitar! Tobacco burst is one of my favorite "burst" finishes!

Here's a slideshow with a ton of pix...

http://s671.photobucket.com/albums/vv75/scotteknouse/1980 Les Paul Custom/?albumview=slideshow

 

[sap68/69]

I would love to see a pic of the Coil Wire on the Shaw P-up if anyone has it. Were they still being made in 1985 ?
Thanks !

 

[Korina& Mahogany]

Yes they were made in 85.
The first few years of the Shaws I have seen had a Burnt
Brown-orange color to it, like a gem stone Garnett (sp?)
I had a pair of 1985's, they had a different base plate,
and the wire was a deep Pink...really. These had the small
black and gold Paf No. sticker on the pickup ring or base plate;
Most of them fell off, not very good adhesive.
The Base plates had short 'legs' and screw holes on both sides
of the base plate...not just the side with the adjustable pole pieces.
Again, my Feb 1980 T-tops and early 1980 New bobbin 'non-Shaw' pairs
had a very "New Penny" copper color. All three colors are quite
different.

 

[sap68/69]

The first few years of the Shaws I have seen had a Burnt
Brown-orange color to it, like a Garnett (sp?)
I had a pair of 1985's, they had a different base plate,
and the wire was a deep Pink...really. These had the Paf No. sticker
on the pickup ring or base plate.

Thanks, that helps a lot. Was the # on the base plate stamped like the 70's T-tops were ? And, would Shaws have come in an SG in 85 ?

 

[Korina& Mahogany]

I think they came in the Special Anniversary Les Paul
Gold Tops. There are some great threads here, check out the Search
feature when you get a chance.

 

[EFburst58]

I would love to see a pic of the Coil Wire on the Shaw P-up if anyone has it. Were they still being made in 1985 ?
Thanks !

This one is from a Heritage 80 and reads 7,58K.

 

[sap68/69]

Thanks I can see the coil wire nicely. Is this a set as in 137 neck & 138 bridge ? (If I have the #'s right) The wire isn't as dark as I expected, and zebra coils form back then, nice ! Looks like they were covered zebras, interesting.

 

[EFburst58]

Thanks I can see the coil wire nicely. Is this a set as in 137 neck & 138 bridge ? (If I have the #'s right) The wire isn't as dark as I expected, and zebra coils form back then, nice ! Looks like they were covered zebras, interesting.

I think the first Shaws came with the date stamp only,later they switched to the '137 - 138' style codes.
Here's some info about the wire(post 15)
http://www.lespaulforum.com/forum/showthread.php?t=104941

 

[Kris Ford]

What if the ink stamp says 162 084? (with the patent # stamp of course).What type of PUP, if at all a Shaw, is this?

 

[DonP]

What if the ink stamp says 162 084? (with the patent # stamp of course).What type of PUP, if at all a Shaw, is this?

That 084 is incorrect. It's a 1984 pickup (the 84), but the month is not 0. Try again to read what month the 0 truely is.

Also, take a DC reading of the pickup.

 

[VintageWoodWorkshop]

I would love to see a pic of the Coil Wire on the Shaw P-up if anyone has it. Were they still being made in 1985 ?
Thanks !

From some past searches I found that the Shaws were used even up into 1987. I have a pair from the 86 ES335 in my avatar that have no sticker or date stamp but are most definitely Shaws as they both measure around 7.4 and have the shiny copper color wire. Very nice, crystal clear and articulate pups which now reside in my 87 LP standard.