1980’s Zebra JB help

[Lou22]

Hey all, I’ve been looking around for a 1980’s Seymour Duncan JB zebra to replace the faulty one in my 1986 Kramer Baretta. Possibly just found one, but the zebra colors on this pup are reversed (reversed in regards to every JB zebra pup I’ve ever seen in the 80’s Barettas has always had the pole pieces on the black side)… The one I found has no winders label on it, the backside is gold with the SD/Made in America logo, but the white side has the poles. I personally dont care about its missing label because I don’t ever plan to sell this guitar, but are there any other indicators on these pups to confirm its ID of actually being a JB? And were these 80’s zebras made in 2 different versions in regards to having an option as to which color had the pole pieces?

Any help or direction on this would be truly appreciated! Thnx in advance!

[beaubrummels]

Backside is gold? You mean it has a brass base plate? That would not be a JB.

There are legit JBs with reverse zebra. The tell-tale sign would be the logo is also reversed and on the slug bobbin, as that would be a 'neck' model which is the same as a bridge model, just cosmetically reversed to go in the neck position. Currently I see both zebra types on new bridge versions, but I don't know if that was common back in the 80's.

Photos of the pickup would be helpful to ID. Otherwise we're just guessing from your description.

[AdrianSD]

Link / pics?

[STLMTLHD79]

I have a vintage JBJ in zebra (black screw coil, cream slug coil). I have considered possibly selling/trading if interested.

[Lou22]

Link / pics?

here’s a few pics of it…

[Mincer]

There is a dedicated thread for identifying SD pickups here.

[hamerfan]

here’s a few pics of it…

Looks like bad lightning, no golden baseplate.

[jeremy]

thats what i was thinking too, i think its odd lighting. zebra vs reverse zebra as far as which coil is black, thats not unusual

[soulforger]

Baretta's all came stock with "reverse" zebra JB so by name that is what you need for stock.

[Masta' C]

Yup, there's "zebra" and "reverse zebra". Baseplate looks gold due to the lighting, not the color of the metal.

Also, that pickup could have been made anytime from the late-'80s through the early '00s...can't really tell without any other label or markings. Definitely not early-to-mid '80s, though.

Lastly, no way to tell if it's a proper "JBJ" (i.e. MJ-wound) if that matters to you.

[Masta' C]

Not sure where you're located, but here's a proper early-80s JB (very likely "JBJ") at a half-way decent price: https://reverb.com/item/85753535-sey...-humbucker-jbj

[dotsdad]

Call the Custom Shop and have MJ make you a new one. Shes the =J behind the legendary JB-J