Another humbucker cover spacing question

[el_duberino]

I've used the search function to read through old threads and never really saw my situation addressed, so I'm gonna start a new thread!

I have an older SD JB bridge humbucker (sticker on the bottom says "JBJ"). It came as a set with PGn. The pickups sound great, but the bobbins are red... I think they were pulled from a shredder axe at some point. I have a chrome cover that I got as an extra from a pickup maker (JS Moore), who assured me that it would fit a SD pickup. The outer dimensions fit, snugly, but the pole pieces don't line up. The pickup spacing is very slightly narrower than the cover spacing.

The cover measures 1.93" (49mm) between the midpoints of the outer holes.
The pickup measures 1.90" (48.2mm) between the midpoints of the outer polepieces.

Several other threads included statements that SD pickups require SD covers. Ok, so I'll buy an SD cover. I've found several on eBay, but they all either don't list the spacing, or they list different spacing. One showed a diagram with 2", another auction specified 1 15/16" (1.9375"). What's the deal? What are the actual dimensions of a new SD cover, and where should I look to buy one? The SD online store only carries trembucker covers in nickel, or regular humbucker covers in gold. Gold is not my bag, baby.

Or, do I have some oddball pickup that just won't fit with a cover and I should just let my hair down and embrace the red humbucker?

 

[hamerfan]

Re: Another humbucker cover spacing question

I've used the search function to read through old threads and never really saw my situation addressed, so I'm gonna start a new thread!

I have an older SD JB bridge humbucker (sticker on the bottom says "JBJ"). It came as a set with PGn. The pickups sound great, but the bobbins are red... I think they were pulled from a shredder axe at some point. I have a chrome cover that I got as an extra from a pickup maker (JS Moore), who assured me that it would fit a SD pickup. The outer dimensions fit, snugly, but the pole pieces don't line up. The pickup spacing is very slightly narrower than the cover spacing.

The cover measures 1.93" (49mm) between the midpoints of the outer holes.
The pickup measures 1.90" (48.2mm) between the midpoints of the outer polepieces.

Several other threads included statements that SD pickups require SD covers. Ok, so I'll buy an SD cover. I've found several on eBay, but they all either don't list the spacing, or they list different spacing. One showed a diagram with 2", another auction specified 1 15/16" (1.9375"). What's the deal? What are the actual dimensions of a new SD cover, and where should I look to buy one? The SD online store only carries trembucker covers in nickel, or regular humbucker covers in gold. Gold is not my bag, baby.

Or, do I have some oddball pickup that just won't fit with a cover and I should just let my hair down and embrace the red humbucker?

take a second look on your measurements:

vintage string spacing is 49.2 mm or ref. as 49mm (comes from imperial size 1-15/16)
metric size of asian and european origin with 50 mm (is equal to 1-31/32)
trembucker (f-style) size with 52.6 or ref. as 52 mm
gibson T size with 53.2 mm or ref. as 53 mm (comes from the imperial size of 2-3/32)

just my findings on the web...

 

[LtKojak]

Re: Another humbucker cover spacing question

The pickup measures 1.90" (48.2mm) between the midpoints of the outer polepieces.

This is the Di Marzio measure for neck p'ups. No other maker uses this exact measure.

Are you sure it's a Duncan?

 

[el_duberino]

Re: Another humbucker cover spacing question

Thanks to both of you for the replies! Measuring again, this time I get exactly 48mm. I'm supposed to measure between the midpoints of the outer pole pieces, correct?

Two images are attached below, one showing the SD backplate and the other showing the measurement with the calipers. Regardless of the exact measurement, I just want to know if there's a correct cover I should order.

 

[hamerfan]

Re: Another humbucker cover spacing question

okay, if there are DiMarzio sizes too ....

...sigh :werd:

 

[LtKojak]

Re: Another humbucker cover spacing question

Thanks to both of you for the replies! Measuring again, this time I get exactly 48mm

Well, the baseplate certainly is Duncan, and the screws don't look crooked, so maybe the caliper isn't that precise.

Ok, the answer to your question is the following:
The cover that fits any SH-type of Duncan p'up is 49.2mm or 1-15/16".

http://www.mojotone.com/Pickups_x/PickupParts_x/Humbucker-Pickup-Cover-Nickel-49-2mm

That's a good-sounding one.

HTH,

 

[el_duberino]

Re: Another humbucker cover spacing question

Cool, thanks for the help. I think those measurements are exactly what I've already got. Maybe I'll reach out to SD and see if they have any ideas. Perhaps it's time for me to give up on this mongrel pickup that I keep trying to hide, and sell it to someone who will love its true color! His bright red buddy, the PGn is currently installed in my SG standard. I had a strange time trying to put a cover on that one. It didn't quite fit, but I did it anyway, and the output went way down...as if it was only giving me one coil. I even confirmed this with the multimeter. When I removed the cover the output went back to normal. No idea what was going on.

This pickup is intended to be the lone wolf in a swamp ash project from Warmoth. I one option is to reunite the red JB with his ruddy brother in the SG, and take the nickel-covered JS Moore Tres Hombres out of that guitar to use in the Warmoth.

 

[hamerfan]

Re: Another humbucker cover spacing question

show us pics from both sides, where the tabs are

 

[Leon Of Late]

Re: Another humbucker cover spacing question

Those older JB's can sound different than the newer production models. The magnet has aged, as has the wire and the pickup itself. That can have a subtle mellowing effect on the tone. I have an early JB, made in the late 70's I believe, and it does sound different than the newer ones I have. Smoother. If you like the one you have, hang onto it.

I'm sure there is a cover that will fit that thing. Call Duncan customer service.

Does anyone know if SD used a different HB measurement early on..... like the 48.02 measure the op is getting!

 

[Leon Of Late]

Re: Another humbucker cover spacing question

If you measure not from the centerline, but from the outside edge of the end pole pieces, what measurement do you get?

 

[AZ Picker]

Re: Another humbucker cover spacing question

I've bought Duncan covers and they have always fit any era of Duncan pickups I've had to a tee. Gibsons standard spacing fit too, but not quite as well. The holes for the pole pieces were a tiny bit larger. You can get a genuine Duncan nickel or gold cover on EBay for 12.99 shipped from Smokey Bs pickups, probably a few other places for close to that price.

 

[GuitarDoc]

Re: Another humbucker cover spacing question

First of all, you shouldn't measure from center to center. That's very inaccurate since you are roughly estimating/guessing where the center is. You should measure from outside edge of one end pole to inside edge of the other end pole so you have a hard edge to go by.

Second, there's not enough difference in the cover hole spacing that it won't fit. Just put it on and be done with it. You may need to raise the screws quite a bit or even remove the outside screws first. No one is going to see the slight misalignment (0.03" in nearly 2").

If this guitar is intended to be played, then play the darn thing.
If it's intended to be on display in a museum, then go ahead and spend the time and money to get it perfect.

 

[Demanic]

Re: Another humbucker cover spacing question

Outside to inside? OK, that's good to know. I was never sure if it was that or outside to outside or visa versa.

Sent from my MotoE2(4G-LTE) using Tapatalk

 

[GuitarDoc]

Re: Another humbucker cover spacing question

Outside to inside, or inside to outside, or center to center...it's all the same. But it's difficult to get exact measuring center to center.

 

[Zhangliqun]

Re: Another humbucker cover spacing question

If it really is 48mm, you may have a hard time finding a cover for it. And, depending on what cover you get, it can dull the tone, which can be good or bad depending your guitar/rig/pick/tastes/etc.

 

[el_duberino]

Re: Another humbucker cover spacing question

Thanks all for the replies and suggestions. There was one request for side shots, how would that be useful? I've contact SD customer service, so we'll see what they say. Ultimately, this is not a very important issue. I'll probably just put this pickup back in my black SG and just let that guitar go back to being "the one with the red pickups." I'll try using the JS Moore Tres Hombres in this new Warmoth project.

The guitar is still in the finishing stage, so I've got a lot more coats of Tru-Oil and then some curing time before I even get to test out the electronics! The waiting is the hardest part...