Approximate date of manufacture for '80s Semour Duncan humbuckers? Let's solve this!

[freakton]

Okay - I know this subject has been discussed a few times here over the years, but I was hoping to finally create a post to clear things up (as much as possible, anyway) once and for all.

Here is what I have observed - *please* add any other details or clarifications (for example, specific years if you know them or have a good idea) - it would be greatly appreciated:

From what I know, the first Duncan humbuckers (very late '70s through early '80s) had no logo at all pressed into the bottom of the metal baseplate (so it is a totally plain baseplate). The typeface/font on the sticker is sort of crude looking (like a typewriter did it, as opposed to a computer/laser printer), with no winder initial as the last character.

Starting somewhere in the mid '80s (I'm guessing possibly around the '83 or '84 time frame? I'm not 100% sure of the dates - I'd really love to nail this down - but I'm pretty sure we're talking '85 at the latest), there was a "large" "Seymour Duncan Pickups" logo (the big "S" itself is about 3/4 inch by 1/2 inch) pressed into the bottom of the metal baseplate (but does *not* say "Made in America" under that), sticker has the crude typeface/font where usually none of the letters line up precisely, last character on sticker represents winder's initial. Regarding *humbuckers* in this specific era (with these exact physical characteristics), I have seen "J" (who is confirmed as Maricela Juarez, also known as MJ), and I have also seen "L" (possibly Lidia Daniel, according question #131 on Seymour's Q&A on the Seymour Duncan webpage). Anyone seen any other initials on humbuckers with these exact characteristics (other than J or L)? One other characteristic worth mentioning that I have noticed is that the corners/edges of the black tape surrounding the coils/bobbins always overlap onto the bottom of the baseplate. I have several examples of Alnico II Pro humbuckers from this era, and the sticker (which seems to be always placed right over the Duncan logo) has slightly rounded corners and measures around 1 1/4 inches by about 3/8 of an inch, and the paper is slightly darkened to the color of masking tape (as opposed to pure, bright white). Also, the Alnico II Pro humbuckers I own from this era have the vintage-style braided-shield leads, as opposed to the 4-conductor wire which I believe came later.

Finally, starting somewhere in the later '80s (again, I'd like to nail this down, but I'm thinking possibly somewhere in the '86 or '87 time frame?), one of the most obvious changes is that there was a "small" Seymour Duncan logo pressed into the bottom of the metal baseplate with "Made In America" right under that, sticker still has the crude typeface/font where usually none of the letters line up precisely, last character on sticker represents winder's initial.

Anyone else have any additional info or details? Thanks for reading!

 

[Fusion1]

Re: Approximate date of manufacture for '80s Semour Duncan humbuckers? Let's solve th

I think I have/had a Duncan Distortion with a O or P as last initial. I have a Duncan Custom with an L as well. Everything else was a J. I gotta wonder was MJ one of the only winders back then? Seems like 95% of those era pickups were wound by MJ that I have.

Also what type of ink on those 3 letter stickers? Seems like carbon copy purple ink especially the way it appears smudged and faded and the label itself seems like a wax coated paper.

I am intrigued by this stuff.

 

[freakton]

Re: Approximate date of manufacture for '80s Semour Duncan humbuckers? Let's solve th

Fusion: I am very interested in this stuff as well - being able to document this history. The only humbuckers from that mid-80s time period (large logo, no Made in America) that I have seen are J's and L's, with the J's seeming to be more common from what I have seen personally, so I am very interested if you've seen any other initials from that era. It does seem that MJ was one of the earliest winders (I think she's been there since around '83 or so?) and it seems she was one of only a few employees doing that sort of thing at that time.

The ink that I have seen from that era sometimes varies a little bit from pickup to pickup, but you are definitely right. Most of the time it does almost have a sort of "purple" color to it, and when it does, the letters do appear smudged and not always completely solid/filled-in with ink. The paper itself to me almost looks like a "masking tape" color/consistency and it usually has an almost sort of parially glossy texture to it. I have also seen some examples from that same era (large logo, no Made in America) with ink that appears more black in color (as opposed to the purple-ish color), where the letters are not as faded and are more "filled in" with ink, but those seem to be more common. I have always guessed that the "purple" color ink pickups were slightly older than the more black color ink ones, but I could be wrong.

Do you have any ideas about the possible years when any of these characteristics changed?