Help me identify these Duncan pickups

[flyinryan11]

I just got these in and am having a hard time figuring out what they are. Maybe an older set of 59's but the wire looks different than the 59? They came out of an older les paul. Any idea? On my meter one reads 8.09 ohms and the other 7.48

 

[Chistopher]

Re: Help me identify these Duncan pickups

Probably just single conductor 59's. They are way different from the modern pickups of the same name though if they are vintage. Your specs seem to suggest they are a more recent batch. But if one things for sure, they aren't Invaders.

 

[gregory]

Re: Help me identify these Duncan pickups

Can you provide us a resistance reading for each?

 

[flyinryan11]

Re: Help me identify these Duncan pickups

8.09 and 7.48 on my ohm meter

 

[gregory]

Re: Help me identify these Duncan pickups

Probably 59s. Whether it has prominent mids or an extended treble response will help narrow the options.

They do appear to be potted.

 

[Chistopher]

Re: Help me identify these Duncan pickups

If I recall, single conductor 59's are the only pickup from SD that still come with long mounting legs as standard.

All the facts point towards 59's.

 

[gregory]

Re: Help me identify these Duncan pickups

Based on the baseplate and wooden spacers, these pickups are clearly older; so which pickups still come with long legs and braided wire isn't really relevant.

At least one of the magnets appears to be rough. It's interesting that they don't look like they are the same color. Maybe it's just the lighting?

 

[Chistopher]

Re: Help me identify these Duncan pickups

I was just thinking they were modern because they match the specs of modern 59's. ~7.5k neck and ~8k bridge with long legs, no logo, and braided single conductor is the Vintage Blues set.

And given how dusty the rest of the pickup is, the magnets might only appear to be roughcast. The OP might be able to help us out on that one.

 

[flyinryan11]

Re: Help me identify these Duncan pickups

Based on the baseplate and wooden spacers, these pickups are clearly older; so which pickups still come with long legs and braided wire isn't really relevant.

At least one of the magnets appears to be rough. It's interesting that they don't look like they are the same color. Maybe it's just the lighting?

Probably just the lighting. However the 8.09 output one seems to have slightly bigger slugs than the other. Cant tell on what the magnets are (rough or smooth) unless i pull them apart. Might just be the grime/rust buildup making them look rougher?

 

[flyinryan11]

Re: Help me identify these Duncan pickups

after looking closer under a magnifying glass it appears both pickups have smooth magnets

 

[gregory]

Re: Help me identify these Duncan pickups

How the magnets look isn't going to help distinguish one model from another from another. There are guys here who will be able to tell you the approximate age. I figure let your ears be the final arbiter.

 

[Chistopher]

Re: Help me identify these Duncan pickups

Probably just the lighting. However the 8.09 output one seems to have slightly bigger slugs than the other.

I just noticed that too. The coil with the bigger slugs looks slightly newer than the other coils, is that just the lighting? If so, that's a bit odd.

 

[flyinryan11]

Re: Help me identify these Duncan pickups

I just noticed that too. The coil with the bigger slugs looks slightly newer than the other coils, is that just the lighting? If so, that's a bit odd.

It might be newer. I cant be 100% sure. It does appear to have a bit more shine to it on the side of the bobbins

 

[LtKojak]

Re: Help me identify these Duncan pickups

8.09 and 7.48 on my ohm meter

They ARE a '59set, aka the "Vintage Blues" set.

The 7.48K is the neck one, the 8.09K is the bridge.

HTH,

 

[gregory]

Re: Help me identify these Duncan pickups

Why is Jazz, APH or PG not a possibility???

 

[LtKojak]

Re: Help me identify these Duncan pickups

Why is Jazz, APH or PG not a possibility???

All three use short-legged baseplates, 4-con output wire, the Jazz and APH are wound with poly wire and the PG have different DC readings.

But of course you knew all that, isn't it?

Anything else I can help you with?

 

[hamerfan]

Re: Help me identify these Duncan pickups

We can help him with the date! They were made between 1983 and 1988. Before that period there was no backlogo, after that the backlogo was smaller and has a 'Made in America'.

What bugs me is the brite wire color though. I am gonna check my old ones.

 

[LtKojak]

Re: Help me identify these Duncan pickups

What bugs me is the brite wire color though.

Well, I've had some PE-made p'ups with a pretty bright color in the past.

This is probably due to that particular wire's batch (said factory doesn't exist anymore). Being the p'ups probably late '80s might suggest a Co's acquisition of the remaining production leftover with some minor cosmetic flaws, although the readings tell the wire being 100% within nom specs.

HTH,

 

[flyinryan11]

Re: Help me identify these Duncan pickups

Thanks so much for all the help guys, I really do appreciate it!

 

[GilmourD]

Re: Help me identify these Duncan pickups

Based on the baseplate and wooden spacers, these pickups are clearly older; so which pickups still come with long legs and braided wire isn't really relevant.

At least one of the magnets appears to be rough. It's interesting that they don't look like they are the same color. Maybe it's just the lighting?

Current production SH-1 '59s come with wooden spacers and long legs.

This is the picture from the main SD site used for the SH-1: