Help needed identifying pickup (Gibson T Top)

[heavyliquid]

Hi all,

First post here, though I've been a long time lurker & reader.

So I bought a used Telecaster on the weekend. Not completely sure yet, but I think it might be a partscaster, but the most interesting thing is the neck pickup. It looks like a late 60's - early 70's Gibson T Top that's had it's cover taken off. Then again I know there are a lot of fakes & reproductions about, so I'm not 100%. If there are any Gibson guru's out there, please let me know what you think. Will add some photo's below.

Also I live in London (UK). So if anyone knows a shop that might be able to verify it, I know there are more than a few shops that specialise in vintage guitars & gear, but don't want to chance it, would rather speak to someone who knows for sure.







Thanks!

 

[AlexR]

Re: Help needed identifying pickup (Gibson T Top)

The sticker makes it 1973 or earlier. Thats about as near you are going to get given some of the baseplate screws have been swapped out.

And given the general pickup condition and what they are worth in that sort of shape, it could be a fake (only brandonwound that I know of does a clone with the 'T' bobbin) and it would still be about worth the same.

The tone is the important thing, and that will remain as good as ever.

 

[freefrog]

Re: Help needed identifying pickup (Gibson T Top)

I'm not "sure" of anything since I see your post on a small screen but I don't think your PU to be a fake, albeit it's apparently not a totally intact T-Top.

It would be useful to measure its resistance / inductance and to check a few things like the inner wires or the magnet.

Am I dreaming or is the baseplate screwed upon another baseplate whose sides have been cut? The part with legs apparently comes from a Patent Stick. but what is below this "first layer" of baseplate (IF there's two stacked BP's)?

 

[AlexR]

Re: Help needed identifying pickup (Gibson T Top)

^ good eye on the 2 baseplate thing. But even that has been trashed.

My 1972 T-tops have slot-head screws. The phillips if original might aid age determination.

 

[heavyliquid]

Re: Help needed identifying pickup (Gibson T Top)

Thanks.

I found some info saying earlier T Tops, or the very late/transitional PAF's had phillips head screws. Not found anything to explain the "double baseplate"/bracket. Very strange. I'll leave doing any more digging until I can measure the resistance of it this weekend. Thanks for your help so far

http://www.es-335.org/2010/06/01/pickups-part-3-the-t-top/

http://www.mylespaul.com/threads/gibson-t-top-pickup.154381/

 

[beaubrummels]

Re: Help needed identifying pickup (Gibson T Top)

What's with the sawed-in-half pat no baseplate screwed onto another baseplate? and soldered nuts onto the legs? Looks like various pickups parts screwed together.

 

[freefrog]

Re: Help needed identifying pickup (Gibson T Top)

^ good eye on the 2 baseplate thing. But even that has been trashed.

My 1972 T-tops have slot-head screws. The phillips if original might aid age determination.

Agreed.

I've seen quite a few T-Tops "repaired" and/or modified in a trashing way. A few years ago, I had posted a topic elsewhere about a TT mounted on a Dirty Fingers baseplate, with bent tinnerman clips over the height setting screw holes... Albeit the legs themselves had been resoldered with tin. The most horrid that I've seen had been bolted with a gross wood screw to a kind of aluminium frame supposed to complete the baseplate (wonderful thing for Eddie currents)... :-/

 

[AlexR]

Re: Help needed identifying pickup (Gibson T Top)

Another thought is that it is a very late t-top.....they went back to the phillips screws in the late 70's......and simply a new baseplate has been put on with an aftermarket sticker.

They are all guesses - which is about as good as you will ever do I think unless some more internal evidence can be found.

 

[heavyliquid]

Re: Help needed identifying pickup (Gibson T Top)

Thanks for your help everyone. I'll have time to get a closer look this weekend & can get some pictures of the internals. Will check it with a multi-meter as well.

It's not that I've bought this expecting it to be a T Top. Before I got a close look at the guitar I thought it was a generic humbucker, which I was planning on taking out of the guitar and selling it on. This might still be the case, as from what I could hear, it sounded out of phase with the Tele bridge pickup. Also I've already got a 72 Tele Custom reissue, so was planning on using single coils only in this guitar.

 

[Aceman]

Re: Help needed identifying pickup (Gibson T Top)

Does it sound good to you? If so don't worry about it.

I personally am a T-Top owner (for real verified from the LP that it came in in 79) and I wouldn't pay $45 for one.