How to tell if a pickup was truly rewinded by Mr. Duncan? (Early 80's)

Tone-Analyst

New member
I have an old Gibson T-top pickup that I've been told has been rewinded by Seymour Duncan in the early 80's. He showed be the '78 LP Custom it came from. I was just wondering if there's any visual hint that may prove or disprove this claim? Like the bobbin tape or else? I removed the external tape which looked more like hockey tape. The pickup measures 16.4k outside the guitar and has a ceramic magnet. (See attachments)
Thx!
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Re: How to tell if a pickup was truly rewinded by Mr. Duncan? (Early 80's)

There should be a service sticker on the baseplate stating it was rewound by SD. I believe the old stickers were white oval with blue ink.
 
Re: How to tell if a pickup was truly rewinded by Mr. Duncan? (Early 80's)

Back when Seymour just did rewinding you wouldn’t get a sticker on a pickup he rewound.


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Re: How to tell if a pickup was truly rewinded by Mr. Duncan? (Early 80's)

Yeah, but he said this was rewound in the early '80s...
 
Re: How to tell if a pickup was truly rewinded by Mr. Duncan? (Early 80's)

Is it known about when service stickers started being used? Also, the rewinder clearly swapped the magnet because I don't think T-top never came with ceramic magnets.
 
Re: How to tell if a pickup was truly rewinded by Mr. Duncan? (Early 80's)

I thought t-tops were in the 8- 9k range? I could be wrong about that. It they were it's probably been rewound. Sounds like someone decided to make a distortion style pup out of it

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Re: How to tell if a pickup was truly rewinded by Mr. Duncan? (Early 80's)

If the bobbins and baseplate check out as T-Top, then it has certainly been rewound. T-Tops are almost all in the 7.4K–7.6K range. By Duncan? You'll never know. One thing you do know: If it sounds good, then it sounds good.
 
Re: How to tell if a pickup was truly rewinded by Mr. Duncan? (Early 80's)

One thing you do know: If it sounds good, then it sounds good.

Absolutely true. How it sounds is what matters but, would have been cool if there'd been some kinda hint like the tape or how the wires were folded.. anything haha.

Thx for all the answers!!
 
Re: How to tell if a pickup was truly rewinded by Mr. Duncan? (Early 80's)

That looks like an old Duncan Distortion.

Unless you actually see the "T" on the bobbins, I don't think what you're told is true.

/Peter
 
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Re: How to tell if a pickup was truly rewinded by Mr. Duncan? (Early 80's)

Yes of course the "T" bobbins and the PAT NO are all there. Was just wondering about the 16k rewind job. Thx
 
Re: How to tell if a pickup was truly rewinded by Mr. Duncan? (Early 80's)

Yes of course the "T" bobbins and the PAT NO are all there. Was just wondering about the 16k rewind job. Thx
Looks like double thick ceramic, so it could be a JB/Distortion like wind.
 
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