I hope you all can help me out. I've got a 1967 unbranded Japanese knock off my Dad bought new that's trickled down to me. I know it's not much, but I learned to play on it and would like to have it usable. The windings on the pickup have finally crapped out. With money, or lack of, being a factor, what's something decent and cheap to replace it? It's a single coil, single pickup with a string spacing of 1.85". I haven't found anything that narrow. Thanks for any suggestions, Randy
Just another new guy, same old question
- Thread starter randywa
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hamerfan
Well-known member
Re: Just another new guy, same old question
I like the headstock. I would look into Bill Lawrence pickups eg the L 45S which also is the way to go with some turkish/arabian stringed intruments like saz and bouzuki.
http://wildepickups.com/Wilde_Bill_s_Twin_Blades.html
But every brand which makes rail pickups including SD with Cool Rails and Vintage Rails works for you. Be sure to take the neck versions.
https://www.seymourduncan.com/pickup/cool-rails-strat-neck
https://www.seymourduncan.com/pickup/vintage-rails-strat-neck
It doesnt matter if the rails are longer than your string spacing.
I like the headstock. I would look into Bill Lawrence pickups eg the L 45S which also is the way to go with some turkish/arabian stringed intruments like saz and bouzuki.
http://wildepickups.com/Wilde_Bill_s_Twin_Blades.html
But every brand which makes rail pickups including SD with Cool Rails and Vintage Rails works for you. Be sure to take the neck versions.
https://www.seymourduncan.com/pickup/cool-rails-strat-neck
https://www.seymourduncan.com/pickup/vintage-rails-strat-neck
It doesnt matter if the rails are longer than your string spacing.
Last edited:
Silence Kid
New member
Re: Just another new guy, same old question
That is a Teisco "Top Twenty" pickup. You can hold out to find one on eBay, or take a stab at self-rewinding that one yourself, or send it to Seymour for a rewind, which will probably be only a bit more than buying a (new) Duncan.
Are you sure it's the pickup and not some other issue?
That is a Teisco "Top Twenty" pickup. You can hold out to find one on eBay, or take a stab at self-rewinding that one yourself, or send it to Seymour for a rewind, which will probably be only a bit more than buying a (new) Duncan.
Are you sure it's the pickup and not some other issue?
Re: Just another new guy, same old question
Yeah, it's the pickup alright. While I had it apart switching the pots my 3 year old Grandson grabbed a handful of it. The outside end of the wind broke off and the winding is so brittle it started shedding hairballs. It had been getting weaker sounding the last few months anyway. I got a good talking to by my wife for having it where he could reach it, but I'm thinking take him for ice cream as a payoff. It always sounded real twangy and I think he fixed it.
Yeah, it's the pickup alright. While I had it apart switching the pots my 3 year old Grandson grabbed a handful of it. The outside end of the wind broke off and the winding is so brittle it started shedding hairballs. It had been getting weaker sounding the last few months anyway. I got a good talking to by my wife for having it where he could reach it, but I'm thinking take him for ice cream as a payoff. It always sounded real twangy and I think he fixed it.
Aceman
I am your doctor of love!
Re: Just another new guy, same old question
DUDE!!!!! That things oooooozes Sears & Roebuck trash-tone mojo!!!!!!
I would #1 get it set up to near perfection and then either:
a) As said - have Seymour rewind to original spec non-awesome originalness or
b) Get the rail, add push/pul tap and phase switch and rock the bejeebers out of it
It's a Silvertone./Tiesco Shrredstick (if their was such a thing...)
DUDE!!!!! That things oooooozes Sears & Roebuck trash-tone mojo!!!!!!
I would #1 get it set up to near perfection and then either:
a) As said - have Seymour rewind to original spec non-awesome originalness or
b) Get the rail, add push/pul tap and phase switch and rock the bejeebers out of it
It's a Silvertone./Tiesco Shrredstick (if their was such a thing...)
DavidRavenMoon
New member
Re: Just another new guy, same old question
You can have that rewound for about $50. Those are cool pickups. Don’t modify that guitar.
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You can have that rewound for about $50. Those are cool pickups. Don’t modify that guitar.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Silence Kid
New member
Re: Just another new guy, same old question
People actually like those pickups; I think Robert Smith had one in his Jazzmaster.
People actually like those pickups; I think Robert Smith had one in his Jazzmaster.
Re: Just another new guy, same old question
I can remember going with Dad to the Western Auto store when he bought it. I've also still got the amp that came with it, a big ol' box with an 8" speaker, with vol, tone, tremolo, and reverb. It's not that healthy either. Or maybe it wasn't that loud to start with and I wasn't this hard of hearing. A year or two ago I almost routed it for dual pickups but luckily I sobered up or something before I did anything. It's like most of my stuff though, it's old user stuff (one step away from junk) just not old collector stuff. I think I will check into having it rewound though. If nothing else I can sit around rub it once in awhile.
I can remember going with Dad to the Western Auto store when he bought it. I've also still got the amp that came with it, a big ol' box with an 8" speaker, with vol, tone, tremolo, and reverb. It's not that healthy either. Or maybe it wasn't that loud to start with and I wasn't this hard of hearing. A year or two ago I almost routed it for dual pickups but luckily I sobered up or something before I did anything. It's like most of my stuff though, it's old user stuff (one step away from junk) just not old collector stuff. I think I will check into having it rewound though. If nothing else I can sit around rub it once in awhile.
Re: Just another new guy, same old question
I agree for holding out for a rewind. The good thing about a rewind is that you can have it rewound to sound like almost anything. It can sound like it originally did, or like a very aged pickup, or something a lot more modern.
I agree for holding out for a rewind. The good thing about a rewind is that you can have it rewound to sound like almost anything. It can sound like it originally did, or like a very aged pickup, or something a lot more modern.
DavidRavenMoon
New member
Re: Just another new guy, same old question
Very good point.
This pickup might need an easy repair. Often one end of the coil disconnects. It just needs to be re soldered.
I had a customer that had an old Acoustic Black Widow Bass. The original humbucker stopped working.
But it was a freaky pickup with no bobbins and filled with Bondo and newspaper!
So I built a new modern neodymium powered humbucker in the original pickup’s shell.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Very good point.
This pickup might need an easy repair. Often one end of the coil disconnects. It just needs to be re soldered.
I had a customer that had an old Acoustic Black Widow Bass. The original humbucker stopped working.
But it was a freaky pickup with no bobbins and filled with Bondo and newspaper!
So I built a new modern neodymium powered humbucker in the original pickup’s shell.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Re: Just another new guy, same old question
A quickie update- I found a set Fat Strat pups on Craigslist for $15. I put the neck pickup in my guitar as a temporary and I've decided to get my pickup rewound. It looks a little ugly but I'll make a trim ring or something to put on for now. The other 2 pickups will either go in a dumpster project I've got or a cigar box toy. I'm leaning toward the cigar idea. The old geetar sounds pretty amazing now. I've never heard it sound this good.
Thanks to everyone for all the help. Without it I'd have done something stupid. I know, I've seen me do it before.
A quickie update- I found a set Fat Strat pups on Craigslist for $15. I put the neck pickup in my guitar as a temporary and I've decided to get my pickup rewound. It looks a little ugly but I'll make a trim ring or something to put on for now. The other 2 pickups will either go in a dumpster project I've got or a cigar box toy. I'm leaning toward the cigar idea. The old geetar sounds pretty amazing now. I've never heard it sound this good.
Thanks to everyone for all the help. Without it I'd have done something stupid. I know, I've seen me do it before.
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