Need Help Identifying an Oddball JB

[Rising Farce]

I just pulled the stock JB out of the bridge position of my '03 Dean USA Pro Series ML and found the following inscription on the back label:

LAFJB-MINI-F
*G0440F*
NECK
0403

Does anyone know what this coding might denote?

As for the "MINI" part, the pickup does indeed appear to be shorter (measured from base to bobbins) than a standard JB. I assume it was made this way to fit in the shallow cavity of the ML, though I have to think that modifying it thus would affect the tone. (And indeed, the pickup sounded much weaker and muddier than I expected.)

As for the "NECK" bit, well, that's just plain odd.

Any help is appreciated.

 

[Diocletian]

Re: Need Help Identifying an Oddball JB

Does it actually say Seymour Duncan on it?
Have you checked the resistance?

 

[Rising Farce]

Re: Need Help Identifying an Oddball JB

It does not, but according to Dean, the Pro Series came with a JB/59 combo. Could it be an offshore copy, maybe? Like I said, it didn't exactly bowl me over with its sound quality.

How would I go about checking the resistance? I'm afraid my technical skills are rather limited.

One more thing: I just noticed that the base has an "N" imprinted in the metal--seemingly another sign that this is, indeed, a misplaced neck pickup.

 

[Diocletian]

Re: Need Help Identifying an Oddball JB

Did you buy the guitar brand new? Maybe someone switched out the pickup?
I have to say I'd think if it was genuine it would have Seymour Duncan stamped on it, but I'm not an expert.

If you bought it new I'd be onto the shop. I'd also be onto Dean themselves to ask WTF they're playing at.

 

[Robert S.]

Re: Need Help Identifying an Oddball JB

there is no such thing as a JB neck pickup. They are sometimes used in the neck positions of guitars but they are still regular old JBs.

I have never heard of SD using a shorter bobbin on any pickup but I haven't heard everything. After 10 years on this site I would think that this would have come up before.

The import Duncan Designed pickups are modeled after some of the SD line but they definately have different names. The imports are never marketed with the USA names so if Dean says they used the JB its a USA pickup.

The sticker on your pickup may have been applied by Dean to track its inventory. I have never seen anything like that on a SD pickup and thats not the label style SD was using in 2003.

If it is 4 conductor, measure the ohms across the black and green leads with the red and white connected. It should read around 16.6k ohm. If it is 1 conductor, measure across the conductor and the braid.

Pics would help!

 

[Rising Farce]

Re: Need Help Identifying an Oddball JB

Maybe these will help. They're not great, but you should be able to make out the label and get a better look at the overall height. (Note that the "gunk" around the sides is wax potting, as the pickups came from the factory with nickel covers.)

 

[Robert S.]

Re: Need Help Identifying an Oddball JB

That doesn't appear to be a SD pickup.


Pic 1: Pre label change JB
Pic 2: Pre label change JB side view
Pic 3: post label change 59n
Pic 4: post label change 59n side view

Note the differences in baseplate markings, stickers and lead location. I have never seen a SD pickup with the lead coming out of that corner of the baseplate or a stamped "N".

 

[Robert S.]

Re: Need Help Identifying an Oddball JB

http://www.deanguitars.com/forum/

You should ask these guys and post the pics.

 

[Rising Farce]

Re: Need Help Identifying an Oddball JB

You're right; they look nothing alike. I'll see what the Dean folks have to say, if anything.

Thanks for the help.

 

[Uk Ant]

Re: Need Help Identifying an Oddball JB

Even my old eighties Jazz has a seymour logo embossed on the baseplate, so I'd say that's no SD.