Need help identifying this pickup.

D

dsloan

New member
I have an older single coil pickup that's been stashed away in the parts cabinet for a few years until I found it a few days ago and I'm trying to figure out what it is.

It's pretty tall for a single coil and reads 15.5k ohms on my meter. The only thing I can find on it is a sticker on the back that reads "3R". I was told it could perhaps be an old Seymour Duncan pickup made before 2002. I've included some photos here. Hopefully someone can help identify it.

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Thanks in advance for the help.
 
Re: Need help identifying this pickup.

Bump...anyone have any idea out there? Could it be an old SSL-3??
 
Re: Need help identifying this pickup.

Thanks Guston, I hope you're right. I think I'm just going to wire it into my strat and see how it sounds. I currently have 3 of the APS-1's in it and love the tone it gets but I think I'd like the bridge pup to put out more heat, so this may be just what the doctor ordered.
 
Re: Need help identifying this pickup.

I wonder if its an old stack pup. The SSL-3 Hot should have an oval base instead of triangular like that one. Plus you say its tall.
 
Re: Need help identifying this pickup.

STR-3 Quarter Pound for Telecaster rhythm/neck position pickup.

Earlier examples do not come with a metal cover fitted. Hence, no bite marks in the lower fibreboard bobbin from de-covering.
 
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Re: Need help identifying this pickup.

Would the STR-3 have smaller diameter poles than the other quarter pound pickups? These are definitely smaller in diameter than the Strat Quarter Pounders I've seen, and actually are the same diameter as pretty much all of my other strat pickups.

And as far as the triangular vs. oval base, I wonder if the SSL-3 perhaps changed in that regard over the years? I know I've seen some other models where the base plate has changed.

Well, I'm still confused as to what it is, but I do appreciate everyone's input. Tomorrow it gets installed and we'll see how it sounds.
 
Re: Need help identifying this pickup.

Of necessity, the pole piece rod magnets of the STR-3 have to be smaller than a quarter of an inch.

Your DC resistance reading of 15.5 is is the ballpark for an SSL-3 or SSL-4 but not hugely accurate.

The vulcanised fibreboard plates of the pickup are the correct outline for a Telecaster neck position pickup.

The whole "tall and narrow" thang spells Tele neck PU rather than Strat.
 
Re: Need help identifying this pickup.

I see that the fibreboard plates are the same type as used on my Telecaster pickups, so I did a little comparison. Compared to the dimensions of my Tele neck pickup, this one is bigger in all respects. It won't fit through the opening in the pickguard and the mounting screws are spaced further apart. In that respect, it's dimensions are identical to my strat pickups, except taller.
 
Re: Need help identifying this pickup.

Stratocaster dimensions and flush polepieces imply SSL-4 Quarter Pound. The black tape around the coil also implies QP. On the other hand, the polepiece tops are not polished and appear to show traces of lacquer (or corrosion).

On an SSL-3, I would expect the polepieces to extend beyond the upper fibreboard plate so as to engage with the plastic cover. I would also expect a layer of lacquer to seal the tops of the magnets. There should be no black tape around the coil form.

EDIT - Your pickup appears to exhibit features of more than one SD model. If the pickup really is an old SSL-3, why is the fibreboard flush with the tops of the polepieces? What has happened to the pickup to cause the board to shift quite so far from its normal position? :scratchch
 
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Re: Need help identifying this pickup.

Yes, I see what you're saying; a lot of similarities to the SSL-4...pretty much identical except for the polepieces and the sticker. Confusing indeed. If only there was an archive of pickup photos from old Seymour Duncan catalogs!
 
Re: Need help identifying this pickup.

To the best of my recollection, the early QPs came with the conventional Stratocaster fibreboard plate outline. Only later did they change to the Jaguar dimensions with the conductors leaving at either end of the bobbin.

HINT - Compare the specs of the SSL-4 and SJAG-3.

It is possible that your pickup began life as an SSL-3 and underwent some sort of rewind repair. Whilst the coil was unwound, the upper fibreboard was shifted. I cannot honestly remember whether the earliest SSL-3 were also marketed without covers.
 
Re: Need help identifying this pickup.

Thanks Funkfingers, you've been a huge help! Even though I may never have a 100% definitive answer on the history of this particular pickup, I do believe it's a pretty cool piece and worth hanging on to. It's got mojo for sure!
 
Re: Need help identifying this pickup.

Well, I installed this pickup in the bridge of my ash Strat which has the APS-1s in the neck & middle. This pickup blends with them very well! It sounds almost just like the APS's only hotter & with the highest highs a little more subdued. I'm very pleased I finally tried it!
 
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