P Bass pickup identification, is it a SD?

[Scaramoucheii]

So my Bass is a 1973 Fender P body, with a 1977 P neck. I purchased it that way in 1978. And have never changed the pickups as far as I can recall, but the fact that it is a bass assembled from 2 different instruments it may not be the original '73 or '77 pickup. I recently decided to see if I could identify the pickups, and there are no markings other than a white label with IR stamped on it ( I think it’s a capital I)

No information on any other forums or Fender related website have any mention of this white sticker, so I was wondering if this could be an early SD?

 

[uOpt]

yes i'd say

 

[hamerfan]

Looks like pre 1996

 

[Scaramoucheii]

Well, definitely pre '96 as it's been in the bass for 40+ years.

And uOpt, why do you say yes? I'm trying to determine if this is a very early SD pickup or a Fender. Like I said in the first post, I have had this Bass since 1978, and I don't remember ever changing the pickup. But I certainly didn't change it after 1984.

The White Sticker on the bottom with IR ( or could it be 1 R) is nothing like any Fender pickp marking I have seen.

 

[uOpt]

Well, definitely pre '96 as it's been in the bass for 40+ years.

And uOpt, why do you say yes? I'm trying to determine if this is a very early SD pickup or a Fender. Like I said in the first post, I have had this Bass since 1978, and I don't remember ever changing the pickup. But I certainly didn't change it after 1984.

The White Sticker on the bottom with IR ( or could it be 1 R) is nothing like any Fender pickp marking I have seen.

The "1" stands for SPB-1, the R is the winder.

 

[idsnowdog]

If the resistance equals 11.6K that would be a SPB-1. The R is who wound it.

 

[Scaramoucheii]

We'll don't pretty much all P Pickups have a 11.6K resistance? Certainly from the research I've done trying to identify this pickup, 11.6K is not unique to the SD.

 

[jeremy]

many vintage style p bass pups have a dcr around 11k, yes. that sticker suggests it might be an old duncan spb1. if it sounds good, then i wouldnt worry about it. a buddy of mine recently got a '66 p bass and was wondering if the pup was stock. i took a look and couldnt confirm it was or wasnt. i told him the same thing, if it sounds good, who cares. play it and enjoy!

 

[Scaramoucheii]

I don't have a care or worry one way or another, The Bass sounds and plays amazingly well , I was just curious as when I took the pickup out, saw the 1R sticker asked myself "Hmmmmm ... what is this?"

So really just curious and sleuthing ...

So, What year did SD first start making the SPB-1? 1976-77? I bought this bass used in 1978, and don't ever remember changing the pickup. I stopped playing in gigging bands in 1984, So I really don't think that I would have changed the pickup after that, and honestly don't remember ever changing it since I bought it. So if somebody before me did when they put the '73 body and the '77 neck together it must be one of the very first SPB-1's not that I care ... just curious

 

[Scaramoucheii]

Here are 2 more images

 

[idsnowdog]

We'll don't pretty much all P Pickups have a 11.6K resistance? Certainly from the research I've done trying to identify this pickup, 11.6K is not unique to the SD.

If all p-bass pickups are 11.6K, what difference does it make if it's not an SD?

 

[Scaramoucheii]

It makes absolutely no difference.

My question is simply ... Are these SD pickups,

because .... I have had this bass since 1978 bought it used, and I don't remember ever changing the pickups that came with the bass, and .. it is a '73 body and a 77 neck so no idea what the person whom i bought it from, in 1978, put in there? a '73 pickup, a '77 pickup or somthing else.

AND ... If they did not put a Fender pickup in it, were SD P Pickups availible in 1978?

 

[hamerfan]

It makes absolutely no difference.

My question is simply ... Are these SD pickups,

Yes, they are definitely Seymour Duncan. Seymour started his business in 1976, but i have no data when he started bass pickups. But i doubt that these pickups are pre 77/78, because he started this kind of back label right in 1978 on guitar pickups. So my guess is your bass was made out of some parts maybe end of 1977 or most probable beginning 1978.

 

[Scaramoucheii]

Ok Thanks, I'll have to do a bit more digging and try and figure out if I did ever chang the pickup.

I honestly don't recall ever doing so, but ...