So, what did I get here? (pickup identificiation)

[GilmourD]

Hello, strangers!

So, I bought this pickup listed as a Duncan SJAG-1N.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/385746970784?nma=true&si=ov%2B4M4LFkIkpXvAIgsVnN f6Uz%252Fg%253D&orig_cvip=true&nordt=true&rt=nc&_t rksid=p2047675.l2557

Just received it today and I noticed that there's a significant bevel on the tops of the poles that doesn't appear to be a feature of the Duncan Jaguar pickups. It reads 6.91K on my Fluke 111 and seems to be magnetically opposite (and hopefully wound opposite) to the neck pickup of the PV65 neck pickup I have (I bought a set where the bridge pickup was DOA) so that works just fine for me.

That did make me curious, though, so I looked at the sellers listing for the bridge pickup. That seems to list that pickup as reading 8.3K, which doesn't seem to be anywhere near the SJAG-1B...
https://www.ebay.com/itm/385704346079?epid=1703624790&hash=item59cdc541df%3 Ag%3A8SAAAOSwB01kd1jz&nma=true&si=ov%252B4M4LFkIkp XvAIgsVnNf6Uz%252Fg%253D&orig_cvip=true&nordt=true

So, what did I get here? I didn't spend much, so I'm not that chuffed, but I'm just really curious!

 

[beaubrummels]

The stock pickups in my Fender MIJ Jaguar are not beveled, so I would posit at least they are not Japanese/Fender pickups. Possibly MIM or MIC types?

 

[GilmourD]

The stock pickups in my Fender MIJ Jaguar are not beveled, so I would posit at least they are not Japanese/Fender pickups. Possibly MIM or MIC types?

Well, it has cloth-covered wiring and fiber bobbins. The MIMs with cloth wires and fiber bobbins have grey fiber (Vintera) and the MICs have molded plastic bobbins and PVC wire. They also have flat poles... At least all the ones I have here.

I thought it might have been an AVRI '62 since some pics look like they have similar beveling but the DCR readings for both pickups (both the one I bought and the one I didn't) don't match the specs for those.

Funny thing is that I also got a set of Jag Quarter Pounders with an offer of $55 (plus shipping) because they were listed as random stock pickups out of an MIJ/CIJ Jag. I'm usually pretty good at picking up on what something is... This pickup's got me confused.

 

[GilmourD]

Well, this is an interesting update... Does this seem plausible or just malarkey?

 

[Blille]

I’m not a Jaguar expert but my money is on those being Fender 62 AVRI like these

https://darrenriley.com/homepage/fender-american-vintage-62-jaguar-neck-pickup-0054491000/

https://www.themusiczoo.com/products/fender-american-vintage-62-jaguar-bridge-pickup

https://reverb.com/item/8399520-fen...hare&utm_campaign=listing&utm_content=8399520

Folks like it, FWIW.

I hear you re DCR readings but it does seems the closest.

 

[beaubrummels]

Well, this is an interesting update... Does this seem plausible or just malarkey?

I'm glad you posted that for posterity, because that is the funniest dumbest story I've ever read from a seller's explanation.

 

[Blille]

I'm glad you posted that for posterity, because that is the funniest dumbest story I've ever read from a seller's explanation.

Funny thing is that maybe nobody’s lying. Maybe it came in a Bernie Hamburger guitar and Bernie messed up. It’s so far fetched that it may all be well intentioned and just a mistake lol

 

[GilmourD]

I'm glad you posted that for posterity, because that is the funniest dumbest story I've ever read from a seller's explanation.

Funny thing is that maybe nobody’s lying. Maybe it came in a Bernie Hamburger guitar and Bernie messed up. It’s so far fetched that it may all be well intentioned and just a mistake lol

I almost feel like the only reason it could be plausible is that the specs on the two pickups don't seem to match anything.

 

[GilmourD]

I’m not a Jaguar expert but my money is on those being Fender 62 AVRI like these

https://darrenriley.com/homepage/fender-american-vintage-62-jaguar-neck-pickup-0054491000/

https://www.themusiczoo.com/products/fender-american-vintage-62-jaguar-bridge-pickup

https://reverb.com/item/8399520-fen...hare&utm_campaign=listing&utm_content=8399520

Folks like it, FWIW.

I hear you re DCR readings but it does seems the closest.

If it weren't for the bridge unit (which I only didn't buy because I missed it...) I wou be 100% on board. This neck one is close enough to be within variance. The bridge one? Way off.

 

[beaubrummels]

Funny thing is that maybe nobody’s lying. Maybe it came in a Bernie Hamburger guitar and Bernie messed up. It’s so far fetched that it may all be well intentioned and just a mistake lol

I think the "Seymour Duncan himself wound the pickups after learning Hamburgs connection to the Beatles" put it over the top for me.

 

[GilmourD]

I think the "Seymour Duncan himself wound the pickups after learning Hamburgs connection to the Beatles" put it over the top for me.

Yeah, I dunno. Not a guy I've ever heard of, but this is the guitar they were apparently in.

I'm not seeing that one on his website but it seems to jive with other guitars there.

http://www.hamburguitar.com/

But for a guy who's built guitars for and cavorted with musical royalty his website is very... Lackluster.

But for all we know this is back when Seymour was just a small operation and winding pickups himself. "Uh huh... Sure, the Beatles were cool. That'll be $80 a pickup. How do you want 'em wound?"

 

[jeremy]

theres a lot of great luthiers or other small businesses that have lame websites. sometimes those are the ones who do the best work

 

[Cdwillis]

Ok, the story is hilarious, but there really is a Hamburger guitar and it's cool!

 

[Securb]

I love this 9 string he made for Howard Leese

 

[GilmourD]

theres a lot of great luthiers or other small businesses that have lame websites. sometimes those are the ones who do the best work

I still can't believe the Sustainiac site...

I'm a SysAdmin, so it just hurts to see a website that looks like something I whipped together in 15 minutes while bored. LOL

 

[Blille]

I think the "Seymour Duncan himself wound the pickups after learning Hamburgs connection to the Beatles" put it over the top for me.

Full story for you, courtesy of ChatGPT:

 

[beaubrummels]

Too bad that isn't text. That could be a sticky.

 

[Blille]

Too bad that isn't text. That could be a sticky.

Prompt:
build a short story from the following anecdote: “These Jaguar guitar pickups came installed in a hamburg custom guitar built by bernie hamburger. When he gave me the guitar he told me that seymour duncan himself wound the pickups for Bernie after learning of his connection to the beatles.”

ChatGPT Answer:
Once upon a time, in the bustling city of Musicville, there lived a talented musician named Alex. Alex's passion for guitars led him to collect unique instruments, and his prized possession was a Hamburg Custom Guitar built by the legendary luthier, Bernie Hamburger.

The Hamburg Custom Guitar was a marvel of craftsmanship, but what truly set it apart were the exquisite Jaguar guitar pickups that adorned it. These pickups were said to have been wound by none other than Seymour Duncan, a renowned expert in the world of pickups. Bernie Hamburger himself had shared this fascinating tale with Alex when he gifted him the guitar.

The story behind the pickups was extraordinary. It all started with Bernie Hamburger's chance encounter with a wise old man who claimed to have been a close friend of The Beatles during their early days. The man, known simply as "Old Jim," had been an apprentice to a guitar craftsman and had some knowledge of pickups.

Through Old Jim, Bernie's unique connection to The Beatles came to light. Intrigued by this revelation, Seymour Duncan, an avid Beatles fan himself, felt inspired to craft something truly special for Bernie. He set out to wind the Jaguar guitar pickups with precision and love, infusing them with a touch of musical history.

The moment Alex held the Hamburg Custom Guitar in his hands, he could feel the magic emanating from those legendary pickups. As he strummed the strings, a sweet melody filled the air, carrying with it the echoes of The Beatles' timeless tunes.

From that day on, Alex's music soared to new heights. His performances became electrifying, and the audience could sense the unique energy emanating from the Hamburg Custom Guitar. The guitar seemed to have a soul of its own, connecting Alex to the very essence of his musical idols.

As years passed, Alex's fame as a musician spread far and wide. But he never forgot the tale of the Jaguar guitar pickups and the special gift from Bernie Hamburger. The guitar became more than just an instrument; it became a symbol of the power of music, creativity, and the interconnectedness of musicians across time.

And so, the legend of the Hamburg Custom Guitar lived on, inspiring countless musicians and music enthusiasts to cherish not only the instruments they played but also the stories and the magic they carried within them. And in the heart of Musicville, the melodies of the past blended seamlessly with the harmonies of the future, creating a timeless symphony that would resonate forever.