Tele pickup ID.

[Artie]

Once again, I think I asked this a long time ago, but search still isn't working.

I have a Tele bridge pup sitting in a drawer. It looks identical to a new-in-the-box Broadcaster. Copper baseplate, flat poles, yellow & black wires. On the "new" Duncan site, they list the Broadcaster at 8k DCR. My new one measures exactly that. But the old Duncan tone chart, (which I saved), says 7.6k, and my mystery pup reads 8.4k. I know that pups have DCR variances, but would 8.4k be in the realm of "normal"? Might this be something else? Nothing else I can find seems to have all these identity characteristics.

Thanks all;
Artie

 

[ToneFiddler]

Re: Tele pickup ID.

cool it down til it reaches 8k.
it s sUmmer after all

 

[idsnowdog]

Re: Tele pickup ID.

Any stickers or stamps showing who the manufacturer is?

 

[Artie]

Re: Tele pickup ID.

cool it down til it reaches 8k.
it s sUmmer after all

We have our thermostat on 70. So that probably isn't a problem. Then again, I could probably toss it into the 'fridge to create any reading I want.

Any stickers or stamps showing who the manufacturer is?

It's definitely a Duncan. And you can see where the "old school" sticker was. I probably bought it from someone here. (But search isn't working.)

 

[jeremy]

Re: Tele pickup ID.

id assume its a broadcaster. are the pole pieces .195 or .187? broadcaster has slightly bigger poles than some others

 

[Artie]

Re: Tele pickup ID.

Hmmm . . . interesting point Jeremy. The new one, which I know is a Broadcaster, is .195. The one in question is .187.

 

[jeremy]

Re: Tele pickup ID.

well... then it aint a broadcaster. you should send it to me and ill see what i think of it im not sure what it would be. flat .187 rods, a5 or a2? (got a gauss meter handy?) 8.4k isnt really spec for anything i can think of but ive been soaking my grey matter with a bit much of mr daniel's spirits so i could totally be forgetting something

 

[Artie]

Re: Tele pickup ID.

(got a gauss meter handy?)

Funny you should say that. The "real" Broadcaster was easy to measure. The pup in question kept pulling my micrometer to one side or the other. It was very difficult to get a reading. As if it's magnet was much stronger.

I don't think my Capt' Morgan was a factor, since I measured the Broadcaster ok.

 

[jeremy]

Re: Tele pickup ID.

ha! strong rods would suggest a5... no idea. betcha it sounds good though!

 

[Artie]

Re: Tele pickup ID.

I guess that means I'll have to install each, one at a time, and see how they sound.

 

[jeremy]

Re: Tele pickup ID.

seems like a good plan to me!

 

[ToneFiddler]

Re: Tele pickup ID.

hm, if the specs changed, maybe the larger pole piece diameter is also a new thing?

i have a STR-1, which i bought used that measures around 9k, by the way.
maybe someone moved a sticker in that case

 

[jeremy]

Re: Tele pickup ID.

the neck pups usually read higher than the bridge due to #43 wire but if the neck is 9k, maybe this is just a stl1

 

[ToneFiddler]

Re: Tele pickup ID.

the neck pups usually read higher than the bridge due to #43 wire but if the neck is 9k, maybe this is just a stl1

stl-1? that‘s the vintage 54 tele bridge PU that came with that Str-1 neck.
the str-1 should be around 7.4k (43AWG) but mine is over 9k (moved sticker?(bought used))
it has the pushback wire, so no str-2 which would fit the ohm reading

 

[jeremy]

Re: Tele pickup ID.

the str1 should be mid/high 7's i think but either way, 9k is significantly over spec. i was suggesting that maybe arties pup is an over spec stl1 which would probably be a pretty sweet pup. how do you like your 9k str1?

 

[Artie]

Re: Tele pickup ID.

Now this is getting interesting. You all reminded me that this pup was in the same drawer as an STR-1 Tele neck pup. I'm pretty sure I bought this set from a forum bro in the Trading Post. :scratchch

 

[Masta' C]

Re: Tele pickup ID.

Don't know if it matters or even helps, but if it's anything like the stamping on the humbuckers, the "Made in USA" stamp on the baseplate might lock it in to the 1986/87 timeframe.

EDIT: I see newer versions of this baseplate say "Made in the USA". Not sure when "the" was added.

Here's a list of models available per the 1988 catalog:

 

[Artie]

Re: Tele pickup ID.

That makes sense except for one thing: the current pic shows it having a raised "D" string pole piece. This one doesn't. Also, it's listed as being 7k. 8.4k is pretty far off.

 

[jeremy]

Re: Tele pickup ID.

guess youll have to pop it in and see how she flies

 

[Masta' C]

Re: Tele pickup ID.

Ok, I think I solved the mystery...

APTL-1 Alnico II Pro for Tele bridge pickup

Right wire color, correct baseplate, ~8.5K according to the old SD site