tell me about gibson shaw pickups

[mig50]

i have a pair of gibby humbuckers i bought several years ago from a friend. he pulled them out of a mid-80s sg and sold them to me on the cheap as he had no need for them.

they never really clicked with me and they've just been sitting in a drawer as part of one of my 'projects i swear i'll get to one of these days'.

i was recently thinking of selling them off and decided to do a quick bit of research - whoa! these things go for way more than i expected.

i'm assuming they're shaws based on the time period they came from, as well as the 'pat no' stamp in the base plate with the inked numbers on top of that. as best i can tell from the pictures i've seen, these match up to being shaws.

anyone have any more information on these? what else can i look for to confirm i've got a pair of shaws? they'll probably hit ebay if i'm correct (of course i'll offer them here first once i can get a fair idea of pricing).

any info is appreciated!

 

[LtKojak]

Re: tell me about gibson shaw pickups

If you don't post pics, can't tell for sure.

Ohm reading of BOTH p'ups will help LOTS.

 

[mig50]

Re: tell me about gibson shaw pickups

goooooooooood call!

 

[mwalluk]

Re: tell me about gibson shaw pickups

Pretty sure those are Shaws. I had a pair which I eventually sold off. Cool pickup for those into it, but I could get a better tone imo w/ after market pups.

 

[mwalluk]

Re: tell me about gibson shaw pickups

A pair of those came in my 1982 Epiphone SG special which was made in the Gibson plant in Nash, Tenn.

 

[LtKojak]

Re: tell me about gibson shaw pickups

This is a Shaw.

I don't think yours are, but I'm no expert.

HTH,

 

[Ed Hunter]

Re: tell me about gibson shaw pickups

The P.A.F thing always amazed me. they are so many types. some are great and some are :barf:
i always liked the T-tops but many hate em. i never even knew what they were until i started investigating what michael schenker used n his V when he was with UFO.

 

[idsnowdog]

Re: tell me about gibson shaw pickups

The Shaw's were Gibson's attempt to produce a period correct PAF. The recipe for PAF's shifted over the years with minor changes in production methods and materials, which effected their sound. Supposedly the pickups being used in the 70's had little in common with the original PAF's in terms of methods and materials. Customers preferred vintage pickups to OEM's and they felt quality had suffered.

Tim Shaw was an engineer in the custom shop and conducted a scientific study of the various PAF models and materials, then he set about creating a pickup that was a sum of the best characteristics. They are significant since they marked Gibson's attempt to return to quality manufacturing. Whether they are any good or not is debatable and subject to the sensationalism/speculation of the vintage gear market. They can be seen as the forerunners of Gibson's aftermarket pickups such as the 57 classic.

 

[dvadneau]

Re: tell me about gibson shaw pickups

They look like "Shaw-era" pickups to me. If you read an excerpt from Shaw himself (I've no idea where I put that link) he mentions only a few sets of numbers, but does describe the pattern. The first 3 are the model, although no seems to have any idea what was what. The last 3 or 4 were the date made. So, 163 would be the model and 1183 means they were made in November of 1983. The fact that the pickups are 162 and 163 indicates a bridge and neck set, respectively. They were made in the same month, whatever that tells you.

I have 2 Dirty Fingers pickups with the "Shaw markings". I don't remember the first 3 numbers but I do remember the years: 1980 and 1984.

The "Shaw era" was between 1980 and 1986.

Some people only consider the Tim Shaw pickups to be the ones marked as:
137/138
372/373
498/499
since those are the ones he specifically mentions. My understanding is that those were the PAF replicas he originally set out to create. The other models may or may not have been created/influenced by Tim Shaw. Not sure who would know that except Mr. Shaw and the other Gibson employees that worked on them.

So, are they Tim Shaw pickups? Possibly not. Can you label them "Tim Shaw era" pickups? Well, it would be a true statement. That's how most of those listings you'll see on ebay describe them.

Personally, I wouldn't pay what they're going for. If I want a PAF sound I'll install my Seth Lovers. You can get a set of those or the Antiquities for the same price as what one of those Shaw-era pickups lists for.

I paid 60 and 80-something for my DFs, including shipping. They're great pickups, but it's hard to think of any pickup as being worth $150 or more. I'd rather get a SD Custom Shop pickup for that price and know what I'm getting.

But, if someone will buy your pickups for $150 to $250 don't argue with them


Aside:

The Shaw's were Gibson's attempt to produce a period correct PAF.

It's too bad Gibson wouldn't shell out for all of the original spec materials that Shaw asked for. Apparently they didn't want to pay for the same wire and he had to improvise.

 

[Aceman]

Re: tell me about gibson shaw pickups

meh. Way over-valued....as are all things with the big G on them. recent Gibson pups way better IMO.

 

[Ed Hunter]

Re: tell me about gibson shaw pickups

meh. Way over-valued....as are all things with the big G on them. recent Gibson pups way better IMO.

how are the 57 classics? i never tried those?

 

[mig50]

Re: tell me about gibson shaw pickups

i put a multimeter on them last night and found the bridge is at 8.85 and the neck is 8.5.

this seems hotter than other shaws i've seen.