Those Classic "Wide Range" Humbuckers

celticafro

New member
Hey, peeps! I'm having trouble finding info about the hummers found in '72 Tele Delux, Custom, and Thinline guitars (not to mention those sexy Starcasters :32: ). What exactly are they all about? I've once heard them called "low-output" humbuckers. Is this accurate? What kind of magnet setup do they have? Are they PAF cops-offs? Are they a distinct design? When did they first appear? How difficult might it be to make one for myself in vintage style? ET CETERA!!!

Anyone who has experience with these things and wants to talk to me about them is automatically the coolest person in the world for a day :) I've always thought that these pickups are the coolest sounding pickups I've ever heard, but I really don't know anything about them!

Thankies!

Celticafro, now with 21 years!
 
Re: Those Classic "Wide Range" Humbuckers

celticafro said:
Hey, peeps! I'm having trouble finding info about the hummers found in '72 Tele Delux, Custom, and Thinline guitars (not to mention those sexy Starcasters :32: ). What exactly are they all about? I've once heard them called "low-output" humbuckers. Is this accurate? What kind of magnet setup do they have? Are they PAF cops-offs? Are they a distinct design? When did they first appear? How difficult might it be to make one for myself in vintage style? ET CETERA!!!

Anyone who has experience with these things and wants to talk to me about them is automatically the coolest person in the world for a day :) I've always thought that these pickups are the coolest sounding pickups I've ever heard, but I really don't know anything about them!

Thankies!

Celticafro, now with 21 years!


They were designed by Seth Lover for CBS Fender in the very late 1969 and first seen in, I belive 72. They sound like a cross between fender single coils and a bucker...not near as fat sounding as a Gibson Bucker. The output is not very high at all...thats about all I really know...except That I love Starcasters too!
 
Re: Those Classic "Wide Range" Humbuckers

From what I understand the original splitHums from the 70's that came in
the thinline's and starcaster's sounded pretty good?? I see them going
for a premiun on ebay $150 and up !! I have a reissue in my tele.... All I
can say is it looks better than it sounds :13: When I have the cash?
I think I'm gonna send it to the Duncan custom shop ,And let them have
at it.
 
Re: Those Classic "Wide Range" Humbuckers

I think they sound great, the reissues I mean.
I was considering using them for a Baritone I'm going to build, but decided in the APII
 
Re: Those Classic "Wide Range" Humbuckers

Oh yes, I'm definitely a fan of the reissues, having never ever heard an original. But I can only assume that they're Alnico V magnets... that's one thing I'm trying to figure out.

Also trying to figure out how they're wired and wound. I know how they SOUND. Anyone have any info on the tech-side of those pups?
 
Re: Those Classic "Wide Range" Humbuckers

IIRC, the poles weren't alnico but cunife, because they could be machined with threads & slots.
 
Re: Those Classic "Wide Range" Humbuckers

Copper/Nickle/Iron! Really!? Man, I didn't expect that one. Thanks for that! :)

Now, last, does anyone know if they're just two single-coils like the PAF style, or are they something different?
 
Back
Top