Weird Vintage Custom SH 5 any help???

[Jocelyn]

Re: Weird Vintage Custom SH 5 any help???

Ok, this seems to be something similar to mine. Same era build (square hole, braid, etc.) and the / mark on the sticker as well...So I'm thinking this is a Duncan Custom but some early prototype/experimental or custom spec order.

View attachment 48524View attachment 48525

The reading seems pretty low on this...Wonder how it would sound.

Looking at that JB and your first post. I think Simon_F is right. That is not a 7 on your pickup but a " / " . So you do have a Custom. That was rewound or/ and customized with a second row of screws. Go on put it in your guitar I am sure it would sound good.

 

[bumrush]

Re: Weird Vintage Custom SH 5 any help???

Looking at that JB and your first post. I think Simon_F is right. That is not a 7 on your pickup but a " / " . So you do have a Custom. That was rewound or/ and customized with a second row of screws. Go on put it in your guitar I am sure it would sound good.

Just out of curiosity, did the Custom come in neck and bridge versions?

 

[darthphineas]

Re: Weird Vintage Custom SH 5 any help???

Just out of curiosity, did the Custom come in neck and bridge versions?

Not a technically a 'production' neck model on the lineup. MJ can make you a neck pickup that will be voiced to match up to it.


Sent from my armored battle station using Tapatalk

 

[bumrush]

Re: Weird Vintage Custom SH 5 any help???

So I got a reply back from Mr. Keith: He said it's cool to share this...

Hi Bob,

Sorry for the delayed reply. I'm sorry that I wasn't able to provide you with more information about your pickup. I did give you the short version of what it could possibly be, because to be honest, none of us know for sure. It may be an early Custom Shop pickup or prototype, or it may be a one-off design. But, it's most likely a rewind based on what everyone at Duncan had to say about it (yes, I shared your pictures with everyone). I asked Derek Duncan (Custom Shop Manager), and even he said it would be a bit of a guess as to what it is. I wish I had a more concise answer, but that's the best I can do for you here, unfortunately. One thing is clear; the pickup was worked on or created back when Seymour had a more "loose" labeling and identification process.

If I was to really speculate as to what you have there, I'd say it's an early SH-7. The SH7 was the Seymourizer II, which is essentially an SH6n. It used the large ceramic magnets and reads around 13k (assuming that is the writing on the bottom) which is pretty close to what the SH-7 was, so that is my guess. But, it's a wild guess at best.

I would just install the pickup and try it out. If you love it, than cool! You'll have a mystery pickup with an awesome sound. If you don't love it, than I guess it doesn't really matter what it is

Regards,
Keith Merrow

Very cool of him to ask around about it. This was before we figured out the "7" wasn't a "7". Doesn't matter at this point what it is anymore, just how it sounds. Thanks to all for you help and input in all this! Will post a clip possibly when I get it set up.