What's this APH-1b sticker

[xuoham]

Hi guys,

Someone is selling this APH-1b and though i'm fine with the fact that the seller is stating that the previous owner added a nickel cover himself (not a beauty job though) i am a bit troubled by this sticker, too new and too minimal.
It looks as if the original sticker got ruined (maybe while adding the nickel cover ?) and the owner added a sticker himself.
So, why not ?

But suddenly i am wondering if this is a real SD. Probably, after what i could check on the internet.
Early 90s ?

And anyway i am now a bit mistrusting and wonder if this is really a APH-1b.
The guy doesn't seem to know much, and has no way to check the dcr.

I guess the only way is to buy it (it is cheap) and open it ...

But at least if someone could confirm this is really a SD pickup and not a counterfeit i would jump on it,
APH-1b or not.

Thanks for any insights !

A Seth Lover addict, regardless.

 

[GuitarDoc]

Re: What's this APH-1b sticker

It IS a SD baseplate with a APH1B sticker on it. Without a dcr reading it is impossible to tell anything else. It could be ANYTHING under that cover.

Is it 4 wires with a bare wire? You need the seller to check the resistance between the black and white wires and also the reading between the red and green wires. If he is not willing do that (very simple to do), then don't buy it...he's pulling a scam. Any legit seller should be willing to do that or at least admit that he has no idea what pup it is.

 

[xuoham]

Re: What's this APH-1b sticker

Yes, thanks, i thought so too, but he sells or has sold (Japan Yahoo Auction) quite a few dozens other absolutely legit looking SDs, Gibbies, DiMarzios.


And 245 positive ratings out of 245 transactions.

4 wires red green black white, but i can't see any bare wire

Anyway, in doubt i guess i pass. Thanks for chiming in !

 

[Masta' C]

Re: What's this APH-1b sticker

That's just the mid-to-late-'90s style label before they started putting lot and date codes on them like they do now.

However, the cover was definitely added at some other point

 

[xuoham]

Re: What's this APH-1b sticker

Hahaaaa, really ? Thank you !

Yes the cover was added and the seller clearly states it.

Ok, maybe for 50 bucks i'm gonna gamble.

 

[GuitarDoc]

Re: What's this APH-1b sticker

But what about the missing plain wire? SD has the 4 colored wires PLUS the plain wire. I've seen lots of cheapy pups with only the 4 wires. For $50 I would definitely pass on it (even if it was only $25 I'd pass). For another $25-30 you can get a brand new guaranteed legit SD pup.

$50 is alot for a paperweight!

 

[shawnlanefan]

Re: What's this APH-1b sticker

Ask the guy to slice the black casing around all the wires to see if he can see the bare wire. To me, it kinda looks like u can see the bare right at the end of the black casing, where the white loops around. I've bought alot of used duncans and I've seen alot of people cut the bare off right where they stop pealing the black casing back to. They ground the bare to a pot and that holds the whole schmear of wires down like that. You would think they would've cut the green wire and bared it and wrapped it around the bare and grounded it like that. Is the guy on Ebay?, cuz then its guaranteed. I would bet its good.

 

[xuoham]

Re: What's this APH-1b sticker

Funny, that's what i thought in the end, thank you !

So i gambled and bought it. I will report.

My main suspicion was the sticker, which looked very home made in my non specialist eyes.

I have a junk project guitar that will be for my students to use, so even if it's a fake at the end, it won't stay unused.

Thanks all for such precious advises.

 

[shawnlanefan]

Re: What's this APH-1b sticker

like Masta' C said, thats how stickers looked back in the 90's, maybe even late 80's.

 

[hamerfan]

Re: What's this APH-1b sticker

Nope, that label made by a labeling machine were first used 1997 by SD.

 

[Masta' C]

Re: What's this APH-1b sticker

But what about the missing plain wire?

I'll make you a bet that it has the bare wire

 

[GuitarDoc]

Re: What's this APH-1b sticker

Ask the guy to slice the black casing around all the wires to see if he can see the bare wire. To me, it kinda looks like u can see the bare right at the end of the black casing, where the white loops around. I've bought alot of used duncans and I've seen alot of people cut the bare off right where they stop pealing the black casing back to. They ground the bare to a pot and that holds the whole schmear of wires down like that. You would think they would've cut the green wire and bared it and wrapped it around the bare and grounded it like that. Is the guy on Ebay?, cuz then its guaranteed. I would bet its good.

That doesn't look like a twisted bare wire to me...it looks like a smooth white plastic insulation, possibly the end of the white wire.

 

[xuoham]

Re: What's this APH-1b sticker

This transaction looked bad until the end, up to the very sloppily soldered cover, lol.

OK, i'm starting to think this was a good idea.
Bare wire, DCR seems to match, errrr ... what else could be fishy ...

Thanks for your help guys, that was really apreciated ! ^ ^

 

[xuoham]

Re: What's this APH-1b sticker

 

[Masta' C]

Re: What's this APH-1b sticker

Good news! Figured you had nothing to worry about

 

[xuoham]

Re: What's this APH-1b sticker

So, what is the norm, if there is any, for extending this bare wire ?

A jumper ? Just hook with extension wire and solder ?

Since this is going into a semi hollow that is not shield-able, would you extend the shield of the cable as well for such a short distance ? Or just coil the bare wire around the rest of the wires ?

Thanks

 

[xuoham]

Re: What's this APH-1b sticker

Good news! Figured you had nothing to worry about

Yep, your advise was precious, thank you ! :banana: