Do these pickups look vintage? And wtf is going on with this wiring in my 62 JM!

[gishuk]

I bought a 62 JM a couple of months ago, as you may have seen on here! and today I opened it up for the first time. Now I have questions and issues

It was listed as electronically and pickup-wise being original and being from a large and well reviewed store I didn't get them to send me photos of the insides, but I have my doubts now.

The volume and tone pots I was going to replace anyway as frankly they don't work well, which was why I opened it up today, but I did not expect to find this weird volume pot. To me this looks very non original, unless I'm wrong? I'm not an expert.





My main concern however is the pickups. The wires do not look original to me at all, but to people who know more than me, can you tell if the pickups themselves look ok for 1962?





The loose wires were soldered directly onto the shielding.

Bonus refinishing weirdness, paint directly over the brass shielding tubs, because fuck it why not!

[Paul-T]

I am trying to find my photos of original vs Seymour Duncan, but those pickup poles look like SD to me.

these are my 63 pickups. Much greyer poles (obs non original wire)

[Paul-T]

l-r fender 63 seymour duncan 65, fender avri, MiJ
Top View


Underneath. Slightly beveled poles of original not really visible here.



SIde view of 1963. Note the very slight bevel, on the top here. This is the underside of the pickup.



Another side view of 63 with underside of pickup on top. Coils look very black in this photo, in reality they're a dark copper. This will be followed by the SD.

Same view of SD

[gishuk]

Thank you for the comparison!

They do look a bit different to mine, hmmmm thats not good

[PJazzmaster]

too bad Did you buy that guitar in Europe? In any case: is there an option to return it or getting a refund?

[gishuk]

Yeah from a dealer in Holland, Max Guitar. I contacted them about this and sent the photos but they claim it looks original to them...

[PJazzmaster]

Yeah from a dealer in Holland, Max Guitar. I contacted them about this and sent the photos but they claim it looks original to them...

WTF. Any next step planned? From what I know, in the EU, have the right to return items for a couple of weeks, only if ordered online but you said it's a couple of months already? However, I'm still speechless because of their answer to you How does the guitar play and did you buy it as a refinished one or as "all original"?

BTW: the mentioned store seems to be part of that vintageandrare.com guitar retailer network. Try to inform these guys too and ask for help !!!

From their webpage:
Our mission is to establish and develop the ultimate network/community designed for enthusiasts and retailers of vintage, rare and antique musical instruments, as well as an online network for dedicated builders of fine instruments.

[andy_tchp]

Fucking crooks

[JVG]

Interesting situation to be in. On the one hand i totally understand your frustration if indeed you have paid a high price for something which is not what it was made out to be. On the other hand, in your NGD thread about this guitar, you seem to really like how this guitar plays and sounds, regardless of what is inside.

What to do?
J.

[gishuk]

Yeah it was in September I bought it so outside that timescale.

It plays fantastically, its really a great guitar and I dont want to return it. Like you say in all those aspects I'm really happy with it. In fact I'm talking to Rexter to have it refinished in a nitro custom colour.

The price was fair for a refin with the repairs IMO, but had I known the electronics were not original I would have wanted to pay a little less. I'd be happy with them kicking me back some of the money the split the difference between a pair of 62 pickups and modern replacement ones. But if they refuse to say that anything is not original them I'm not sure what I can do. And when I opened it up by the way the pickguard was somewhat stuck to the body from the cellulose decaying, I'm not sure the store opened it up at all

[andrewaward]

What readings do the pickups give? Also can you post a good clear pic of the top of the pickups.

[Paul-T]

Can you post photos of yours, top and bottom, plus at the angle I showed with my 63 pickups? I've added a couple more photos. I see I don't have good close-ups of the top pickup poles but there are good photos of the bottom, beveled poles. Repro ones are very different. I don't want to condemn yours on the discolouration alone, need to see better photos of the bevel in particular, plus the top.

I can write a letter for you if necessary, I've done so in the past with success,

[gishuk]

I checked the values on them. The neck is 7.83k and the bridge 7.47k.

I've tried my best to get the same photos for comparison, my phone's camera was not wanting to focus. The coils are definitely a dark copper colour in real life.

The one with the foam stuck to it is the neck and all photos are with the bottom of the pickup facing upwards.

I'm thinking they look more like the vintage ones in your photos but I'm not convinced. What do you think?

[andrewaward]

The windings look old to me, and are correct colour...…. and the readings are good for this era. They have the yellowed lacquer you get on the bottom of the poles also. They look correct for 62 to me. Obviously with replaced lead wires. Pics of the top of the pickups would help confirm.

And some main wiring has been replaced on the harness. It would be easy to return it to a more stock looking setup. Nitromors will take the paint off the brass shieldings. And replace that weird looking pot.

[gishuk]

I only took one photo of the top of them.



Hope thats of some use.