Was there any change of pickup magnets white bottom?

Discussion of vintage Jazzmasters, Jaguars, Bass VIs, Electric XIIs and any other offset-waist instruments.
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Guitarman555
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Was there any change of pickup magnets white bottom?

Post by Guitarman555 » Wed Oct 23, 2024 2:13 pm

Hi, thinking about purchase of 1965 jag pickup for my pre-cbs jag (that in bridge position has unfortunately not very good replacement), was there any change of magnets when Fender switched to white bottom pickups in 1965? I know only about PE instead of formvar, but not sure if anything else changed too. Thanks, guys!

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Mondaysoutar
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Re: Was there any change of pickup magnets white bottom?

Post by Mondaysoutar » Thu Oct 24, 2024 5:51 am

They had plain enamel up until 64ish, then changed to formvar. Not sure if it’s what you mean, but they used Alnico 5 magnets throughout as far as I know.

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Re: Was there any change of pickup magnets white bottom?

Post by Guitarman555 » Fri Oct 25, 2024 11:59 am

I thought they used Formvar till 64 and switched to PE after. And I saw also examples of PE in 62 and formvar in 65. Anyway, question is if white bottom had different magnets than black bottom...

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Mondaysoutar
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Re: Was there any change of pickup magnets white bottom?

Post by Mondaysoutar » Fri Oct 25, 2024 2:17 pm

Guitarman555 wrote:
Fri Oct 25, 2024 11:59 am
I thought they used Formvar till 64 and switched to PE after. And I saw also examples of PE in 62 and formvar in 65. Anyway, question is if white bottom had different magnets than black bottom...

Nah, other way around for plain enamel and formvar. Not sure what the white bottom thing is, but sure someone will.

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sunburster
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Re: Was there any change of pickup magnets white bottom?

Post by sunburster » Fri Oct 25, 2024 8:01 pm

Guitarman555 wrote:
Fri Oct 25, 2024 11:59 am
I thought they used Formvar till 64 and switched to PE after.
Yes, that is correct. Black bobbin Jag pickups have Formvar, grey bottoms usually have PE. Jazzmasters were PE from 58-62, when they changed to Formvar like the Jags (then back to PE in '64 like the Jags).

Always A5 magnets for the Jags.

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Re: Was there any change of pickup magnets white bottom?

Post by Mondaysoutar » Fri Oct 25, 2024 10:12 pm

Ah sorry, I’m a daftie, thought it was Jazzmasters

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Re: Was there any change of pickup magnets white bottom?

Post by Guitarman555 » Fri Oct 25, 2024 11:09 pm

sunburster wrote:
Fri Oct 25, 2024 8:01 pm
Guitarman555 wrote:
Fri Oct 25, 2024 11:59 am
I thought they used Formvar till 64 and switched to PE after.
Yes, that is correct. Black bobbin Jag pickups have Formvar, grey bottoms usually have PE. Jazzmasters were PE from 58-62, when they changed to Formvar like the Jags (then back to PE in '64 like the Jags).

Always A5 magnets for the Jags.
Really? This is news to me, so only year of formvar to jazzmaster was 63?

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sunburster
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Re: Was there any change of pickup magnets white bottom?

Post by sunburster » Thu Oct 31, 2024 1:31 pm

Guitarman555 wrote:
Fri Oct 25, 2024 11:09 pm
sunburster wrote:
Fri Oct 25, 2024 8:01 pm
Guitarman555 wrote:
Fri Oct 25, 2024 11:59 am
I thought they used Formvar till 64 and switched to PE after.
Yes, that is correct. Black bobbin Jag pickups have Formvar, grey bottoms usually have PE. Jazzmasters were PE from 58-62, when they changed to Formvar like the Jags (then back to PE in '64 like the Jags).

Always A5 magnets for the Jags.
Really? This is news to me, so only year of formvar to jazzmaster was 63?
JM was Formvar from 62-64, so about 2 years. The changes to/from Formvar occurred in the middle of 62 and 64, not on January 1st or December 31st.

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