Under the Hood of Pre-CBS Offsets... (Vintage Markings)

[Uchison]

On the back of my bridge blackpup of my beloved jazzmaster, there's a 3 written. Anybody knows what this means?

[Uchison]

Do I have to post a pic?

[Ceylon]

It'd be easier if you told us what kind of Jazzmaster it is (Vintage, post- or pre-1965, American reissue, Japanese reissue, Mexican Classic Player or Blacktop, Squier JMJM or VM et cetera) and if the pickups are original to that guitar or not.

[fullerplast]

Vintage?

It's actually a cursive E that you're looking at upside down, it stands for Esper.

He or she signed guards too but with the full Esper... and the E looks exactly the same as the ones I've seen on pickups.

[Uchison]

Ah ok. So it's my favorite guitar. A '58/59 jazzmaster with gold anodized pick guard. I love that guitar. The neck is spectacular.

[Uchison]

Vintage?

It's actually a cursive E that you're looking at upside down, it stands for Esper.

He or she signed guards too but with the full Esper... and the E looks exactly the same as the ones I've seen on pickups.

It really looks like a number 3.

Let me try to upload a pic.

[fullerplast]

I know what you're describing, lots of black bobbin pickups have it. Yes, it DOES look like a 3.

However, I've always assumed its an E because it looks exactly like the unusual way Esper writes it in his signature on the back of the guards he wired. I can't think of any reason a 3 would make sense, and it's too much of a coincidence that it looks just like Esper's E. In fact, some gold guards just have a big loopy curvy E and not the whole signature. I think it was just Esper's thing.

I've seen other names and initials on pickups, but never any number that wasn't part of a date or anything else.

There's probably no way of knowing 100%, so if you want to call it a 3, have a nut. I'm just trying to answer the question since I wondered the same thing, looked around, and came to this conclusion.

[Uchison]

I know what you're describing, lots of black bobbin pickups have it. Yes, it DOES look like a 3.

However, I've always assumed its an E because it looks exactly like the unusual way Esper writes it in his signature on the back of the guards he wired. I can't think of any reason a 3 would make sense, and it's too much of a coincidence that it looks just like Esper's E. In fact, some gold guards just have a big loopy curvy E and not the whole signature. I think it was just Esper's thing.

I've seen other names and initials on pickups, but never any number that wasn't part of a date or anything else.

There's probably no way of knowing 100%, so if you want to call it a 3, have a nut. I'm just trying to answer the question since I wondered the same thing, looked around, and came to this conclusion.

Thanks bro. Appreciate it.

[fullerplast]

You're welcome.

I just looked for a pic of black bobbin pickup with the E/3 and couldn't find one. I did find 2 of Esper's signed guards though:



Sometimes on the 3/E on the pickups, there is this loop in the center like on his E here:



And sometimes there is a loop at the top, a little curlicue.

I'm also looking for a guard that just has the E like the pickups do. I know I've seen that before,

Feel free to go ahead and post yours when you have a chance!

[johnnyyenagain]

Here's a curly E on my '59.
12/59. That's on the shield of a tort guard, not an anodized.

[Uchison]

It wasn't until now i realized that the answer was right underneath my nose all the time

[img][IMG]http://img802.imageshack.us/img802/3692/h9f0.jpg[/img]

Uploaded with ImageShack.us[/img]

[Uchison]

[Uchison]

It seems "Mell" worked on my guitar. Is that a known name?

[Uchison]

I finally decided to figure out how to post pics. Well here's another one. I LOVE this guitar. The bridge pup just died on me. So I had to have it recoiled. Cried a little...but then again, just a few more days and I can play it again.

[fullerplast]

Nice JM!

Yes, Mell did alot of those gold guards. Curiously sometimes he/she signed it Mel with just one L.



Edit: What was the pic above, the first one you posted? I went to the link and it didn't load.