Metropoulos Forum

So--I've got this Gibson pickup from 1974 (I have the Bill of Sale but it only says "Gibson Humbucking Guitar Pickup").

Local guitar tech said it's a t-bucker--but when opened up there's no Ts on the top--and the number isn't stamped into the back of the pickup, it's a decal (most of which is long gone, only the last 3 numbers are legible: "824."). It's the gold and black decal, although quite faded. Also offered to buy it from me for $100. But this guy is sketchy to the point where I'm not sure he's being honest when he says Hello.

The other curious thing is the cover has "Gibson" stamped into it. And it came like that, in the box. Thankfully my dad's a bit of an archivist.

My dad bought this in February 1974, and like I said he gave me the bill of sale with it.

So, any thoughts?

I don't know very much about Gibson Pickup history, and none of the resources online I've found show anything about this particular pickup. Part of me honestly thinks the little music store he bought it from made their own fakes back then and sold them under the Gibson name.

It sounds good, though, and it was free, so I'm not complaining--just curious.

Did you look here?
http://www.provide.net/~cfh/paf.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I doubt the music store was making fake Gibson pups in 1974. Don't sell it for $100 you could get more for it on ebay. Check out the completed listings and be patient.

I don't plan on selling it. It's become one of those Family Heirloom things.

I did check that site, and although the purple wire/black leads and laquered sticker and lack of t top would make me think it's a patent # from 62-65, it has straight bobbins instead of bowed, and the pickup cover has Gibson stamped into it--so who knows.

It has the most balanced, woody mids I've ever heard in my life with an incredibly balanced low end. And it has an harmonic evenness that's really odd to hear after playing Duncans (and my own badly made pickups, ha) for ten years. It's one of those pickups that no matter what guitar it's in, you don't want to unplug and stop playing. I mean, right now it's in an off-the-shelf SG standard, with no upgrades whatsoever, and it sounds better than every other guitar I own.

Basically, I don't care if it's authentic or not beyond curiosity. But the people on this board seem pretty knowledgeable on stuff like this, so I figured asking was worth a shot.

Thanks for the info!

[quote="loapathy"] and the pickup cover has Gibson stamped into it--so who knows.quote]

I'm pretty sure that was done between 69 and 72. Something like that.

The patent sticker was replaced by the patent stamped backing plate in 1974 (mid year) It would be EXPECTED that it has a T on the bobbins, it may be a hold over from 1965 or so, when they were still using the previous bobbins with the square-in-circle. Gibson often had old spec examples hanging around to use. It sounds like a late (pre T-Top) patent number pickup. The Gibson covers date it to early-mid 70s as well. Everyone expects all to be cut and dry, and linear. This is probably a "back of the bin" example, that they put the then current Gibson embossed covers on. I say it is a hold over from 1965, with newer covers.

The people at Gibson said almost the same thing. Either incorrectly covered by them, or aftermarket. But the pickup itself, because of the wire color, is apparently an early patent #. According to Gibson, the early patent #s typically had purple wire and the later patent #s had red wire (like that site earlier has said). But they were quick to note that this is not always the case because they did not have the same Quality Control standards in place back then.

I think I'll go with the information here rather than from Gibson, as I don't trust Gibson to clean someone's shoes, anymore. (Ever tried to order something Factory Direct through an "Authorized Dealer" that gets damaged in transit? Talk about a dumb-headed runaround to get your money back).

Anyway, I'm happy with my pickup--and thanks for the info. I appreciate the help.