Need help identifying pickups

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Author Message Vule (Vule) Posted on Sunday, August 18, 2002 - 3:05 am:    Hi guys, when im looking at Ibanez guitars, say an Artist, any one know if there is an easy way to identify what Ibanez pickups its got without pulling them out?. Eg super 58,70 or V1/V2's. Guitaki (Guitaki) Posted on Sunday, August 18, 2002 - 4:53 am:    Hi. There are many people here that know this issue a lot better than me, but I'll throw my first few cents into the pile. V1's and V2's are usually blonde in colour, no metal cover, sort of DiMarzio look (and sound) to them. Super 58's are (I think) always with metal covers, height adjustable screws on the other coil. The most vintage sounding of these, quite jazzy and smooth. Super 70's are seen both with and without cover, but otherwise they are similiar to 58's. When without cover, the pickup is black. Super 70's have a bit more bite to them when comparing to 58's, and I like the 70's very much. Still, the easiest way to determine the pickups would be with the guitar You have. Certain guitars on certain Year usually has certain pickups. That is pretty sure way to find out. So, what is the guitar? -Aki. Mr_Roadstar (Mr_Roadstar) Posted on Monday, August 19, 2002 - 2:23 pm:    Here's a couple detail items that might be useful: All early model V2's are cream. When the V1 became available (late '80's?) as a neck position mate, the bobbins went to black. There is some variation in the pole pieces. Early V2's have 12 adjustable poles. The later V2's and V1's have 6. Also, the Artist AR50 had cream colored Super 70's (no covers) Cheers Steve Tim_Walker (Tim_Walker) Posted on Monday, August 19, 2002 - 4:31 pm:    And of course, super 80's have the flying finger logo. Also Super 70's can be in plain covers, or with the Ibanez script logo. Complicated init? Vule (Vule) Posted on Monday, August 19, 2002 - 5:46 pm:    Yes, a bit complicated but at least now i have more info that then i did 2 days ago. Thanks y'all Cheers Tone Mr_Roadstar (Mr_Roadstar) Posted on Monday, August 19, 2002 - 5:50 pm:    Hmm... Just to add a bit more spice to the soup, Super 70's can also have Flying Fingers covers! The Artist 2618 is an example. Cheers Steve Tim_Walker (Tim_Walker) Posted on Friday, August 23, 2002 - 12:03 pm:    Are you sure about that one Steve? According to the 78 catalog, the 2618 has Super 80's... Tim (more confused) Mr_Roadstar (Mr_Roadstar) Posted on Friday, August 23, 2002 - 1:22 pm:    Hmm... Well, I could have my head stuffed someplace dark. Although I have no reason to dispute the catalogs, I was sure my '77 2618-12 had Super 70's. I dunno where I got that idea, although JD's vintage page lists Super 70's for the 2618's. Perhaps it depends on the year? Does anybody know when the Super 80 was introduced? Cheers Steve Tim_Walker (Tim_Walker) Posted on Tuesday, August 27, 2002 - 2:18 pm:    And I've just spotted another freak! The 2618-12 has flying finger covers, but they are described as: 'Ibanez special design coil Super Single'. I give up... Tim Mr_Roadstar (Mr_Roadstar) Posted on Tuesday, August 27, 2002 - 3:24 pm:    He he he... I remember that from from the '78 catalog. I wrote it off as a typo/translation error. I can positively swear that the pups in my '77 2618-12 were humbuckers. Just not 100% sure which model... Tim, did you receive that V2 pickup? Cheers Steve Tim_Walker (Tim_Walker) Posted on Friday, August 30, 2002 - 4:14 pm:    yep, I got the pick-up Steve thanks. The AR100 is all original again apart from new tuners, but you can't have everything I guess! Fg100 (Fg100) Posted on Saturday, July 10, 2004 - 11:20 am:    bringing back this topic... I have seen a 1997 AF for sale that shows (at least on the picture and backed by the owner's statment on the phone) no sign of aging on the pickups... Is it possible that an instrument even not being played can keep the metal parts intact? I thought that he might have changed the pickups (for new ones or other ones, or restored the old ones..?). So, how can I tell if a pickup is original? I've read all the descriptions here but I don't know if I would be able to tell if the pickup intalled on the guitar is Ibanez or something else just by the looks... Also, if it's a new Ibanez instead of the original. I guess for the more knowledgable it would be possible to judge by the sound (if there are differences on a model through the years).... do you know what I mean? I guess I could say 'this is (or looks like) a super 58 or/and if this is the right one for that guitar (comparing with the catalogs pictures and descriptions).. but I wouldn't be able to tell if the pickup is an Ibanez, Gibson or something else. So, without taking it from the guitar how can one tell what it is (if it's new, old restored, this or that brand)? Padraic (Padraic) Posted on Friday, August 20, 2004 - 8:34 am:    Jumping in here, one way to tell the brand of pickup is to examine the wiring at the back of the control pots. Different brands use different colours for earth and hot wires. Check out http://blueguitar.org/new/articles/blue_gtr/gtr/colorcod.pdf for details. It's easier to tell if the pickups are coil-tapped. Not foolproof though; some pickups share colours. I have a so-called Dimarzio donated by an eBay seller after the guitar I bought had Korean pickups instead of the stated Seymour Duncans; this 'DiMarzio' works well when connected as a Gibson: I think it may be a Classic 57 Plus (my gain; his loss!). Some manufacturers will identify the pickup for you if you send them JPEGs or a descriptive eMail. I know DiMarzio do this; they helped me out with a single-coil little beaut I bought last year. Padraic Spiro (Spiro) Posted on Friday, August 20, 2004 - 6:15 pm:    Unfortunately the Pickup code chart on Stewmac's web site and on the website above are wrong... The colors on the dimarzio and the duncans are reversed Padraic (Padraic) Posted on Wednesday, August 25, 2004 - 4:07 am:    Thanks for the advice Spiro. I have a question about V2 pickups: I bought a creme humbucker on eBay this week; item number 3742013764 It has 12 adjustable pole pieces with Allen-type fittings, plus 3 height adjusting screws. I know it's not a Matsumoko design (they use the 3 screws too, but the pickups on my Washburn A20 are not the same as these). No writing on the reverse. Is this a V2? I would appreciate any views. Didn't cost a lot... Thanks Padraic Agr (Agr) Posted on Wednesday, August 25, 2004 - 11:23 am:    Padraic, I have numerous Ibanez guitars that came equiped with V2's from the late 70's and they all have the V2 stamp on the back plate. Also, the 12 adjustable pole pieces are not allen-type...they look more like a regular screwdriver head with a hole in the middle. By the way...I have a set of Matsumoko creme humbuckers from that same era...they use 12 allen type pole pieces and there is no writing on the back. I wouldn't doubt that these pickups were sourced from the same supplier as Ibanez's V2. Construction looks very similar. Acetan (Acetan) Posted on Wednesday, August 25, 2004 - 4:49 pm:    Padraic, I have two early 80's V2's and they fit your description totally. If you look carefully, you may see a very faint "V2" stamped on the back; and I mean REALLY faint. Ace Padraic (Padraic) Posted on Friday, August 27, 2004 - 5:16 am:    Thanks for the help here. NO V2 on the back, and I suspect the 10.5 rating of the pup is rather less than a V2 puts out. Not to worry. Padraic Dave_G (Dave_G) Posted on Friday, August 27, 2004 - 10:59 pm:    Padric, Looks like a v2 to me..I noticed that tome of the ones that I have pulled from guitars didn't have the v2 on the back or had a faint or mis stamped v2 . The construction and the 3 point adjustment are a dead giveaway-methinks its a v2-bet it sounds good too-BTW you got a great deal on that pup ! Padraic (Padraic) Posted on Saturday, August 28, 2004 - 9:19 am:    Thanks Dave. I polished the back of the pup and no V2 there. BUT I am swayed by your construction argument, and it seemed like a good gamble to take at the asking price (even with USPS by air to the UK). Just wanted to also let you know that I've followed the Custom Agent debate here with real interest since finding this board earlier this month. Been bitten (badly) by the CA bug; just bought an Antoria 2405 in good shape. Ibanez examples are VERY hard to find here in the UK (I've never seen one), so I reckoned I shouldn't pass on this one. Thanks again Padraic Dave_G (Dave_G) Posted on Saturday, August 28, 2004 - 1:50 pm:    Padriac..Got he bug eh? Yea those CA's are very interesting guitars-I just scored #15 ! Still looking for the chery burst like the one Maniac had .... Mr_Roadstar (Mr_Roadstar) Posted on Monday, August 30, 2004 - 10:38 pm:    10.5kohms is much lower resistance than a V2. 14 to 16kohms is average. Steve Mr_Roadstar (Mr_Roadstar) Posted on Monday, August 30, 2004 - 10:55 pm:    I just looked closer at the photos from the auction. Compared to the V2 I have in my hand, the bass side height adjustment screws are closer together. That coupled with the lower resistance and lack of "V2" stamp on the back makes me suspect this is NOT a V2. Steve Padraic (Padraic) Posted on Tuesday, August 31, 2004 - 1:48 pm:    Thanks to all for the input here. Much though I wanted to believe Dave Gs appraisal, I think the lower resistance coupled with the 'V2 in hand' description probably clinches the argument. Thanks Steve Never mind, this has been a useful learning experience for me. The pickup is destined for a player guitar, a Phiga Virtuoso (throughneck Iceman replica; looks a little like a musician/alembic in construction terms). I still think the 'sourcing' argument (thanks Agr) has some merit, and 10.5 resistance should make a reasonable bridge pickup. I'll let you all know! Thanks for all the help guys Padraic Must learn to post pics eh? Mr_Roadstar (Mr_Roadstar) Posted on Tuesday, August 31, 2004 - 2:07 pm:    Sorry, Padriac! I didn't mean to piss in your breakfast Steve Padraic (Padraic) Posted on Wednesday, September 01, 2004 - 1:48 am:    No worries mate. Appreciated the input. Padraic Mr_Roadstar (Mr_Roadstar) Posted on Wednesday, September 01, 2004 - 2:39 am:    I jez realized I misspelt yer name too! Humble apologies... Steve

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