[hollowbody]

Hi Gibson bass nuts,

I'm getting ready to build a non reverse Thunderbird, and found a 60's pickup for $200. On the Gibsonbass site it shows different part numbers for the neck and bridge pickup. What would the respective output be of each of these pickups, and is it really going to be a huge difference if I use a bridge pickup in the neck position?

Thanks!

[jules]

Hi, and welcome to the forum. I have not desoldered a thunderbird to measure the output, so I can not tell you the value in ohms.

Has anyone here done this? The page being referred to is the Gibson bass pickup page - it would be good to add that data if available

[guitarshark]

'60s Thunderbird pickups (two mounting screws, thin profile) average around 9-10K ohms. Judging from past experience, the nickel covered ones from '63-'65 basses tend to run on the high side of these numbers, chrome pickups from non-reverse 'Birds and Epi Ebassies run on the low side.There are not specific bridge or neck models with '60s TB pickups.
My '66 T-Bird reads 9.20K neck, 8.64 bridge.

'76/'79 T Bird pickups ("sidewinder" style with 3 point mounting screws) DO have neck and bridge units, neck pickups have a 3 conductor lead that has to do with the series wiring configuration Gibson used on those basses, also the bridge pickups are much hotter.
My '76 T-Bird reads 6.02K neck, 10.29K bridge. This discrepancy seems typical, I've seen the same type of readings on other '70s T-Birds. '79s have pickups that read MUCH lower, (but with full output, this has been discussed elsewhere in this forum previously) but the DC resistance ratio between bridge and neck pickups is proportinate.
These readings were taken with the pickups still in circuit, one doesn't need to unsolder them from the pots to measure the DC resistance, just make sure that you measure one pickups at a time and that its volume control is turned full up whaile measuring .
You might get a very slightly lower reading with an in-circuit pickup due to the loading effect of the pots, but its subtle.
Original '60s Thunderbird pickups actually couldn't be more different from '70s versions...completely dissimilar designs. They are the same in name and approximate dimensions only...

[hollowbody]

Wow, thanks for the information! It appears to be nickel plated.




The same gentleman is offering to sell me the wiring harness, back plate and tuners. It sounds like a good deal to me, but what do you all think?

[guitarshark]

Yeah, that's definitely a '63-'65 pickup. Looks like parts salvaged from a '65-'64 Thunderbird I.
The back plate is definitely from a reverse T-Bird, which confirms this. (If you're building a non reverse 'Bird, this back plate would not be authentic.)
For the 2 pot harness, knobs, and back plate, 3 beans seems steep.
If it includes the machines, bridge, and tailpiece that are also in the pics, it's a fantastic price. The tuners alone sell for $500-$600.

[hollowbody]

Actually, it's $500 for the harness,plate, tuners and bridge. I suppose I still could break even if I sold the tuners and back plate on the bay. Thanks again for the info!

[guitarshark]

That's a great deal. I think you'll make $$$, and have the parts you need too.
Good luck!

[jules]

yeah, get them.

These parts come up so infrequently, they really do sell for a premium

[hollowbody]

I took a reading from the pickup and it is 8.02K. I tried to get a relative date from the pot codes but solder covers most of it up. All I can see is the "6" for 1960's.

Thanks agin for all of your help! As it's been about ten years since I've built anything, I think I'll be making a non reverse Fenderbird with an old Fender Squier Bullet neck. I need to go through my wood stock and see if I have enough Padouk to make a cap on top of the African ribbon striped mahogany.

I'll post some pics when I get started.