Nice to do a repair story sometimes where one doesn't have to resort to the ultimate sanction and rewind!
The Ibanez Super 70 is an iconic pickup: The first, as far as I am aware, to feature an alnico 8 magnet, and a wind close to PAF levels.
This one had definitely seen better days!
Sorting out the wire ends and soldering on new 'pig tails' was a fiddly job involving a huge magnifying lens, tweezers and a very, VERY steady hand. The design of these pickups meant that there is no insulated core wire pigtail emerging from the coil bottom like an early Gibson. In the Ibanez both start and finish wires emerge from the coil as bare winding wire, and have their pigtails soldered on before tape wrapping. The start wire on both coils was precariously short ... less than a half inch before they disappeared under the wire layers, so some super careful work was needed to get new pigtails attached. It was done eventually however ... with several coffee and breaks to calm my nerves ... this sort of thing is make or break, one shot to get it right or a rewind will be needed.
I deliberately used the Gibson/Oil City colouring code, as I decided to give the customer maximum options and rebuild the pickup four conductor ... as you see here. Note the rough cast alnico 8 magnet nestling under the bobbin.
Actually the Super 70 is beautifully made ... far better production standards than either Gibson or Fender in the 70s ... or in fact today. The second narrow maple spacer is lovely touch ... making the bobbins sit level and firm. Oh the pickup was totally un-potted by the way
And there she is done :-)
Comments
I've never come across such a pickup in the flesh, always a tricky thing to answer I appreciate but how do they sound? (maybe in comparison to PAF's?)
Formerly TheGuitarWeasel ... Oil City Pickups ... Oil City Blog 7 String.org profile and message
Formerly TheGuitarWeasel ... Oil City Pickups ... Oil City Blog 7 String.org profile and message
I echo the above - best threads around and a wonderful look into your world.
Formerly TheGuitarWeasel ... Oil City Pickups ... Oil City Blog 7 String.org profile and message
like most of the Matsumoku guitars used?
http://www.thefretboard.co.uk/discussion/61134/sarge/p1
http://www.thefretboard.co.uk/discussion/61134/sarge/p1
Formerly TheGuitarWeasel ... Oil City Pickups ... Oil City Blog 7 String.org profile and message
http://www.thefretboard.co.uk/discussion/61134/sarge/p1
Used. I still have one and have loved them might even stick it back in something they have a nice muscular sound but clear unlike a heavily wound super PAF.
nice thread Ash can you still get rough cast Alnico 8?
Formerly TheGuitarWeasel ... Oil City Pickups ... Oil City Blog 7 String.org profile and message
Enjoyed reading about the resto work esp the 4 conductor setup. I have three of these in my lefty Ibanez, the great thing about them is they don't mush out like regular PAFs, lack of potting explains why they can feedback and create ambience really well. IIRC was it Maxon who made these?
Formerly TheGuitarWeasel ... Oil City Pickups ... Oil City Blog 7 String.org profile and message