Bass IV question

[FrankieTbird]

Here's what the pickups look like. To me, they look much closer to real '60s Thunderbird pickups than the ones that came later in the reissues.

 

[Dave W]

Here's what the pickups look like. To me, they look much closer to real '60s Thunderbird pickups than the ones that came later in the reissues.

 

I'm no expert, but don't the originals have blade magnets? Yours looks like it has a magnet on the bottom plate instead, like the 80s and later pickups.

[amptech]

I'm no expert, but don't the originals have blade magnets? Yours looks like it has a magnet on the bottom plate instead, like the 80s and later pickups.

Where do you see a bottom plate magnet, Dave? Looks to me like a 60's bird pup with different sized bobbins.

[Dave W]

Where do you see a bottom plate magnet, Dave? Looks to me like a 60's bird pup with different sized bobbins.

I'm looking at the raised area on the bottom plate. Looks like a thin magnet attached to the plate. One way or the other, it's easy to test and see if it's magnetized, or if the blades are.

As always, I could be wrong.

[FrankieTbird]

These pickups have the blade magnets only.  There's nothing on the bottom plate except some remnants of adhesive.  It's not really even a baseplate, just sort of a very thin tin cover.

[Dave W]

These pickups have the blade magnets only.  There's nothing on the bottom plate except some remnants of adhesive.  It's not really even a baseplate, just sort of a very thin tin cover.

In that case, it must be close to the 60s originals.

[amptech]

These pickups have the blade magnets only.  There's nothing on the bottom plate except some remnants of adhesive.  It's not really even a baseplate, just sort of a very thin tin cover.

Just for reference, how wide are those blade magnets? I've been looking for T-bird bobbins and magnets for some time now..

[FrankieTbird]

Just for reference, how wide are those blade magnets? I've been looking for T-bird bobbins and magnets for some time now..

Don't know, I didn't measure them, and it's back together now. They look to be about the same size as standard PAF magnets.

[Dave W]

It wouldn't surprise me if they were standard humbucker size magnets.

[amptech]

It wouldn't surprise me if they were standard humbucker size magnets.

Agree, that would make sense.

[uwe]

All I can say is that all early TB Plus innards looked like that and that there was no dif between Bass IV/V and '87 onwards TBird mounted ones. Changes came later.

[Denis]

I always thought the natural ones looked terrific.

[FrankieTbird]

All I can say is that all early TB Plus innards looked like that and that there was no dif between Bass IV/V and '87 onwards TBird mounted ones. Changes came later.

When would you say Gibson started the changes to the pickups in the T-bird reissues?  Any idea why they were changed?  I remember someone posting a pic at one time of one that resembled a P-bass pickup underneath the standard black plastic cover.  Myself, I'm used to seeing the black epoxy-potted pickups in the reissues.

[slinkp]

All I can say is that all early TB Plus innards looked like that and that there was no dif between Bass IV/V and '87 onwards TBird mounted ones. Changes came later.

Any idea which flavor would be in the slab bodied passive LPB1 circa 1991?

[ajkula66]

Somewhat off-topic, but I'm on a lookout for a reasonably priced 5-string version, Bass V.

If anyone is aware of one for sale, feel free to PM me.

Thanks in advance.