tele bridge p/u - what year did they first change to .187 magnets?

[belwar]

title says it all.

[automan]

My notes say 1953, but I don't remember where I got that information.

[Possum]

....

1965. CBS took over, Leo left, heavy formvar changed to plain enamel....
There could have been some that thin because tolerances were so sloppy, but I've never seen one myself....

[Busterdawg]

According to Nacho Banos, in his book "The Blackguard", the size change from .195 to .187 occurred when Fender switched from A3 magnets to A5 in late 1955.

Also the pickup was wound with 43 AWG PE until mid 1951 then was switched to 42 AWG PE.

According to a vague chart in the Duchossoir Telecaster book, he indicates a switch from PE to Polysol occurs some time in the "the late 1960s - 1970s".

[Bill M]

I know all the grey bottoms were .187's. In my log book I have measurements from a 61 tele and the mags were .196. So I would say the change happened between 61 and late 64.
I have noticed that fender in the mid 50's did experiment with .187's. Example:A fully original 4-54 preproduction strat with .187 A-3 mags.

[Possum]

....

Nacho's book has alot of mistakes and oversimplifictions in it, its a great book though. He also says all pre-CBS tele bridges were alnico 3, yet I have a '51 bridge nocaster pickup here that measures 900 guass, A3 will never charge that high. I have a '64 I think it is, strat pickup and they measure .189"

[Bill M]

Dave , You're right, if the strat bridge is around mid 64, thats when the transition took place from .195, to .187. It could also be formvar or PE. I don't know who Nacho is, but I probably have enough info to write my own book, especially when it comes to fender pickups. The only info that I regard is the info that I personally acquire myself. Thats because there is a lot of bull floating around that is totally not true and inaccurate. Hey, you don't have to take my word for it, just do the research yourself and you'll see for yourself.

[Bill M]

Also, I might add is the 61 tele pickup was A-5. I have not measured a fully charged fender magnet past 1956 that was not A-5. Not saying there isn't any, but from my own measurements of literally hundreds of specimines I have not come across any yet. My guess is that A-5 became more popular at that time as the,( new and improved magnet), and it probably pretty much phased out A-3 as a superior product of the time.

[Busterdawg]

I have noticed that fender in the mid 50's did experiment with .187's. Example:A fully original 4-54 preproduction strat with .187 A-3 mags.

I'm curious, how did you determined they were A3 magnets? Composition analysis?

[soundmasterg]

Nacho is the guy that wrote the Blackguard Tele book.

Gret book btw.

Greg

[Bill M]

I'm curious, how did you determined they were A3 magnets? Composition analysis?

Only by fully charged gauss readings. I know, only an analysis will determine the actual composition, but I was not going to destroy a 1954 strat pickup, especially very rare ones.