'48 Fender Pre-Trapezoid P.U.

Hiro Keitora · Post by **Hiro Keitora** » 25 Feb 2001 11:04 pm

These are rectangular string through type like the one on picture of Leon McAuliffe. I have June '49 Fender catalog and all guitars had "trapezoid" P.U. So This must be earlier one. I need detailed info. on these P.U. Anyone?

Hiro Keitora · Post by **Hiro Keitora** » 27 Feb 2001 5:21 am

Hello? Anyone?

Gene Jones · Post by **Gene Jones** » 27 Feb 2001 7:27 am

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<FONT SIZE=1 COLOR="#8e236b"><p align=CENTER>[This message was edited by Gene Jones on 06 May 2002 at 09:39 AM.]</p></FONT>

Eric Stumpf · Post by **Eric Stumpf** » 27 Feb 2001 1:51 pm

The pickup to which you refer is commonly know by collectors as the "boxcar" pickup and is the first style pickup designed and built by Leo Fender. It was first used on a prototype instrument Leo made in 1943: a guitar that looked like a lap steel but which was a standard solid-body guitar. He would rent his out to local musicians and was always interested in their feedback. When Leo and Doc Kaufman began producing steel guitars and amplifiers in 1945 (under the brand name of K @ F) a version of this early pickup was used. They are on all the pre-1949 Fender steel guitars, 6 and 8 string versions.

Hiro Keitora · Post by **Hiro Keitora** » 27 Feb 2001 4:53 pm

Wow, that's way cool. Thanks guys. But what gauge wire though, 42? This paper bobbin thing is falling a part.I need to rebuilt them.

Eric Stumpf · Post by **Eric Stumpf** » 28 Feb 2001 5:47 am

I had to have a "boxcar" pickup rebuilt on my '48 Dual Pro. Seymour Duncan in Goleta, CA did it for $50.00

Hiro Keitora · Post by **Hiro Keitora** » 28 Feb 2001 7:10 pm

Duncan did it for what?? How many decades ago was that, by the way? It seems of it, the paper bobbin needs to be rebuilt, then I can wind magnet wire on it. I'm assuming it's 42 gauge. Richkenbacher used to use a little more thicker wires though back then.