’85 Rhoads pickups...WTF? Jackson archeologists needed!

[Codswallop1]

I recently bought my first Rhoads, an 85 student model s/n RR1040. It has a chrome OFR & R4 nut with screw in posts, the plastic headstock overlay, and “TM” Jackson logo. The guitar has minimal wear, was well cared for, and looks to have been a case queen. All hardware and solder joints appear to still be original.

While doing a full cleaning I found the humbuckers didn’t have foil Jackson stickers or embossed frame. They also didn't have the expected J-50N & J-50B ID stickers either. The bridge bucker has a white label with “dist” written in pen, and the neck pickup has a piece of masking tape with “neck” written on it. Both labels are still under the wax potting that looks original. Both pickups have 3 conductor wiring (red, black, & bare) and it’s the same 3 conductor wire used for the output jack lead (a long run in the RR). Bridge reads 13.78 ohm while the neck 8.13 ohm, neither reading is close to a "production" pickup.

I know early on you could get any brand pickup you wanted in your Jackson. But when they started winding their own USA pickups, did Jackson ever use a plain frame without Jackson embossing, ID or model sticker? What about the DC resistance readings?

Thanks for your help!

[AAEA]

beat me to that one on ebay

[AAEA]

these are real jackson pickups but the original stickers got melted off when these got wax potted. someone redipped these in wax, see there is a lot of residue on the back.

[Codswallop1]

beat me to that one on ebay

I was watching that since early March and it never had more than 3 watchers! At the end it must of been just you & me giving a shit. The seller was terrible with answers to messages and had the usual "my camera is broke" when asked for more/better pics. I only live a couple of hours away from him but he refused to do a cash deal off ebay...go figure. I really took a chance pulling the trigger, but I'm stoked that I did.

[AAEA]

lol, yea the other watcher was me. he started dipping the price pretty good so I was waiting for the right deal. most people don't like doing deals in person but glad it worked out for you. i thought is was weird he never got back to me when I asked for a picture of the serial number.

[Codswallop1]

Still looking around to figure out if these are original humbuckers, and if they came from Jackson with tape labels identifying them? :dunno:

I did find this today on Jackson Wiki: http://jacksoncharvel.wikia.com/wiki/Jackson_pickups

So were these (and mine) USA pre-production pups, or did Jackson in '83-'84 have an option to custom wind pickups? Thoughts?

[Newc]

The black screws and slugs makes me doubt they are original factory. I bought a set of '84 RR pickups from a long-standing member here some years ago and they were both Duncan Distortions (DDL and DDJ).

The readings indicate they're in the range of the Distortion and Jazz, which was the most commonly requested pairing on these, other than DiMarzio. I'm not sure when Jackson started winding their own, but as I said, the black screws and slugs make them look like modern replacements. Bareknuckles, GFS, someone like that.

As well, they're considered 2-conductor. The bare is always ground, and except for Gibson and other wire-braided pickups, are not interchangeable with either the red or black.

I'm assuming the red is hot and the black is grounded? That would indicate DiMarzio color coding at least, but the plate would be stamped.

These could also be import pickups and the originals were sold extra previously.

[peedenmark7]

The earliest Jackson pickups did not have fancy decals on them. Going by the serial number of that Rhoads it is possible.
I have an '84 tele with odd script on the back of the Jackson pickups.

[Codswallop1]

The earliest Jackson pickups did not have fancy decals on them. Going by the serial number of that Rhoads it is possible.
I have an '84 tele with odd script on the back of the Jackson pickups.

Do you have any pics of those pups or remember what they say?

[murkat]

The pickups look very clean and recently potted. No pick stroke scratches on the top of the bobbins either.

[Codswallop1]

The pickups look very clean and recently potted. No pick stroke scratches on the top of the bobbins either.

I'm not sure that means anything other than the guitar wasn't played much. The whole guitar as well as the case is as clean as the pups.

[salmonella]

looks like j50n & j80 b

[eaeolian]

They just don't *look* that old. At the very least they've been repotted and the plates replaced, most likely, because even if you don't play it those mild steel plates are going to oxidize. It also looks like they don't fit in the rings, which is kinda odd.

Most of the Rhoads I've seen from that era had the Distortion/Jazz pairing, because Randy.

[AAEA]

another good indicator if they are real is look at the pots for re-soldering. are the pots original, is the tone filter original?

[Codswallop1]

another good indicator if they are real is look at the pots for re-soldering. are the pots original, is the tone filter original?

All the solder joints sure look original to me, as well as the pots & cap. The chicklet is hiding under the bridge pup wire.