Fender Classic and Vintera Pickups

Featuring Gombrelli Guitars (GG USA)

Pickup Identification Overview
Identifying Fender pickups ranges from an easy to a difficult job at times. These pages are a labor of love for sure! I focus on the newer Fender pickups for now. NOTE: This information is subject to change and I’m updating it all the time as I run into new or conflicting information all the time, so more pickups are getting added and the editorial comments are getting updated constantly. And of course, they keep making new models!

FIGURING OUT PICKUPS

A great place to start is here: Fender Pickup Check List Fender typically has no “set” look for their pickups and often no number scheme or another unique identifier written on the pickup itself, usually the number of the pickup represents some or all the SKU when it does exist, but not always are all the numbers written or even written on them at all. The best way to identify them is often by looks and measurements combined. That said, some pickups, like the noiseless ones, are very easy to identify other can be dog gone hard.  Bottoms, Wires and such make it a complete detective project at times because Fender would use whatever pickups they had on guitars in some cases so an MIM could show up with higher end pickups, or test runs, etc.

Big Picture Info

  • Don’t be fooled – The “Number” on the back of the pickup is usually a middle number in the actually part number or part of the part number, and this may change over time for the same model of pickup.  Sometimes it’s rock solid so examine with caution.
  • The number that is “molded” into the plastic is a BOBBIN NUMBER and is used over and over in different pickups. That just the plastic part number and is worthless for identifying pickups.
  • The resistance values are approx. and can vary up to 10% in some cases or even more. The DCR are a guideline, not an absolute but in some cases they are very close.
  • Pay attention to the stock wires used.
  • Pay attention to the staggering on the poles.
  • DCR is only PART of the sonic equation!!
INDUCTANCE Inductance varies by the frequency used to measure the inductance and the technique used.  The recommendation is to use 120Hz and make sure you measure using SERIES mode. This will get you values very close to what Fender publishes and the difference at that point should be the actual pickup. Q VALUES The Q Value (the width of the frequency notch) changes by measurement frequency and since the Q on pickups is quite wide, expect a 0.3 ish value and use 120Hz the same as you use for inductance measurements. GAUSS I don’t have a lot of Gauss readings but see my Magnetic Pole info page.  Note that most Guass meters measure in Telsa, just multiply by 10 to get Gauss.
Links to Pages for Different Fender Pickups
 
Last Update: 2024.11.03 if you have any details on the newer pickups, like measurements, please let me know.

Classic 50’s, 60’s, 70s, Vintera overview comments:

It seems that these years are represented by similar model numbers on the pickups, which is 100% annoying. So it’s very hard to decern the difference unless they are IN a pickguard that has a tag on it and have not been resoldered. However, there are some knowns and at least you can kind of place them per model.
  • All Classic 50’s, 60’s and 70s are without an RWRP middle pickup
  • All Vintera 50’s and 60’s have RWRP Middle Pickups
  • The all use white and black plastic coated wired.
  • The pickup bottoms can be black or gray. (older ones are black, later releases are Gray)
  • They are all staggered
  • I included the 75th Anniversary Diamond Pickguard because it actually has Vintera 60’s pickups and has been released on both Gray and Black bottomed 60s pickups..
  • Vintera Pickguards for 60s are one screw off (top screw is a little to the right) but you can simply drill the hole to use the pickguard, the old hole is covered by the pickguard in either case.
Contents hide
1 Classic 50’s, 60’s, 70s, Vintera overview comments:
2 Classic Series 50’s (no more)
3 Road Worn 50’s
4 Vintera 50s (VINTAGE AND MODIFIED)
5 VINTERA II 50’s
6 VINTERA 60s (Vintage and Modified)
7 Vintera II 60s
8 CLASSIC 60s
9 VINTERA 70s
10 CLASSIC Series 70s
11 MIM 75th Diamond Anniversary Pickup

Classic Series 50’s (no more)

They no longer make this guitar, you can only buy a Vintera or a Squire Classic Vibe version of it.

Sometimes they can be classic 60’s

NOTE: Classic 50’s and Classic 60’s are VERY easily confused because they both use Black and White wires and are NON RWRP.  The numbers are confusing also but here are the for sure things:

Anything 282,292,302 is definitely a Classic 50s

Basic Info
  • Wires: black and white plastic coated.
  • The older versions have a slightly higher DCR but both versions have very close inductance measurements (2.4H)
  • New Version have about 5.5 to 5.7K (2017)
  • Old Version have about 5.7 to 5.9K (2007)
  • 282,292,302 are definitely 50’s pickups.
  • Confirmed: They came on 8 hole pickguards with recessed screw holes and single ply white with Aged White Accessories
  • Staggered: REALLY small stagger (unusually close to flat)
  • Bevel: Flat NON beveled pole pieces.
  • They tend to be fairly consistent with DCR across the set
  • They can be used in any position because they are essentially the same pickups, most sets they are exactly matched. 5.8K is a common value.
  • 172-000 (neck), 172-001 (middle), 172-002 (bridge)
Older Version: 2007
  • Confirmed: Pickups say 28, 29, 30  (This is short for 282, 292 and 302)
  • Confirmed: If you have the pickguard, Middle and Neck have tone, no tone for bridge.
  • Confirmed: All Pickups are 5.8 to 5.9 K with 2.35H inductance (very consistent on the inductance)
New Version: 2017
  • Pickups are numbered: 172-00 Neck, 172-01 Middle, 172-02 Bridge  (SAME NUMBERING AS The CLASSIC 60s?!)
  • All pickups are about 5.5K with 2.4H inductance
Another Set real stats:  
  •     DCR: 5.8 to 5.9K  INDUCTANCE: 2.35H
  •     Numbers: 282 (neck), 292 (mi), 302 (bridge)
  •     White and Back Plastic Wires
Actual Stock Pickguards Another one

Road Worn 50’s

I have a strong belief that these are similarTex-Mex pickups. They have EXACTLY the same DCR and EXACTLY the same wire coloring schemes, they have cut off pole pieces (non bevelled) like a Tex Mex.. The stagger is like the Tex Mex and it’s really interesting to note that the MIDDLE pickup has a DIFFERENT Stagger than the neck and bridge. The original pickguard for these is solid 1 Ply white. Pickups
  •     Bridge: South – 7.4K
  •     Middle: North RWRP – 6.4K
  •     Neck: South – 6.4K
Wires
  •     Bridge: Yellow Black
  •     Middle: Red Black
  •     Neck: White Black
Numbers
  •     Bridge: 716-800
  •     Middle: 715-800
  •     Neck: 714-800

Vintera 50s (VINTAGE AND MODIFIED)

From the stats these look like really good pickups and the middle is RWRP. In a real guitar they totally rock (field tested by me). They work REALLY well in series wiring. Edited: 2024.06.14 NOTE: RETAIL PAPER ERROR – Watch out for retail package paperwork, they show incorrect wiring colors, The correct wiring is the WHITE/BLACK wired pickup is the MIDDLE RWRP Pickup. (usually Yellow is middle but not in this case!) Poles: Staggered, Alnico 5
  • Middle: RWRP wind
  • Pole Polarity (which pole is up)
    • Bridge – SOUTH
    • Middle – NORTH
    • Neck – SOUTH
  • Loaded Pickguard
    • Single Ply 8 hole pickguard with Aged White (almost cream) accessories
    • Tone Wiring: Tone1 (Middle/Neck) – Tone 2 (Bridge)
    • SKU: 7715998000 (bar code on pickguard)
  • DCR 5.8K, 6K, 6.1K from Neck to Bridge
  • Inductance: 2.8H, 2.4H, 2.6H
  • Real Measurements
    • Measured 1: Bridge (6.3k – 2.7H), Middle (6.1K – 2.55H) , Neck (5.7K – 2.34H)
    • Measured 2: Bridge (6.5K – 3.15H) 894 , Middle (6.4K – 3H) 933 (or 8),  Neck (5.9K  – 2.72H) 939
    • Measured 3: Bridge (6.1K) – Middle (6K) – Neck (5.6K)
    • Measured 4: Bridge(6.1K) – Middle (6K) – Neck (5.8K)
  • Red Marks:  Red Marks on pole bottoms until around 2021ish
  • Numbers on Pickups:
    • Bridge: 939-010
    • Middle: 938-010  RWRP
    • Neck: 894
  • Note: Little ski symbols on the bottom right sometimes, number could be anywhere on the bottom
  • Retail Package: Available
  • Black bottoms on the pickups, Paper with Wax
  • Wire Color (Blacks are grounds)
    • Neck – Yellow
    • Middle – White
    • Bridge – Red
From Fender: 
  • Formvar-coated magnet wire
  • Staggered pole pieces for balanced output
  • Reverse-wound/reverse-polarity middle pickup to eliminate hum
  • Beveled Alnico 5 magnets for more focus and dynamics
  • Wound and calibrated for each position
  • Vinyl-coated output wire and fiber bobbin
  • 5.5K, 5.9K, 6.0K (Neck to Bridge)
  • Manufacturers part Number: 0992206000
MODIFIED 50s Pickup changed and S-1 Switch added
  • Vintage-Style ’50s Single-Coil Hot Strat® are the pickups installed
  • Pole Directions Changed
    • Bridge – NORTH
    • Middle – SOUTH
    • Neck – NORTH
  • 938 (NECK) – Yellow wire
  • 939 (MIDDLE)  – White wire
  • 940  (BRIDGE) – Red wire
  • The basically did what the did on the 60’s, they moved the Vintage Bridge to Middle and Middle to Neck and added a new Bridge PIckup.
  • “roughly” – 6.0K Neck, 6.1k Mid, 6.5K Bridge (Hotter)
  • Part Number of Pickguard: 7715999000 (Baja 50s Strat)
  • Part Number on a Retail Box: 0992208000 – Made in Mexico
  • Incorrect documentation on retail packages.
NON MODIFIED 50s Vintera  

MODIFIED 50s Vintera

PART NUMBER: 7715999000 Notice the MIDDLE pickup is WHITE/BLACK and the number is 939 Notice NECK Pickup has the yellow wire and is normal wound, Middle is white and RWRP

VINTERA II 50’s

These just came out and I’m just now securing data for them. If you have data, send it on over to me. No Measurements Yet
  • Numbers
    • Neck: 355-100
    • Middle: 355-200
    • Bridge: 355-300
  • Wires
    • Neck: White and Black
    • Middle: Yellow and Black
    • Bridge: White and Black
  • Middle RWRP
  • Black Bottom
  • Staggered
  • Flat Cut Poles

VINTERA 60s (Vintage and Modified)

Updated 2024.06.14 There are 2 version of Vintera 60’s – Vintage and Modified Fender updated these pickups in 2019. The wire colors are different in the photos of the new edition. Also, the Fender website does not have “Modified” version only the Vintage version. The vintage version of the pickguard does not include the S-1 Switch on the modern version does.

VINTAGE

Note: Fender is now selling these in a retail package as of 2022 check
  • Enamel-coated magnet wire
  • Staggered pole pieces for balanced output
  • Reverse-wound/reverse-polarity (RWRP) middle pickup to eliminate hum
  • Non beveled alnico 5 magnets for more focus and dynamics
  • Wound and calibrated for each position
  • Pole Polarities:
    • Bridge – South
    • Middle – North
    • Neck -South
  • Vinyl-coated output wire and fiber bobbins
    • Style Vintage-Style
    • Configuration SSS
    • Cover Color Aged White
    • Magnet Type Alnico 5
    • Magnet Wire Enamel-coated
    • DC Resistance Neck: 5.7k, Middle: 5.95k, Bridge: 5.95k
    • Inductance Neck: 2.32 Henries, Middle: 2.58 Henries, Bridge: 2.75 Henries
    • Bobbin Material Fiber
    • Lead Wire Vinyl-covered
    • Pole Pieces Staggered unbeveled
    • Tone Vintage
    • Output Vintage
    • Numbers:
      • Neck (942)
      • Middle (943)
      • Bridge (895)
    • Real Measurements
      • Neck (5.75k: 2.54H) – Middle (6K: 2.65H) – Bridge (6.38K: 2.78 H)
      • Neck (5.71K: 2.5H ) – Middle (5.9K: 2.62H) – Bridge (6.34K: 2.77H )
 
  • Wire Colors
    • Neck: White
    • Middle: Yellow (Middle RWRP)
    • Bridge: White

MODIFIED

“Revoiced. New pickup color wires. ” – This was done in 2019 The New Vintera Stratocasters now say “Vintera 60’s Modified” instead of Vintera 60s. – See the note about the wire colors!! SPECS
    • Vintage-Style
    • Configuration SSS
    • Magnet (Poles)
      • Alnico 5
      • Staggered
      • Not Beveled’
    • Magnet Polarity (switched from the original)
      • Bridge – North
      • Middle – South
      • Neck – North
    • Enamel-coated Wire
    • DC Resistance
      • Neck: 5.7k,
      • Middle: 5.95k
      • Bridge: 5.95k
    • Inductance:
      • Neck: 2.32 Henries,
      • Middle: 2.58 Henries
      • Bridge: 2.75 Henries
    • Bobbin Material Fiber
    • Lead Wire Vinyl-covered
    • Tone Vintage
    • Output Vintage
    • RETAIL PACKAGE
      • Part Number: 0992209000 Made in Mexico
      • Printed Values: Neck (5.7K  2.71h)  Middle (5.7K 2.54h)  Bridge (6.1k  2.82h)  — LOL, taking the henries to the next decimal is just silly, it implies accuracy that just isn’t there.
      • Wiring Diagram: The wiring diagram INCORRECTLY puts the middle pickups as the YELLOW wire but it is the WHITE wire on the mod set (the req set is yellow)
    • DIFFERENT WIRE COLORS
    • PICKUPS ARE MOVED IN POSITION AND THE BRIDGE HAS A NEW NUMBER
    • Bottom Color:  BLACK at first, then re-released as GRAY
    • NUMBERS
      • Neck 943 YELLOW
      • Middle 895 WHITE
      • Bridge 946  RED
Fender specs and numbering
    • Enamel-coated magnet wire
    • Staggered pole pieces for balanced output
    • Reverse-wound/reverse-polarity middle pickup to eliminate hum
    • Non beveled alnico 5 magnets for more focus and dynamics
    • Wound and calibrated for each position
    • Vinyl-coated output wire and fiber bobbins
  • What they did was move the Middle and Bridge to the Neck and Middle and create a brand new on 946 for the Bridge, very confusing with the wire color changed to white.
  • The stock pickguard also includes an S-1 Switch for blending the Neck with the Bridge in positions 1 and 2.
  • YEAR INTRODUCED: New 2019 Fender 60s Vintera Modified Stratocaster Loaded Pickguard. Features three Hot ‘60s Strat® single-coil pickups;
  • Wire Colors:   
    • Neck: Yellow
    • Middle: White
    • Bridge: Red
 

Actual Pickguard (Vintage)

  • Type: Single-coil
  • Active/Passive: Passive
  • Magnet Material: Alnico V
  • Position: Bridge, Middle, Neck
  • Number of Conductors:2 wire
  • DC Resistance:5.7K (neck), 5.95K (middle/bridge)
  • Measured Real DCR – (In circuit which means it slightly lower than it really is because of the 250K pot loads) – 5.5K, 5.5K, 6.3K) – NOTE the bridge is HIGH!!
  • Numbered: 942 (neck), 943 (Middle) 895 ( Bridge)
  • Number of Strings:6
  • Covering: White
  • Manufacturer Part Number:0992205000

Vintera 60s MODIFIED PICS Notice the new 946 number for the BRIDGE pickup, the other two have been shifted from mid to neck and bridge to middle. Also notice it has an S-1 Switch

Vintera II 60s

The successor to the Vintera 60’s line. I don’t have measurements yet.  Not really sure if they changed anything. The numbering scheme is similar to the Vintera II 50’s
  • Numbers
    • Neck: 900-100
    • Middle: 900-200
    • Bridge: 900-300
  • Middle Pickups is RWRP
  • Electronics: CTS and stock Fender .022uf Mica Cap, Standard Oak Grigsby.
  • Gray bottom
  • Wires:
    • Neck: White and Black
    • Middle: Yellow and Black
    • Bridge: White and Black
  • Fender Description of pickups: Fender Vintage-style ’60s Strat Single-coil
  • Staggered
  • Flat Cut Poles

CLASSIC 60s

No longer made by Fender, replaced with Vintera Series.
  • Numbers: 54172-00,54172-01, 54172-02   (Neck to Bridge)
  • Other Numbers: 170-00, 172-01, 172-02
  • Measurements: DCR: 5.7K all 3.
  • Middle Pickups is NOT RWRP
  • Note: Classic 50’s and Classic 60’s can EASILY be confused.
ACTUAL PICKGUARD
 
 

VINTERA 70s

  • Bridge 6.35K
  • Middle 6.3K
  • Neck 5.86K
  • Flat Poles
  • Non Staggered
  • Gray Bottoms
  • Middle RWRP
  • Plastic Coated wires
  • Numbers: 950 (neck), 951 (Middle), 952 (Bridge)
 

CLASSIC Series 70s

Not the same as the Vintera 70 series. These can be a little tricky to identify but they are solid little pickups. No RWRP unfortunately. Last Update: 2021.12.07 Specs
  • Not Beveled
  • Strong Stagger
  • Black and White Plastic coated wires.
  • 31,32,33 on one set the other one is unmarked
  • Many sets are NOT marked
  • Anico 3
  • The top 2 poles look even almost with each other, the B is very low (typical of these older classic versions)
  • DCR: Approx. 5.75K to 5.85K
  • Inductance: Approx. 2.7H
  • Capacitance: 190 to 200 pf
  • One Model Number 0054594000
  • All pickups are close to the same, there is no preference on location.
  • There is no RWRP pickup in the set (like the classic 50s)
  • Came on the Classic 70’s Stratocaster
  • These were also used to be on the Highway One Series before 2006.
Loaded in a Pickguard  
 

MIM 75th Diamond Anniversary Pickup

NOTE: This was released with 2 different pickup sets. MOST of them are like the bottom picture

This pickguard has 60’s pickups in it. They are numbered the same as the Vintera 60’s. The bottom line is that these are 60’s voiced pickups. Another important fact is that the SAME numbers is used with both BLACK bottoms and GRAY bottoms making this a poster child of how confusing Fender can get. So to confirm they can have GRAY or BLACK bottoms but the numbering is consistent, so they are first generation 60s pickups produced for the Vintera series. MOST of the ones released had black bottoms. My official guess is that they moved on to the new MODIFIED VINTERA version in 2019 and they had these pickups left over so they simply slapped a 75th anniversary sticker on em.
  • Vintage-Style
  • Configuration SSS
  • Magnet Type Alnico 5
  • Magnet Wire Enamel-coated
  • DC Resistance Neck: 5.7k, Middle: 5.95k, Bridge: 5.95k
  • Inductance Neck: 2.32 Henries, Middle: 2.58 Henries, Bridge: 2.75 Henries
  • Bobbin Material Fiber
  • Lead Wire Vinyl-covered
  • Pole Pieces Staggered unbeveled
  • Tone Vintage
  • Output Vintage
 
 

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