Help me identify these pickups (Mid-90s G&L Legacy)

[pfitz]

I just picked up a used Legacy, serial number says G041265, I think that would date it to the mid-nineties. I got it for a great price, it's a USA model, paid just over $500. I have 30 days to decide whether I want to keep it or not, thus the reason for my post. It's a wonderful instrument, but is definitely in need of some real LOVE.

The first issue I noticed with it is that it has issues staying in tune, especially when using the vibrato bar. I've since adjusted the springs so that bridge sits level with the top, so the action on the vibrato is better, but tuning is still going out pretty easily.

The pickups are a bit of a mystery to me and the wiring is obviously not original after having a look at the PTB schematic. I see 250K pots all around. I had noticed that the second tone pot (furthest from Volume) does not affect the neck pickup. Also, there's a fair amount of noise, especially when using the bridge pickup. The number on the neck and middle pickups reads "016730". Wires from the neck pickup are white/blue, while those from the middle pickup are white/red. The bridge is visually quite different, as the magnets are beveled on the top of the pickup and it has the cloth covered wires, which are white/black. Perhaps someone can guess the origin of these pickups without a proper ohm reading? Will attach some pictures below, both of the pickups and of the wiring.

I guess what I'm trying to decide is whether I want to work on it myself or take it to a luthier, or just wait for a more stock Legacy to come around. If it's possible to identify the pickups, that would be a big help. Cheers!

[Salmon]

Those are Fender pickups. That number is found on the Tex Mex and may be standard on other models. I have read that it is just a bobbin number.

Are the poles staggered?

Can you post some pictures capturing the pickups from the front and side?

[pfitz]

Absolutely!

[Sprinter 92]

Those are Fender pickups. That number is found on the Tex Mex and may be standard on other models. I have read that it is just a bobbin number.

+1 Those are Fender pickups.

[Salmon]

I don't think the two Fender pickups are more than what comes with a standard Strat.

They are not any of the Fender Custom Shop level pickups.

I have no idea about the bridge pickup.

The way so many people are about pickups and tone you would think manufacturers would make it easier to identify their products.

BTW, those are great photos, nice and clear. What camera did you use?

[Philby]

The bridge pickup looks like one of the Fender custom shop range. I have a Fat 50s in the bridge position of my Legacy and it looks the same as the one in the picture. Fat 50s are popular for the bridge position because they're higher output and less brittle, and better complement the middle and neck positions.

[pfitz]

That's great. Thanks for clearing this up, fellas.!

[pfitz]

Hmmm. Just realized the tuning pegs read "Fender". Looks like someone stripped this thing..

[Miles Smiles]

I've since adjusted the springs so that bridge sits level with the top

That's set up wrong. A guitar with a DF-vibrato stays perfectly in tune if it's done right.

See this manual for how to set up the whole guitar correctly!