Need help ID-ing pickup

[triodecr]

I found this "NECK PICKUP" in a McCarty I got today and I have no idea what it is.  The only marking is an N on the back plate; no logos or print embossed on the back plate.  It is currently hooked up as:

White = output

Red = tap

Black and bare = ground

 

Could it be an early pickup from one of the smaller winders?

Thanks!

[Teh]

Based upon the photo and what I can gather from the backplate,  I would venture a guess that it's a neck pickup.  Yep, definitely a neck pickup...

[triodecr]

8 hours ago, Teh said:

Based upon the photo and what I can gather from the backplate,  I would venture a guess that it's a neck pickup.  Yep, definitely a neck pickup...

I guess I deserve that.  Sigh....

[Steve Haynie]

Since the "N" is handwritten you likely have something made by an independent pickup maker who could not have tiny stickers made to identify his product. 

[django49]

OR it is a small "z", indicating low impedance......

Is there a "MODCAT" ID on the case or inside the pickup cavity? That could at least give you a clue as to the ORIGINAL pickups that came with it.

Unlikely that they are originals, but perhaps a sticker came off(?)

 

Is the bridge pup similarly marked?

[zenmindbeginner]

The red is a tap? WTF? That should be the end or the start...

[Teh]

20 hours ago, triodecr said:

I guess I deserve that.  Sigh....

Sorry.  Couldn't help myself...   

 

But seriously, how's the tone?

[triodecr]

1 hour ago, django49 said:

OR it is a small "z", indicating low impedance......

Is there a "MODCAT" ID on the case or inside the pickup cavity? That could at least give you a clue as to the ORIGINAL pickups that came with it.

Unlikely that they are originals, but perhaps a sticker came off(?)

 

Is the bridge pup similarly marked?

LOL... it could be low impedance!  The bridge has a McCarty sticker on it and has a nickle cover.  The neck has a chrome cover and doesn't have the correct wire to be a stock PRS pickup.

[triodecr]

28 minutes ago, Teh said:

Sorry.  Couldn't help myself...   

 

But seriously, how's the tone?

I left myself wide open to that one.   Notice I updated my original post to specify neck pickup?    It does sound pretty good, though bassier than I would like. The materials appear to be of good quality.

[triodecr]

31 minutes ago, zenmindbeginner said:

The red is a tap? WTF? That should be the end or the start...

Yep.  A bit odd.  My theory thus far is that it's a Fralin and the ID sticker that is normally on the cable was either removed or is further down inside the body.  So far the "Humbucker Three Conductor Wiring Code" found on the Fralin site and the pic I found of new Fralins support my theory:

 

 

 

[murkat]

4 hours ago, zenmindbeginner said:

The red is a tap? WTF? That should be the end or the start...

instead of both leads out, 4 conductor, just one for the two to ground out to single coil.

Not really a "tap".

[tbonesullivan]

I know it's not one, but that is the wiring scheme that 90s Carvins used before they went to the 4 conductor leads, which of course have colors that don't match any other manufacturer.

I would send a picture to Fralin. Maybe they can identify it. It looks like one, but the base plate "Lip" on the end seems to be in a different location and more pronounced.

[triodecr]

On 2/6/2016 at 6:07 PM, murkat said:

instead of both leads out, 4 conductor, just one for the two to ground out to single coil.

Not really a "tap".

 

True!  I've been mangling the terminology again.