Help identifying my 60th Birthday present?

[jp]

That bobbin doesn't look like any Franz I've seen.

Agreed. The Franz bobbins commonly have the top of the corners snipped off, as seen in the OP's picture. However, I remember that LTG member Walter Broes has a couple of sets of pickups that look like the OPs. This is the thread you were looking for, Jezzo.

https://letstalkguild.com/ltg/index.php?threads/differences-between-a-franz-and-a-gibby-p90.174957/

The question about whether these were Franzes was never resolved, although Hans seems to know. Hans! Come back!

The pickups should have the metal covers, but for some reason they were mounted in the surrounds that may already have been part of the original 'superstructure' / guitar.

Maybe this was what Hans was referring to? I have seen the Fransch pickup variations (manufactured in Woodside, not Astoria, Queens) with similar (but not exact) round-topped bobbins and metal covers.

Uh oh. I just brought up the Franz vs Fransch thing again.

 

[Jezzo]

I am adding photos as I dismantle the guitar to change the pots. At the moment they are virtually unusable.
The photos may give more clues to it's history/pickups ...

Interestingly you can see that there are multiple holes in the pickup surround area suggesting a number of changes.

 

[Jezzo]

Does anyone have a 'best practice' method of cleaning rust off parts?

 

[chazmo]

For guns, most CLP (clean, lubricate, protect) products do a decent job removing surface rust. Also, we soak gun parts in kerosene to give them a deep clean. But I'm not sure what to recommend for you in this space. I suspect some rustoleum product will do the trick. Good luck cleaning her up. As Hans said, your guitar has such an interesting/mysterious origin... Anyway, it should be really fun to have.

 

[kakerlak]

Does anyone have a 'best practice' method of cleaning rust off parts?

I always use 0000 steel wool.

 

[Jezzo]

Just to complete the story, I finally got hold of some pickup covers and am totally delighted!

 

[guitarlover]

Nice !

 

[GGJaguar]

Looking good!

 

[GAD]

Damn that looks great!

 

[jp]

Fantastic job, Jezzo. I hope it sounds and plays as good as it looks.

 

[DeArmond Hammer]

Just to complete the story, I finally got hold of some pickup covers and am totally delighted!

That's a beautiful restoration. The color is so beautiful, with just that subtle burst. I see you got a new bridge, too.

 

[Jezzo]

Fantastic job, Jezzo. I hope it sounds and plays as good as it looks.

It has that wonderful combination of sounding both full and bright.
The pickups have a surpisingly large output considering they are single coil.
The guitar feedsback beautifully without squeeling.
It also responds to touch so well ..... very dynamic.
Couldn't be happier!

 

[Gbart14]

I know this is an older thread but I thought I would add my $.02. The pickups look exactly like my completely original unmolested, never removed 1960 X175 P90 type pickups. Here is a pic of my disassembly just a few weeks ago. Mine have the white soapbar covers. Note the rounded screws. Whoever supplied the pups in 1960 probably made the same for his 1963.

 

[Gbart14]

Jezzo, what did you do for your tone pots? Were they double stacked like mine in these photos

?

 

[Guildedagain]

How uncanny. I'm tuning 60 in November and I want a Red Starfire 3. On account of Covid and other factors, I would take it early if I could, but
nothing has materialized. I can't find one and got tired of looking and spent money on something else, decent boots that won't fall apart because they're made of synthetic garbage. Unrequited GAS can be a very good thing.

Great pics, the resto turned out fantastic.

Never ever use steel wool around electronics. Rust on pole screws are somewhat natural. You could destroy a working pickup in an attempt to overclean stuff. Less is more.

To deal with mild corrosion like this but not wanting to use toxic petrochemicals, carefully use a baking soda paste and toothbrush, rinse well, let dry. This will neutralize the corrosion.

Brasso cleans all other things metal if you feel you must.

 

[Jezzo]

Jezzo, what did you do for your tone pots? Were they double stacked like mine in these photos?

All my pots were so corroded as to be unusable so I fitted new modern one's.

I know this may be heresy but I made the top volume control a master as my brain is too small to cope with two controls.
Did this with my Les Paul as well ....

Fortunately my two Gretsches have masters anyway.

 

[chazmo]

Well, honestly, that guitar was hurting from corrosion... You've done well by it, and originality (IMO) is second to making it playable and enjoyable for you. Congrats. Again, the color is really something special, I think! Very attractive.