Are Fender Fat 60s just rebranded Big Dippers? When did Fender’s Fat 60s come out?

[EveryNoteCounts]

Does anyone know when Fender came out with their Custom Shop Fat 60s pickups?

At least one person has claimed that Fat 60s are just rebranded Big Dippers, ie John Mayer’s pickups back when he was with Fender. I am trying to chase down any information on this, or a timeline for when the Fat 60s came out. John Mayer left Fender in 2014.

 

[guitarchaeologist]

According to info I have accumulated, Fat 60s used AlNiCo II beveled mags, while Big Dippers used AlNICo V non-beveled mags.
Big Dippers I believe were supposed to be based on Texas Specials.
I show measurements of 5.8k N, 6.4k M, 7.7k B for Big Dippers w/ enamel coated wire
while Fat 60s have 6.7k for each position with Formvar coated wire

So, based on the info I have, no they are not the same p'ups re-branded

 

[EveryNoteCounts]

Very helpful, thank you!

 

[Intune]

Funny how people always say so and so is a rebranded something when talking fender pickups. Not say this is you @EveryNoteCounts but I’ve heard it many times. Like the custom shop dual mags are rebranded V-mods but with large up charge. Not even close in comparison at all.

Has fender ever rebranded a pickup? Where do these rumours come from?

 

[guitarchaeologist]

Funny how people always say so and so is a rebranded something when talking fender pickups. Not say this is you @EveryNoteCounts but I’ve heard it many times. Like the custom shop dual mags are rebranded V-mods but with large up charge. Not even close in comparison at all.

Has fender ever rebranded a pickup? Where do these rumours come from?

I have a untested hypothesis that the PV 56s and the 54 Anniversary LTDs are the same pickups with different plastics.
Same materials, same mags, same resistance. The part numbers are even shared (but with different prefixes).
The one difference I see is the 54 Ann LTDs had beveled mags (I think), while the PV 56s did not.

 

[Intune]

I have a untested hypothesis that the PV 56s and the 54 Anniversary LTDs are the same pickups with different plastics.
Same materials, same mags, same resistance. The part numbers are even shared (but with different prefixes).
The one difference I see is the 54 Ann LTDs had beveled mags (I think), while the PV 56s did not.

Yes and it’s possible that they do rebrand certain pickups like what your describing. Here’s my 54 anniversary pickup

It definitely has the bevel.

 

[Antigua]

I have a untested hypothesis that the PV 56s and the 54 Anniversary LTDs are the same pickups with different plastics.
Same materials, same mags, same resistance. The part numbers are even shared (but with different prefixes).
The one difference I see is the 54 Ann LTDs had beveled mags (I think), while the PV 56s did not.

I have both of those sets, and I agree, but I liked the 54 Anniv. better because it had the (likely fake) Bakelite covers and I think I like beveled magnets, maybe because you don't see them as often.

I came to find that I don't care for A2 or A3 unless the DC resistance is below 6k, because I tried some "Texas Hot" pickups from Seymour Duncan and Tonerider, and they sounded shrill to me, but examples at or below 6k, such as these Fender sets, or the Lollar Blonde and Tweed sets, sound really nice.

https://guitarnuts2.proboards.com/thread/7844/fender-pure-vintage-analysis-review

https://guitarnuts2.proboards.com/thread/7822/fender-60th-anniversary-analysis-review

 

[Antigua]

Does anyone know when Fender came out with their Custom Shop Fat 60s pickups?

At least one person has claimed that Fat 60s are just rebranded Big Dippers, ie John Mayer’s pickups back when he was with Fender. I am trying to chase down any information on this, or a timeline for when the Fat 60s came out. John Mayer left Fender in 2014.

Aside from the specs being a little different, I don't think John Mayer has trademark rights to the term Big Dipper, I'd be very surprised if he did, so I think Fender would just call them Big Dippers if they wanted to do that route.

I made a thread about this a few years ago https://www.strat-talk.com/threads/john-mayer-big-dipper-pickup-dc-resistances.524459/ , including ideas for how to recreate the three pickup set with off the shelf Fender offerings.

 

[guitarchaeologist]

I have both of those sets, and I agree, but I liked the 54 Anniv. better because it had the (likely fake) Bakelite covers and I think I like beveled magnets, maybe because you don't see them as often.

I came to find that I don't care for A2 or A3 unless the DC resistance is below 6k, because I tried some "Texas Hot" pickups from Seymour Duncan and Tonerider, and they sounded shrill to me, but examples at or below 6k, such as these Fender sets, or the Lollar Blonde and Tweed sets, sound really nice.

https://guitarnuts2.proboards.com/thread/7844/fender-pure-vintage-analysis-review

https://guitarnuts2.proboards.com/thread/7822/fender-60th-anniversary-analysis-review

I recently picked up a 2012 '56 AV loaded pickguard (with the '56 pickups). Although I have more than enough good Strats, I still have the bug to throw together a custom ash body (MJT prob) with a '56 AV neck or maybe a '57 AVRI neck with that loaded pickguard.

 

[racerx819]

Internet legend has it , the Black1 had HW60s (not Fat 60s). I had a strat with HW60s and a John Mayer Strat w the BDs. Side by side they sounded remarkably close. I liked the HW60s a bit more (or did I?). Very close in "scooped" tone indeed. Have no idea how they would measure out, and doubt they are just rebranded HW60s.

 

[EveryNoteCounts]

Aside from the specs being a little different, I don't think John Mayer has trademark rights to the term Big Dipper, I'd be very surprised if he did, so I think Fender would just call them Big Dippers if they wanted to do that route.

I made a thread about this a few years ago https://www.strat-talk.com/threads/john-mayer-big-dipper-pickup-dc-resistances.524459/ , including ideas for how to recreate the three pickup set with off the shelf Fender offerings.

Thanks! I will check out your thread!