Toasters - and education if you please!

[sashua]

Can someone kindly give me a tutorial on how to tell a vintage toaster from a newer reissue?

I'd like to know what the look of each was like in the neck and bridge position and also what the bass toasters looked like and how they changed as well.

Pictures would be a great aid if possible.

Thanks all and happy holidays!!!!
Russ

[leftybass]

Hmmmm....here's a small overview of early toasters..

The oldest toaster or 'chrome bar' pickups had aluminum covers and flat backs I believe, used in 1957 Combo models, maybe John Williams might have a pic of one. I'm sure pics are around of this version.

Some versions of the 1958 toaster were also flat-back but have a chrome-plated cover...these pickups were generally flat on the bottom but had to have some minor work to the guitar's top to guarantee a flush fit...not a rout, but some small diveting...

'58 325

There were also versions that had six pole pieces extending from the bottom, in which case the top had to be routed to accomdate the various lengths of the poles. On the toaster slot portion of the pickups there were four 'mold rings' in each corner of the slots, from roughly 1957 until mid-late 1964. Let's see what others might say....