Vintage Original 1973 Fender Telecaster bridge pickup

Up for grabs is a genuine vintage 1973 Fender Telecaster bridge pickup — original windings from the early CBS era, known for that classic bright Tele twang, peak Fullerton era.
The pickup is in excellent condition for a 53-year-old part: no cracks, no structural damage, no warping, original winding and black/yellow PVC leads. The black bobbin is clean and intact, with the original cloth string protecting the coil.
I dated this to 1973 based on the ink stamp directly on the bobbin, a common Fender practice starting in the early 1970s where the last two digits indicate production. This aligns with early CBS-era traits: gray fiberboard bottom flatwork (standard from ~1964-1974), black top bobbin, and the 6-7k DCR range typical for ’70s Tele bridges—hotter than ’50s/’60s models but balanced. Black and yellow leads (yellow hot, black ground) transitioned to PVC around this time. CBS production had inconsistencies, so it could edge into 1972 or 1974, but the bobbin stamp nails it at 1973.

Important note on the baseplate: This pickup originally did not have a copper baseplate when I got it. My friend, Matt Hayden at M Hayden Guitar Co. a professional luthier and pickup winder later attached and aged one to match vintage specifications. This restoration is subtle and enhances tone without altering the core vintage character. He went evan as far as attaching era correct masking tape on the magnets.

I acquired this as a loose part — already pulled from its original guitar, which would’ve confirmed the exact Tele model (likely a Standard or Custom). No dice there, but it’s ideal for vintage Fender builds or upgrades. Sounds fantastic: crisp highs, punchy mids, tight lows — great for country, rock, or blues.

Message me with any questions.
Thanks.

Shipping: Fast, FREE, and fully insured US shipping via USPS. I pack every item with extra care to ensure it arrives exactly as pictured.

Offers: I research every item before listing to ensure I’m at the absolute bottom of the market. Since my gear is already priced as the lowest on Reverb for its condition, I am no longer accepting offers. I skip the back-and-forth so you get the best deal immediately.

Returns:

• Vintage Items: Sold As-Described with no returns. These items are too rare and risky to ship back and forth.
• Non-Vintage: Returns accepted within 7 days in original condition, subject to a restocking fee.

About Me: I’ve been a guitar technician for over 3 years, and I’ve decided to sell off my collection of rare parts to fund new projects. Let’s Get Guitarded (also on eBay, Craigslist, and FB Marketplace) is my passion project. I eat, sleep, and breathe electric guitar, and I’m always happy to help other players get their rigs where they want them to be. Thanks for checking out the shop—take a look at my other listings for more cool gear!