First batch of 57/08 pups

There are no shortage of 57/08 pickups available for sale, that have the 57/08 etched onto them.

The un-etched 57/08 sets were done for a finite amount of time and then they later started etching them.

The folks that suggest not doing it are looking at it as you have something that is in rare supply. And by etching it, you “deface” that pickup’s originality. Once it’s gone, it can never be original again.

Whether that matters to you or not is up to you. But it does seem to be a strange impulse. To “deface” a rarer original pickup just so it looks like something more plentiful that you could get anywhere at any time.

It makes me think of my old Tremolux. I have a 1961 Fender tremolux, that back in it’s heyday was blonde, with oxblood grill cloth.

The original owner decided sometime in the 70s that he wanted his amp to look more like the new amps Fender was making. So he spraypainted that beautiful blonde tolex black. And then he changed the oxblood cloth to the black and silver stuff Fender had on those old silverface amps.

That amp was totally defaced by Fender amp enthusiasts, which is why I was able to pick it up from the guy for a steal. I then re-tolexed it, and replaced the cloth, and it looks as it should. But it still isn’t original. And never will be again.

As far as taking the original covers off, again, you can. But that disturbs the solder joints, and folks notice these things.

Since there are so many out there without the covers or with the etching already, the most readily reversible method would be to unsolder the original old 57/08s and put in some that make you happy (why seeing the etching makes a difference I do not know), but then we all like the look we like.

At least with a pickup swop, you can keep the originals in the case, unmolested, and yield maximum resale value should you ever sell it later.

If resale value means nothing to you, go for it. Etch your own name on there. Or pull off covers, etc and enjoy it. But that’s the reasoning behind folks asking questions.
 
57/08 pickups have had a few different markings and cover finishes. I have them in non-engraved, engraved with 57/08 and 57/08 TM. I also have them with shiny covers with gold screws as well as brushed covers with chrome and others with gold screws. I have 57/08s in many of my PRS guitars, most came stock in them. They started out non-engraved. They then went to being engraved with 57/08. Then they went to 57/08 TM. They used to be brushed covers for most all of them, except one or two limited run model guitars that had shiny covers with gold screws. At some point they went to a shiny cover on them and that is what is used on them today, with 57/08 TM engraved on them.
 
57/08 pickups have had a few different markings and cover finishes. I have them in non-engraved, engraved with 57/08 and 57/08 TM. I also have them with shiny covers with gold screws as well as brushed covers with chrome and others with gold screws. I have 57/08s in many of my PRS guitars, most came stock in them. They started out non-engraved. They then went to being engraved with 57/08. Then they went to 57/08 TM. They used to be brushed covers for most all of them, except one or two limited run model guitars that had shiny covers with gold screws. At some point they went to a shiny cover on them and that is what is used on them today, with 57/08 TM engraved on them.
The very first model you can see in my avatar came engraved first.
 
Because the original guitar came with them.

Our memory is a funny thing. Pulls a copy from a copy vs original access. If it came with engravings logic says they would be there. If not there now..were they ever? Adding them wouldn't be original either and arguably even further away
 
The very first model you can see in my avatar came engraved first.
I haven't owned the 57/08 limited they first came in but thought I remembered they were not engraved by pictures I saw of them back then. The first set I obtained were not engraved. One set I have is an early set that has shiny covers with gold screws in them. I bought them from someone back in the BAM days. All I remember is they came out of a special run guitar. It could have been one of the 57/08 limited models or an ME.
 
I haven't owned the 57/08 limited they first came in but thought I remembered they were not engraved by pictures I saw of them back then. The first set I obtained were not engraved. One set I have is an early set that has shiny covers with gold screws in them. I bought them from someone back in the BAM days. All I remember is they came out of a special run guitar. It could have been one of the 57/08 limited models or an ME.
They were engraved.
 
Our memory is a funny thing. Pulls a copy from a copy vs original access. If it came with engravings logic says they would be there. If not there now..were they ever? Adding them wouldn't be original either and arguably even further away
The original pups were replaced by MA Pete, he sold them. Then he got another pair because he had the certificate from the PTC to get a PRS swapped with these pups, he did that then sold that pair to me to get 57/08s back in the guitar. He put 245 pups in it, he liked them better at the time. So I bought guitar from him with 245s in there (I still have in a box). He said when he gets the new 57/08 from the PTC swap he will sell them to me, I bought them then put the in the guitar, I thought they were engraved, I guess not. Remember, the guitar was at my friends for 10 yrs.

Yes, I get engraving them would not be original to those pups. But, still want them engraved.
 
There are no shortage of 57/08 pickups available for sale, that have the 57/08 etched onto them.

The un-etched 57/08 sets were done for a finite amount of time and then they later started etching them.

The folks that suggest not doing it are looking at it as you have something that is in rare supply. And by etching it, you “deface” that pickup’s originality. Once it’s gone, it can never be original again.

Whether that matters to you or not is up to you. But it does seem to be a strange impulse. To “deface” a rarer original pickup just so it looks like something more plentiful that you could get anywhere at any time.

It makes me think of my old Tremolux. I have a 1961 Fender tremolux, that back in it’s heyday was blonde, with oxblood grill cloth.

The original owner decided sometime in the 70s that he wanted his amp to look more like the new amps Fender was making. So he spraypainted that beautiful blonde tolex black. And then he changed the oxblood cloth to the black and silver stuff Fender had on those old silverface amps.

That amp was totally defaced by Fender amp enthusiasts, which is why I was able to pick it up from the guy for a steal. I then re-tolexed it, and replaced the cloth, and it looks as it should. But it still isn’t original. And never will be again.

As far as taking the original covers off, again, you can. But that disturbs the solder joints, and folks notice these things.

Since there are so many out there without the covers or with the etching already, the most readily reversible method would be to unsolder the original old 57/08s and put in some that make you happy (why seeing the etching makes a difference I do not know), but then we all like the look we like.

At least with a pickup swop, you can keep the originals in the case, unmolested, and yield maximum resale value should you ever sell it later.

If resale value means nothing to you, go for it. Etch your own name on there. Or pull off covers, etc and enjoy it. But that’s the reasoning behind folks asking questions.
Yeah, I got ya. I could buy another pair but these were originally brushed, most of the ones I see now are nickel and the price has really increased.
 
The original pups were replaced by MA Pete, he sold them. Then he got another pair because he had the certificate from the PTC to get a PRS swapped with these pups, he did that then sold that pair to me to get 57/08s back in the guitar. He put 245 pups in it, he liked them better at the time. So I bought guitar from him with 245s in there (I still have in a box). He said when he gets the new 57/08 from the PTC swap he will sell them to me, I bought them then put the in the guitar, I thought they were engraved, I guess not. Remember, the guitar was at my friends for 10 yrs.

Yes, I get engraving them would not be original to those pups. But, still want them engraved.
I can't remember who I bought the set from that is currently in my SAS. They are shiny with gold screws and are engraved. I bought them many years ago from a forum member on BAM. That is about all I can remember about where I bought them. They have been in the SAS since I got them. I remember they were in an early limited run guitar.

Yeah, I got ya. I could buy another pair but these were originally brushed, most of the ones I see now are nickel and the price has really increased.
If you get a newer set, it is easy to give them that brushed look. If you end up going that route I can tell you how to do it. The only down side is that it may affect the engraving on the covers when you do it. I haven't done the process on a cover with the engraving on it. It would be nice to have one to test it on first.
 
I can't remember who I bought the set from that is currently in my SAS. They are shiny with gold screws and are engraved. I bought them many years ago from a forum member on BAM. That is about all I can remember about where I bought them. They have been in the SAS since I got them. I remember they were in an early limited run guitar.


If you get a newer set, it is easy to give them that brushed look. If you end up going that route I can tell you how to do it. The only down side is that it may affect the engraving on the covers when you do it. I haven't done the process on a cover with the engraving on it. It would be nice to have one to test it on first.
Yeah, I remember BAM. That is where I bought it from Pete's listing there.
 
I’m quite certain you can find someone to trade you the engraved ones for those. Probably pretty easily, it seems a like a lot of prs lovers view them as the best version. Please don’t engrave them, I don’t normally say don’t mod. I just think there’s people who really covet the version you have. I guess there’s the issue if you think those particular pickups are magic. Then you gotta do what makes you happy I guess.
 
I’m quite certain you can find someone to trade you the engraved ones for those. Probably pretty easily, it seems a like a lot of prs lovers view them as the best version. Please don’t engrave them, I don’t normally say don’t mod. I just think there’s people who really covet the version you have. I guess there’s the issue if you think those particular pickups are magic. Then you gotta do what makes you happy I guess.
As I said above, I have quite a few sets of 57/08 pickups in my PRS guitars and most came stock in them. There is definitely a variation in them. I have an 09 Ted that came with them in it. There is something that set and guitar has that my others don't have. It is a non 10 top that I have thought about selling a few times. However, every time I get it out and play it I tell myself that there is just something magical about that particular guitar and there is no way I can sell it. Everyone I have ever handed it to has said a very similar thing. That guitar just went together right and the pickups are definitely part of the magic.

I also have a couple of sets that are hotter. They are above the current spec. I put one of those sets in my 594. I wish I could get more of those. They just kick butt in that guitar. They have just a little more push to them but clean up and are very dynamic just like the 57/08 always delivers. They were only that way for a short period of time, maybe a year or so. They are much closer to the 59/09 DC resistance level.
 
I also have a couple of sets that are hotter. They are above the current spec. I put one of those sets in my 594. I wish I could get more of those. They just kick butt in that guitar. They have just a little more push to them but clean up and are very dynamic just like the 57/08 always delivers. They were only that way for a short period of time, maybe a year or so. They are much closer to the 59/09 DC resistance level.

My personal favorite 5708 bridge. Wish I had bought more. More like a covered 5909 to me than 5708.
 
The early 5708s that the PTC installed in my 2008 Korina McCarty as a part of the pickup swap promo they were running in January iof 2009 are unengraved with brushed covers. I seem to recall that the engraved “5708” came a little later. They are very nice pickups, actually thought about putting them in my 2005 MEI
Yeah, that would coincide with my 2009 Ted McCarty that came stock later in that year with engraved 57/08 pickups.
 
The first sets of the 08s and 09s were 100% engraved.
No, sorry, they were not. You can say it over and over again, but that does not make it correct, at least as a blanket statement.

The CU24 in my avatar is from the limited 57/08 run (nr 337) and it does not have those markings. Neither has my McC Smokeburst from 09 that is 3 weeks younger than my CU24. None of the guitars I have seen from that run (at least I saw a McC and another CU24) did have the engravings.
 
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