Need help positively ID-ing some 58/15 pickups.

[Proteus]

I already bought these, possibly too quick with the buy button. They're described as "58/15 TCI S", having come from an "S2 Singlecut."

I find all kinds of references to 58/15, and 58/15LT and LT+, and in general to TCI ... but I can't find information on something with the specific nomenclature 58/15 TCI S.

What did I just buy, and why?

 

[KentuckyBoiledChiccan]

"S" prefix would indicate SE line, no? Are the square bobbins?

 

[Going Modal]

The "...S" pickups appear in both the S2 line (American-made guitars with import electronics) and in the SE line (import guitars with import electronics).

If they're indeed 58/15 (and not 85/15), then they likely came from an S2 McCarty 594 Singlecut. These would have the chrome covers. If they're uncovered with rounded bobbins, then they're probably 85/15 S from some other S2 or SE guitar.

 

[Bowtiefanatc]

“S” refers to the import line of pickups found in S2 and SE guitars.

 

[show_a_little_faith]

I already bought these, possibly too quick with the buy button. They're described as "58/15 TCI S", having come from an "S2 Singlecut."

I find all kinds of references to 58/15, and 58/15LT and LT+, and in general to TCI ... but I can't find information on something with the specific nomenclature 58/15 TCI S.

What did I just buy, and why?

As others already mentioned, all SE's come with "S" versions of the USA pickups, with the "S" ones being made overseas. The USA-made S2 guitars also use these imported "S" pickups. I believe the TCI process isn't being used on any of the SE/S2 guitars, that it's only for the Cores and above.

Further confusing things, there is the TCI Process, which according to PRS press release: “TCI stands for Tuned Capacitance Inductance. When you wind a pickup, the coils are capacitors, resistors, and inductors simultaneously. Our more refined ability to be able to tune those factors is what we have incorporated into TCI". So this is a process PRS has incorporated into their USA pickup manufacturing line that is supposed to improve the sound

Separately, there is a specific Pickup called just "TCI". These are a unique design pickup (different from the 85/15, the 57/08, etc.) that are used in the 35th Anniversary models and the Paul's guitar models (with the SE versions using TCI "S" pickups).

So it seems to me your seller got their description wrong. Bottom line:
If the pickups did come from an S2 Singlecut, they are 58/15 "S" pickups, (no TCI).
If they came from a 35th or a Paul's guitar they are either TCI or TCI "S".
If they came from a USA Core, they could be 58/15 TCI (but no "S").

Did they post pictures on the listing? If they showed the underside of the pickups, there should be a label that says what they are too

 

[Proteus]

Thanks for all the info, fellers!

Yep, I knew about the S suffice for SE, Asian made for SEs and S2s; I knew about the confusion between TCI as a pickup model designation and TCI as a process description. It was the combination of all that together which baffled me, because I couldn't find a pickup with all those designations together in any of the available info (catalogs, websites, etc). And I'm inclined to think, like show_a_little, that the seller either confused the terms or stuck TCI on the end to refer to the process rather than the pickup model number.

I'm not arguing for the preciousness of the pickups I bought, like they're some kind of rare prize - but are we sure TCI as a process hasn't come down to the SE and S2 lines (besides the PG and 24-08 guitars which get the TCI-S model designation)? Or did the seller just jump to an assumption there?

The pickups do have chrome covers, which attracted me by comparison to the various open-face SE-line pickups I've laid in for deployment in unspecified projects to come. (Unlike so many, I haven't found deficiencies in SE pickups, and like that they have their own voicing and response in contrast to the run of boutique replacement humbuckers.)

Label: PTP4144-8 SP-5815-BNC (and TNC, so one bass and one treble).

He only identified the donor guitar as a new S2 Singlecut, in Satin Walnut finish.

I guess if they're plainol 58/15 S, they're the same pickups that come in the SE Hollowbodies, which I like. And that's fine, I like'm. I'll find something to do with them!

 

[Uncle Bob]

My 58/15 LT+ pickups are engraved with ‘58/15 LT+’ in the corner of the cover (smoked chrome I believe it’s called). So that’s nice and easy lol