The phase formation and microstructure of Bi2Sr2Ca2Cu3O10+delta fibers are affected by the phase content and morphology of the starting precursor powders which modify reaction pathway and kinetics. A solid state precursor reaction process has been used to prepare (Bi, Pb)-Sr-Ca-Cu-O powders with varying phase composition. These powders were isostatically compacted and the resulting cylinders transformed into textured fibers using a laser floating zone melting apparatus. The results demonstrated that a Bi2Sr2Ca2Cu3O10+delta precursor mixture containing Bi2Sr2CuO6 and submicrometer-sized 'CaCuO2' particles leads to textured fibers exhibiting high critical current density (J(c)) values.