Here they are - and what they do! If you have one I missed, list it. If you disagree or I get it wrong, comment.
#1 MOST import mod of ALL, and the first you should do; LIVE with the pickup for a while!!!! I see too many threads where guys are asking what pickups before they even get the guitar. I know some of you are experienced enough to "know" your sound or the guitar, but that isn't most. Even I will live with the pups for a while. The problem you might be having is that it is simply a "different" sound than you are used to!
#2 The next most import mod: ADJUST THE PICKUP!!!!! Not as high as it will go, not so it is even and flat and the screw slots match direction. I mean REALLY adjust it; height, string arc, etc….there are numerous threads on this topic.
#3 Finally - consider ADJUSTING THE AMP SETTINGS. You just changed the entire EQ of the guitar by changing pups. What makes you think you won't need to adjust the treble a touch at the amp?!?!?!?
Fine. Now that all of that is out of the way….
#4 Changing mags; Probably the cheapest mod you can make. This can have really drastic or really extreme results. There is a ton of wealth here on that topic. Two things to remember:
a) You are NOT going to turn a Pearly Gates into a Distortion. And you are not going to turn a Distortion into a Pearly Gates. (Although we can debate turning a JB into a Distortion, etc…). Sometimes it really really helps to get into the ballpark to begin with.
b) Know your mags. Again, there are a number of posts here on how they all work. And contrary to what you may read, an A8 is NOT the cure for everything. I like the way it keeps the power, tightens up and increases the bass, cuts the mids, and softens the highs in a JB. It's a moderately tight, bassy, solid mids, and good but not harsh highs magnet. An A2 on the other hand, is a soft but substantial bass usually, lots of miss, and very round highs - IN GENERALLY. Never forget that the wind and other mojo play into it!!!!
A2 Bass, Mids, soft, maybe mushy
A5 Bass, highs, tight, maybe boomy
Ceramic Mids, highs, ultra tight, maybe sterile
See posts for A8, UOA5, A3, A4, etc….
#4 Chopping/swapping poles. Swapping the standard screws to hex screws, or those massive Invader things does stuff to how a pup hears the strings. And in general, clipping the bottoms short tightens things up. I'll mention this here; Occasionally raising the poles a lot while lowering the body of the pickup can air out a pup, and reduce the power in a good way. Often down in the neck, but also the bridge.
#5 Wax on, Wax off! Potting or unpitying does stuff. Opens up a bit and airs it out without the wax, but it may squeal like a stuck pig under a cover. Consider waxing or unwaxing. Unwax with a hair dryer.
#6 And I just mentioned covers. My ears are shot and I don't notice the impact of covers. You may. Think about removing them, or adding them, or changing the material. I defer to experts here.
#7 Adding an active preamp. Sometimes you just need more power - ooh ooh ooh!!!!! CAn be done internally or on the floor
#8 Splits, phase, parallel, and tap….Wire surgery is never fun, nor all that soldering and adding switches etc. but these can really mod the sound and give super flexibility to a pup.
- Tapping a humbucker gets great single coil sound, yet is quieter than a regular single. Works best on high outputs.
- Parallel; Highly under-rated mod. However, a DiMArzio X2N is a helluva rhythm pup in this mode for all styles. Try it.
- Phase; I don't dig it, but many do
- Taps; This is for experienced pros ONLY!!!!! But you can change the sound of single coil, and mismatch hum buckers doing this…..
#1 MOST import mod of ALL, and the first you should do; LIVE with the pickup for a while!!!! I see too many threads where guys are asking what pickups before they even get the guitar. I know some of you are experienced enough to "know" your sound or the guitar, but that isn't most. Even I will live with the pups for a while. The problem you might be having is that it is simply a "different" sound than you are used to!
#2 The next most import mod: ADJUST THE PICKUP!!!!! Not as high as it will go, not so it is even and flat and the screw slots match direction. I mean REALLY adjust it; height, string arc, etc….there are numerous threads on this topic.
#3 Finally - consider ADJUSTING THE AMP SETTINGS. You just changed the entire EQ of the guitar by changing pups. What makes you think you won't need to adjust the treble a touch at the amp?!?!?!?
Fine. Now that all of that is out of the way….
#4 Changing mags; Probably the cheapest mod you can make. This can have really drastic or really extreme results. There is a ton of wealth here on that topic. Two things to remember:
a) You are NOT going to turn a Pearly Gates into a Distortion. And you are not going to turn a Distortion into a Pearly Gates. (Although we can debate turning a JB into a Distortion, etc…). Sometimes it really really helps to get into the ballpark to begin with.
b) Know your mags. Again, there are a number of posts here on how they all work. And contrary to what you may read, an A8 is NOT the cure for everything. I like the way it keeps the power, tightens up and increases the bass, cuts the mids, and softens the highs in a JB. It's a moderately tight, bassy, solid mids, and good but not harsh highs magnet. An A2 on the other hand, is a soft but substantial bass usually, lots of miss, and very round highs - IN GENERALLY. Never forget that the wind and other mojo play into it!!!!
A2 Bass, Mids, soft, maybe mushy
A5 Bass, highs, tight, maybe boomy
Ceramic Mids, highs, ultra tight, maybe sterile
See posts for A8, UOA5, A3, A4, etc….
#4 Chopping/swapping poles. Swapping the standard screws to hex screws, or those massive Invader things does stuff to how a pup hears the strings. And in general, clipping the bottoms short tightens things up. I'll mention this here; Occasionally raising the poles a lot while lowering the body of the pickup can air out a pup, and reduce the power in a good way. Often down in the neck, but also the bridge.
#5 Wax on, Wax off! Potting or unpitying does stuff. Opens up a bit and airs it out without the wax, but it may squeal like a stuck pig under a cover. Consider waxing or unwaxing. Unwax with a hair dryer.
#6 And I just mentioned covers. My ears are shot and I don't notice the impact of covers. You may. Think about removing them, or adding them, or changing the material. I defer to experts here.
#7 Adding an active preamp. Sometimes you just need more power - ooh ooh ooh!!!!! CAn be done internally or on the floor
#8 Splits, phase, parallel, and tap….Wire surgery is never fun, nor all that soldering and adding switches etc. but these can really mod the sound and give super flexibility to a pup.
- Tapping a humbucker gets great single coil sound, yet is quieter than a regular single. Works best on high outputs.
- Parallel; Highly under-rated mod. However, a DiMArzio X2N is a helluva rhythm pup in this mode for all styles. Try it.
- Phase; I don't dig it, but many do
- Taps; This is for experienced pros ONLY!!!!! But you can change the sound of single coil, and mismatch hum buckers doing this…..
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