banner

Announcement

Collapse
No announcement yet.

Changing Pickup on a First Act POS

Collapse
X
Collapse
 
  • Page of 1
  • Filter
  • Time
  • Show
Clear All
new posts
Previous template Next
  • #1

    Changing Pickup on a First Act POS

    Hey all . I'm obviously new here , and I don't know the first thing about pickups . I found a guitar like this ...

    403 Forbidden
    http://firstact.com/products/product-details.asp?id=34&back_to=products&rtn=id%3D1


    ... at a yard sale for $25 . It plays/feels great , but sounds like complete **** . I want to swap the stock pickup with something that sounds a bit nicer . Based on price , and good reviews , I'm considering either the Duncan SH-4 JB , or the Duncan SH-11 . My question is , are pickups universal ? Would I be able to install either of those pickups in this guitar ? Any advice would be great . Thanks .
    Tags: None
  • #2
    Re: Changing Pickup on a First Act POS

    my suggestion, don't buy a new pickup for a guitar if the pickup is more expensive than the guitar. It's still going to sound like junk.

    Comment

    • #3
      Re: Changing Pickup on a First Act POS

      The guitar is worth more than the $25 that I payed , though . I looked around , and brand new they sell for around $200 , and the one I got is in perfect condition . Anyway , thanks for your input .

      Comment

      • #4
        Re: Changing Pickup on a First Act POS

        well i suggest getting the duncan distortion because it has such high output so you might lose a lot of the natural tone of your guitar, and in your case thats a good thing
        Gear: Carvin CT6 flame top(alnico 2 pro,JB), Strat scappoled fretboard(59,CC), Morgan monroe ovation knock-off, yamaha nylon acoustic,Boss super overdrive with TS-808 "silver" analogman mod, Boss DS-1 with keeley mod, Vox wah with true bypass mod, Fender Super Reverb 65.

        Originally Posted by Jeff_H
        The APH is like slipping into a tub of warm honey spashed with the silky essence of virgins.

        Comment

        • #5
          Re: Changing Pickup on a First Act POS

          Originally posted by fusion101
          well i suggest getting the duncan distortion because it has such high output so you might lose a lot of the natural tone of your guitar, and in your case thats a good thing
          Thank you ! How do they sound clean ?

          Comment

          • #6
            Re: Changing Pickup on a First Act POS

            Originally posted by kleptik
            Hey all . I'm obviously new here , and I don't know the first thing about pickups . I found a guitar like this ...

            403 Forbidden
            http://firstact.com/products/product-details.asp?id=34&back_to=products&rtn=id%3D1


            ... at a yard sale for $25 . It plays/feels great , but sounds like complete **** . I want to swap the stock pickup with something that sounds a bit nicer . Based on price , and good reviews , I'm considering either the Duncan SH-4 JB , or the Duncan SH-11 . My question is , are pickups universal ? Would I be able to install either of those pickups in this guitar ? Any advice would be great . Thanks .
            Hey Kleptik, welcome to the forum!

            Well if it plays decent we can work on the sound. What type of setup are you using, what style do you play? Also what are the woods used? What does the stock pup sound like, too bright? dark? not enough output?

            The JB is a good place to start b/c it is versatile, while still hot enough to cut.
            You'll also need a trembucker version of whatever pup you decide on.

            The best advice I can give you is listen to the soundclips till your ears bleed, then do it some more.

            Luke
            “That which we do for ourselves dies with us … that which we do for others lives forever.”

            Comment

            • #7
              Re: Changing Pickup on a First Act POS

              Originally posted by Luke Duke
              Hey Kleptik, welcome to the forum!

              Well if it plays decent we can work on the sound. What type of setup are you using, what style do you play? Also what are the woods used? What does the stock pup sound like, too bright? dark? not enough output?

              The JB is a good place to start b/c it is versatile, while still hot enough to cut.
              You'll also need a trembucker version of whatever pup you decide on.

              The best advice I can give you is listen to the soundclips till your ears bleed, then do it some more.

              Luke
              Hey , thanks for the info . The guitar has a maple neck , and rosewood fingerboard , but I have no idea on the body . The best way I can explain the sound of the stock pickup is really muddy . There is no clarity at all . I play through a Fender 25R frontman amp . As for my style ... ? I'm not sure , but I guess you could say it's along the lines of Incubus , TOOL , the Chili Peppers .

              I'll check the soundclips when I get home from work . What exactly is a trembucker ? Again , I thank you .

              Comment

              • #8
                Re: Changing Pickup on a First Act POS

                Originally posted by kleptik
                Hey , thanks for the info . The guitar has a maple neck , and rosewood fingerboard , but I have no idea on the body . The best way I can explain the sound of the stock pickup is really muddy . There is no clarity at all . I play through a Fender 25R frontman amp . As for my style ... ? I'm not sure , but I guess you could say it's along the lines of Incubus , TOOL , the Chili Peppers .

                I'll check the soundclips when I get home from work . What exactly is a trembucker ? Again , I thank you .
                Thanks for the info man!

                I think the JB might do you well, as far as a trembucker goes, it is a trem-spaced humbucker.

                Luke
                “That which we do for ourselves dies with us … that which we do for others lives forever.”

                Comment

                • #9
                  Re: Changing Pickup on a First Act POS

                  id say a jb is a good choice for that style. you might not have a monster sounding rig when your done, but itll be a world better

                  Comment

                  • #10
                    Re: Changing Pickup on a First Act POS

                    I recommend the JB as well. Change out those pots (potentiometers/ volume and tone knobs) to 500k ohm CTS. you may also consider putting a push/pull pot on the tone so you can split the JB (it sounds very strat-ish when split).

                    You may also want to try the '59 (sh-1) in that guitar if you want a more vintage vibe but still get great tone.

                    The trembucker has the poll pieces (the metal slugs and screws) spaced wider than a standard spaced humbucker to align better with the strings. They are made to line up better because of the tremolo or floyd rose bridge that some guitars have.

                    good luck ... and just remember, you can't shine a turd. So basically if it doesn't sound very good unplugged it probably wont sound good no matter what pickup you put in there. but you know, stranger things have happened
                    -Greg

                    Guitars:
                    2016 Ibanez RG6003FM (JB/'59nJ)
                    2018 G&L Tribute Legacy (Hot Rails/stock/stock)
                    2019 Squier Affinity Telecaster HH (Esquire'd w/ JB)
                    Applause/Ovation AE28 Acoustic/Electric

                    Comment

                    • #11
                      Re: Changing Pickup on a First Act POS

                      Wow , you guys kick ass . Thanks for all the input .

                      SkyyDogg , you completely lost me with the Change out those pots (potentiometers/ volume and tone knobs) to 500k ohm CTS. Would you mind explaining a bit more . Sorry to be a pain in the ass guys .

                      Comment

                      • #12
                        Re: Changing Pickup on a First Act POS

                        Originally posted by kleptik
                        Wow , you guys kick ass . Thanks for all the input .

                        SkyyDogg , you completely lost me with the Change out those pots (potentiometers/ volume and tone knobs) to 500k ohm CTS. Would you mind explaining a bit more . Sorry to be a pain in the ass guys .
                        Use this one for your volume
                        - StewMac
                        http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Electronics,_pickups/Potentiometers_and_push-pull_pots/2/Control_Pots.html


                        use this one for your tone (so you can split your coils)
                        - StewMac
                        http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Electronics,_pickups/Potentiometers_and_push-pull_pots/3/Control_Pots.html
                        -Greg

                        Guitars:
                        2016 Ibanez RG6003FM (JB/'59nJ)
                        2018 G&L Tribute Legacy (Hot Rails/stock/stock)
                        2019 Squier Affinity Telecaster HH (Esquire'd w/ JB)
                        Applause/Ovation AE28 Acoustic/Electric

                        Comment

                        • #13
                          Re: Changing Pickup on a First Act POS

                          skydogg was talking about the volume and tone controls .. the technical name for these is potentiometers, or 'pots' for short ... notice, he's not talking about the actual knobs that you turn, but rather the electric components 'under the hood' ... the 'cap' is the capacitor that works with the tone pot to actually perform the tone control function ... by changing out the el cheapo pots and cap in your guitar, you'll get the most out of the new pickup and avoid them crapping out / getting noisey on you ...

                          hope this helps

                          good luck and welcome to the forum
                          t4d
                          gear list in profile

                          "no seymour - no tone ... know seymour - know tone!"

                          Is it not the glory of the people of America that, whilst they have paid a decent regard to the opinions of former times and other nations, they have not suffered a blind veneration for antiquity, for custom, or for names, to overrule the suggestions of their own good sense, the knowledge of their own situation, and the lessons of their own experience?" - James Madison - Federalist #14

                          Comment

                          • #14
                            Re: Changing Pickup on a First Act POS

                            thanks, T4D. Once again, you explain what i can't.

                            that's right, ya'll. T4D got my back

                            lol
                            -Greg

                            Guitars:
                            2016 Ibanez RG6003FM (JB/'59nJ)
                            2018 G&L Tribute Legacy (Hot Rails/stock/stock)
                            2019 Squier Affinity Telecaster HH (Esquire'd w/ JB)
                            Applause/Ovation AE28 Acoustic/Electric

                            Comment

                            Previous template Next
                            Working...
                            X