Advice needed on changing pickups in a 2007 LP supreme

[SkippyTony]

Hi there,

Newbie seeking esoteric answers

I have a Gibson LP supreme, it is a 2007 Guitar of the week, 1 of 400.

I am thinking about swapping the bridge PU (at least) for a SD Antiquity as a couple of people whose judgement I respect have made this mod to their LPs.

The problem I have is that my guitar has a solid back, there are no rear access panels to unsolder at the pot.

I was wondering if either anyone else has done this and can guide me through the steps, or alternatively, is it possible to put a spade plug in the wire between the PU and the pot so swapping out the PU is simple, or is this just crazy talk?

Sorry, I'm not very technical, hope my question makes sense.

Thanks,

Tony

 

[SkippyTony]

Re: Advice needed on changing pickups in a 2007 LP supreme

Shots of the guitar in question

 

[jeremy]

Re: Advice needed on changing pickups in a 2007 LP supreme

everything goes through the pup holes. its a pita. you can wire a connection in line if you plan on doing a fair amount of swapping or if you think its easier. might have to keep things nice and short since im not sure how much room you have to play with

 

[Mincer]

Re: Advice needed on changing pickups in a 2007 LP supreme

Wow, I hadn't seen that model. Very nice! I am not sure if they were using PC boards at that time. In any case, Gibson probably thought no one would ever swap pickups in that.

 

[blueman335]

Re: Advice needed on changing pickups in a 2007 LP supreme

Gibson probably thought no one would ever swap pickups in that.

Gibson has to know that a lot of their PU's get swapped out, which is why Duncan, DiMarzio, etc are doing well. For the prices they charge for their guitars, there should be very few people swapping out their PU's. It's easy to find better-sounding PU's, the only hard part is narrowing down your choices.

 

[Gearjoneser]

Re: Advice needed on changing pickups in a 2007 LP supreme

To be honest, the well respected Luthier Dan Erlewine uses the simplest way of changing pickups on models like yours.

You simply pull the pickups up out of the cavity as far as their leads will allow. Snip them off a couple inches close to the pickup. Unfortunately, you'll need to lengthen the leads on those pickups to use them again.

At this point, you can decide whether you want to install a plug system on the leads, or just solder the new ones in like most people do.

Solder your new pickups to the leads hanging out of the pickup cavities and use heat shrink tubing before you connect them.....or electrical tape after you solder. Tuck it all neatly back into the guitar. Use small zip ties if you don't want all those wires bouncing around.

 

[SkippyTony]

Re: Advice needed on changing pickups in a 2007 LP supreme

Wow, I hadn't seen that model. Very nice! I am not sure if they were using PC boards at that time. In any case, Gibson probably thought no one would ever swap pickups in that.

Thanks, first time I've bought a guitar sight unseen from another country. The photos don't do the flame maple justice. It has a few interesting features. It has gold coloured fretwire which is a lot harder than the conventional stuff. Ive done thousands of hours on that guitar and the frets are basically like new.

The fretboard is made from rare and incredibly hard timber - its almost black.

It is a keeper, for sure!

 

[LtKojak]

Re: Advice needed on changing pickups in a 2007 LP supreme

Your guitar is the hardest-to-change anything known to mankind.

That's a job for an experienced techie or luthier. Hell, even *I* would hesitate to take the job after over fifteen years as a techie!

HTH,

 

[Aceman]

Re: Advice needed on changing pickups in a 2007 LP supreme

Gibson has to know that a lot of their PU's get swapped out, which is why Duncan, DiMarzio, etc are doing well. For the prices they charge for their guitars, there should be very few people swapping out their PU's. It's easy to find better-sounding PU's, the only hard part is narrowing down your choices.

Gibson are even more arrogant than you - so it is not surprising they couldn't conceive people doing something other than collecting it.

 

[Aceman]

Re: Advice needed on changing pickups in a 2007 LP supreme

Buy another guitar….

 

[orpheo]

Re: Advice needed on changing pickups in a 2007 LP supreme

Actually, the hole for the jack is larger: the pots are installed via that hole. It's not easy to swap the pickups because you have to pull out the entire wiring harness, solder the old pickup free, solder the new one in and then install the hardware. It can be done but it will take you an hour at least.

 

[Mincer]

Re: Advice needed on changing pickups in a 2007 LP supreme

Gibson has to know that a lot of their PU's get swapped out, which is why Duncan, DiMarzio, etc are doing well. For the prices they charge for their guitars, there should be very few people swapping out their PU's. It's easy to find better-sounding PU's, the only hard part is narrowing down your choices.

I don't know. I've been on enough Gibson boards where their diehard fans will sing the praises of the 490s, the 57's and BBs over *anything* else available. I think Gibson sees no reason to change. However, I don't understand paying that much money for a guitar and not getting exactly what you want, or what sounds absolutely the best.

 

[blueman335]

Re: Advice needed on changing pickups in a 2007 LP supreme

I don't know. I've been on enough Gibson boards where their diehard fans will sing the praises of the 490s, the 57's and BBs over *anything* else available. I think Gibson sees no reason to change. However, I don't understand paying that much money for a guitar and not getting exactly what you want, or what sounds absolutely the best.

Some people like the stock Gibson PU's, and others learn to live with them. I think many of these people would be impressed if they tried some aftermarket PU's. But some think that for what they paid for the guitar, they don't want to sink more money into PU's too. I think the mismatched 498T/490R set and muddy '57 Classics have probably been the biggest motivators for PU swap outs. Certainly are plenty of used ones for sale.