Can 2-Conductor HB easily be modded to 4-Conductor?

[NoMoreMKIV]

Hey there-

I'm a single coil kind of guy, so forgive me for the potentially dumb question.

I just bought a guitar on E-Bay (it's enroute to me now), and it has a '59 and a Custom 5 in it. The guy who sold it wasn't sure if they are 2-conductor or 4-conductor (probably 2, I'm guessing). I've got a vision of doing some mods like coil tap, phase, series, etc. as in a Jimmy Page mod that I found at GuitarElectronics.com. But I know I need the 4-conductors to do it.

So... can this be done without too much ado (i.e. remove tape, find leads, determine poles, rewire, retape?)

I've done a bunch of wiring on my Strats and Tele, so I'm fine with the tools.

Thanks in advance for any details and/or warnings of destruction that you can provide.

Bob

 

[Mac-P]

Re: Can 2-Conductor HB easily be modded to 4-Conductor?

A two conductor pickup cannot be eaily converted to a 4 conductor. It is not worth the effort or risk in ruining the pickup which is VERY possible if you start messing with the windings etc.

In essence, you'd need access to the staring and ending point of each coil which requires you to sever the connection between the two at the perfect place, attatch lead to both....... you can see what I'm saying. Better to just get a 4 conductor pickup.

The C5 should already be 4 conductor.

The '59 can go either way as plenty have been made in both versions. I have a 4 conductor and a two conductor.

For what it is worth, the '59's low output makes for a VERY weak split sound. The basic character of the '59 is hollow and sort of "single coil-ish" to begin with. Something to consider.

 

[rspst14]

Re: Can 2-Conductor HB easily be modded to 4-Conductor?

It's actually not hard to do if you're good with soldering and you're careful. But otherwise, sell it and pick up a 4 conductor model. The Custom 5 will be four conductor, the '59 may or may not be.

Ryan