Can I change my Strat bridge pickup...

[Sly_D]

... without removing the strings?

I know, this is stupid but I never changed a Strat pickup in 25 years of guitar playing, sorry.

If so, how do you do it, in a nutshell?

I can't believe I'll have to waste 3 set of strings if I change my 3 pickups within a 3 month interval.

Thanks in advance!

 

[Davey]

Re: Can I change my Strat bridge pickup...

umm.. you'd have to remove the pickguard for that.. well, you could slack them a lot so you can take the pickguard out.

 

[XSSIVE]

Re: Can I change my Strat bridge pickup...

yup, just loosen the strings as much as you can without them falling off and you should be able to slide the guard out under them. just be careful not to scratch the body with the switch and pots and screws holding the pickups to the guard when you slide the guard out under the strings.

-Mike

 

[Sly_D]

Re: Can I change my Strat bridge pickup...

Yeah, that's pretty much what I wonder before wasting my time doing it ... can I unscrew and slide the pickguard our without sacrificing the strings?

 

[Sly_D]

Re: Can I change my Strat bridge pickup...

yup, just loosen the strings as much as you can without them falling off and you should be able to slide the guard out under them. just be careful not to scratch the body with the switch and pots and screws holding the pickups to the guard when you slide the guard out under the strings.

-Mike

Hey thank you Mike! I'll do just that. I have no spare set of strings in the house and I just received my JB Jr. and can't wait to try it.

Cheers!

 

[Leveller]

Re: Can I change my Strat bridge pickup...

why not just take the strings off, install the pup and put the strings back?

 

[BigDreamer]

Re: Can I change my Strat bridge pickup...

why not just take the strings off, install the pup and put the strings back?

that's what i would do too. though it kinda depends on what tuners you have. vintage ones like on my fender are easy to take on and off. traditional posts would be a pain the rear.

 

[Surgeon]

Re: Can I change my Strat bridge pickup...

Lazy Montrealers...

 

[Bludave]

Re: Can I change my Strat bridge pickup...

Its so much easier to take the strings off. They just get in the way and your constantly trying to work around them. Invest the $5. for a new set. Just wait until you have all the pickups that you want to change and do it all at once.

 

[Gearjoneser]

Re: Can I change my Strat bridge pickup...

I do it like XSSIVE. I put a capo on the neck at the 1st fret, to keep the tuning pegs from unraveling, then loosen the strings....tugging on them while I do it. Then slide the pickguard up and out without scratching anything.

Then, I lay a towel on the body, and turn the pickguard upside down on it.
That way, there's no scratches, and you won't accidentally drip solder on it.

 

[B2D]

Re: Can I change my Strat bridge pickup...

1) Wait until you have three pickups ready to install.

2) Wait until your strings need a change

3) Remove old strings. Install pickups. Restring guitar.


Boo-yah. I win, brutha.

 

[Sly_D]

Re: Can I change my Strat bridge pickup...

OK guys, thanks for the tips and life lessons (and irony Surgeon, now you must be from Quebec City, aren't you? )

I did it the same day just by loosening the strings. No biggy. I just didn't want to go to the store that particular day.

 

[J Moose]

Re: Can I change my Strat bridge pickup...

Yeah I don't see what the big deal is. I change my strings once every couple three weeks as it is. Three sets in three months is nothing! I've burned through over a dozen sets since the 1st of the year! All just from playing...just wear the suckers out. When they turn into bailing wire or rubber bands I swap 'em.

 

[Surgeon]

Re: Can I change my Strat bridge pickup...

OK guys, thanks for the tips and life lessons (and irony Surgeon, now you must be from Quebec City, aren't you? )

Of course I am!

Where would be the fun in making such a comment if I wasn't?

Well actually, I've lived in Qc-city for the last 6 years but am not from that city so I still do not consider myself a Quebec-guy.... but enough with the details...

Glad the pick-up switch worked nicely for you

 

[Vasshu the humanoid typhoon]

Re: Can I change my Strat bridge pickup...

Use a capo at third fret, unscrew the neck, but this is not for most to do, I do not even bother tuning down, I just take off the neck, I keep preassure on the neck until all four screws are out or had let go of the neck.