Changing your own pickups

MrBlik

MrBlik

New member
Ok, I finally got a replacement set of pickups - JB / Jazz set to replace the Duncan Designed that are in the guitar now. Here's my question, should I even attempt to change them myself, or should I just bite the bullet and bring it all in to a guitar tech? It's not so much the $50 -$75 he'll charge for the job (though that would be nice to save), it's having to bring it in, drop it off, go through a week with my backup guitar only, and then go pick it up.

I've never done any kind of work like this. My neighbor has swapped pickups three times, but he's no expert. He has all the tools needed, and offered to do it with me, so one evening this week he can just come over, and we can get it done. No dropoff, no waiting.

So, the question is, should I have my neighbor come help me, or would that be a mistake? This isn't a beater guitar. It's fairly new and I care about what happens to it.

I know a lot of you do pickup swaps routinely, and your first implse may be to say, "oh, it's easy, go for it." But think back to your first couple of times, and then let me know what you think. Is it worth the risk, or is it really that easy that with someone who has done it a couple of times, it shouldn't be any problem?
 
Re: Changing your own pickups

I had never done pickups before or done any soldering and I managed to get it done. If you are fairly competent with tools I think you can do it. There is a demonstration video on the main Seymour Duncan site. You can watch those first to get an idea how it's done. Mr. Duncan will walk you though changing the pickups. Watch one of those then decide if you want to do it.

Good luck.

Changing Pickups Video
 
Re: Changing your own pickups

It's actually pretty easy. I'd let my neighbor come over and show me how if I were you, or go to Radioshack and buy a soldering iron and give it a go yourself.

Luke
 
Re: Changing your own pickups

Do it, it's very straightforward. Take your time, think it through, its far more rewarding having done it yourself. There's not a lot that can go wrong and there's not a lot that isn't reversible if you make a mistake.
 
Re: Changing your own pickups

I'm an absolutel disaster with a soldering iron and I do all my own pickup work. My dad helped the first bunch of times i swapped pickups but I must have switched my pickups on my own about 8 times last year. Like Al above me said, take your time, think it through. The diagrams in the box are very easy to understand. Get your orientation right and have at it.
 
Re: Changing your own pickups

I'd say go for it. The first time I changed pickups my Dad showed me how to use a soldering Iron and then I just followed the shematics on the SD website and didn't have any problems.
 
Re: Changing your own pickups

The whole process is not difficult at all. Good advice about watching Mr. Duncan's video, he really takes the time to explain everything well. Make sure the soldering is done properly, that is to heat the metal parts and let the solder melt on them, not the soldering iron itself, and just let enough solder flow so you get a nice connection, not too much solder. And it should turn out nice and shiny silver, not a glop of gray, which might indicate what is known as a cold connection. It's actually kinda fun, and if you're like most of us, it won't be your last time...:laugh2:
 
Re: Changing your own pickups

You can do it! Watch the video, read the old threads here for tips, and practice on some scrap first. And cover any part of the guitar you don't want to risk having solder splatter on.
 
Re: Changing your own pickups

Easiest thing in the world, my first aftermarket pickup I bought was my JB and had it installed, but then opened up my guitar and saw how easy it was put the jazz in there. The only hard part is tryin not to burn your self.
 
Re: Changing your own pickups

Ok, so I decided to do it myself. The stock pickup rings that came with the guitar for the duncan designed pups are a cream color and rather thick. The new JB wont fit into the ring. So I'm using the little black ring that came with the pup, but it's screwed up the aesthetic of the guitar. Now what?

Schecter C-1 Elite is the guitar.
 
Re: Changing your own pickups

MrBlik said:
Ok, so I decided to do it myself. The stock pickup rings that came with the guitar for the duncan designed pups are a cream color and rather thick. The new JB wont fit into the ring. So I'm using the little black ring that came with the pup, but it's screwed up the aesthetic of the guitar. Now what?

Schecter C-1 Elite is the guitar.
Click to expand...

You can pick up a new set of rings rather cheap. Since your guitar is an archtop w/ a tune o matic setup you'll want the tall/short combo w/ curved bottoms. Sometimes referred to as staggered. Here's a set on the cheap.

http://store.guitarfetish.com/pablcubosthe.html
 
Re: Changing your own pickups

Jeez, i just gave away a set of these with some epi dot pups I just sold on ebay. You should have called me first!
 
Re: Changing your own pickups

Well, I think I figured out what happened. The string spacing when you measure it indicates Tremspacing. The HB102 specs state that they are trem spaced. So I got a trem spaced JB. I just took the rings to GC, and they popped a standard sized covered pup in the ring and it fit perfectly. So even though everything I looked at indicated trem spacing, the stock pup, and the stock ring, are standard spacing.

GRR GRR GRR. Why can't anything be easy.
 
Re: Changing your own pickups

Hang in there, most of this is patience in my book-On the pup end of the guitar there is practically no perminant damage possible if you stay outside of the pup cover-

When you graduate from this, go on and learn the control cavity- Slightly more opportunity to melt a capaciter or kill a pot, but that's $3 bucks and a great way to learn, so no worries-
 
Re: Changing your own pickups

Ok, both pickups are in. I had to re-install the Duncan Designed in the bridge until the standard spacing replacement arrives. Which means I get to do this all over again in a couple weeks!!! Yay me!!!

So, I go to plug it in to see if it is working...my amp won't work. Dead. No power. It was working fine last night. I plug in today and nothing.

:yell:
 
Re: Changing your own pickups

MrBlik said:
Ok, both pickups are in. I had to re-install the Duncan Designed in the bridge until the standard spacing replacement arrives. Which means I get to do this all over again in a couple weeks!!! Yay me!!!

So, I go to plug it in to see if it is working...my amp won't work. Dead. No power. It was working fine last night. I plug in today and nothing.

:yell:
Click to expand...

Awesome. My first pup change took me like 3 hours... and found out my stock SC (H-S-H) was outta phase!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

Z
Wax potting at home
2
Replies
33
Views
1K
ehdwuld
ehdwuld
S
Your favorite modded pickup?
2
Replies
28
Views
186
nienturi
nienturi
Z
Multi-wind pickups
Replies
9
Views
461
zionstrat
Z
P
2 single coil pickups for neck position of homemade baritone guitar
Replies
0
Views
41
pjd3
P
B
DPerley gates plus Real?
Replies
6
Views
148
Mincer
Mincer
Back
Top