Fender wide range humbucker refurbishment?

[Supernautilus]

I have a Fender reissue wide range humbucker. As you can imagine, it sucks. I’ve read about services that do refurbishment for cheaper than a whole new pickup. Basically they open it up and replace all the insides with legit WRHB parts to make it sound better. Anyone have any experience with this? Can you recommend a good place to get this service from? Thanks very much.

 

[Mincer]

I know Seymour Duncan offered rewinding services before the pandemic, so I would start with contacting them directly, either through phone (easiest) or email. I know the Custom Shop offers a replacement pickup, too.

 

[hamerfan]

I have seen that on the site of Creamery Pickup UK
https://www.creamery-pickups.co.uk/...line-humbucker-replacements.html#.Y8-ym7e1IVE

 

[GuitarDoc]

I think the true Wide Range pups sound terrific. A bit pricey though, either from the Creamery or from SD Custom shop.

 

[Artie]

I think the true Wide Range pups sound terrific. A bit pricey though, either from the Creamery or from SD Custom shop.

I've been wanting to try those, but $400 for a pair is bit out of my comfort zone.

 

[chadd]

I have a Fender reissue wide range humbucker. As you can imagine, it sucks. I’ve read about services that do refurbishment for cheaper than a whole new pickup. Basically they open it up and replace all the insides with legit WRHB parts to make it sound better. Anyone have any experience with this? Can you recommend a good place to get this service from? Thanks very much.

Is it one of the legit WRHB pickups or just the bigger bass plate and cover that they used for a bunch of years? I have one of the faux WRHBs in a tele that I've been thinking about replacing

 

[Supernautilus]

Is it one of the legit WRHB pickups or just the bigger bass plate and cover that they used for a bunch of years? I have one of the faux WRHBs in a tele that I've been thinking about replacing

Yeah, it’s one of the fake ones. I’ve had it for years, wondering what to do with it. I think a rebuild/rewind is the way to go. Much cheaper than buying a new one. Still deciding how I want to approach that.

 

[Wound_Up]

I have seen that on the site of Creamery Pickup UK https://www.creamery-pickups.co.uk/c...l#.Y8-ym7e1IVE

I'd rather just pay another $40 and buy one of the ​​​​​​ Cunife wrhb that Fender released recently.

 

[skelt101]

Dylan Talks Tone offers this service on a limited basis. It might be worth getting in-touch:

 

[Supernautilus]

Dylan Talks Tone offers this service on a limited basis. It might be worth getting in-touch:

Yeah I don’t think he is doing those now. In the video he says he only does it a couple times a year for a short window.

I found a company called Brandonwound that does WRHB rewinds. He charges 80 bucks for it which is the cheapest I’ve seen so far. I might contact them and get more details. Here a link…

https://brandonwoundpickups.com/product/wide-range-pickup-modification/

 

[GuitarDoc]

Looks like Dylan is going to do the wide range mod again in Feb. or March. He didn't say how much it costs...anyone know?

 

[Supernautilus]

The funny thing about this pickup is that I remember it as having a fairly decent sound back when I first got the guitar. I was thinking about this today and it's a real head scratcher. I got this guitar around 2006 I think and I used to use the neck pickup for solos when I played live. The WRHB actually had a nice fat tone for solos. I never had an issue with it then. But over time it just got...weak. The last time I had it in this guitar it just sounded so wimpy and weak. I can't explain this. I don't know what kind of humbuckers they used to put in these covers or the kind of magnets they used. Could it have gone bad somehow? I wonder if I crack it open and put a new magnet in there if it will make a difference. Hmm...

 

[ICTGoober]

Lindy Fralin offers a wide range Fender humbucker for less than $200. I bet he'd rewind it however you like.

 

[GuitarStv]

The funny thing about this pickup is that I remember it as having a fairly decent sound back when I first got the guitar. I was thinking about this today and it's a real head scratcher. I got this guitar around 2006 I think and I used to use the neck pickup for solos when I played live. The WRHB actually had a nice fat tone for solos. I never had an issue with it then. But over time it just got...weak. The last time I had it in this guitar it just sounded so wimpy and weak. I can't explain this. I don't know what kind of humbuckers they used to put in these covers or the kind of magnets they used. Could it have gone bad somehow? I wonder if I crack it open and put a new magnet in there if it will make a difference. Hmm...

Did you stick a powerful magnet near it? Short of that, humbuckers tend to stay the same way for a pretty long time.

 

[Supernautilus]

Did you stick a powerful magnet near it? Short of that, humbuckers tend to stay the same way for a pretty long time.

I mean that’s what I always thought. It was in a box for long. Probably next to other old pickups. I don’t know if that could be it. In any case, it’s definitely different than when I first got it. It’s a mystery for sure.

 

[GuitarDoc]

The pickup is probably not different at all. Pickups don't get weaker as they grow old (like I do), and chances are you didn't have it stored next to a magnet strong enough to affect the pup's magnet. Your current amp/settings/guitar/signal chain is what is different.

 

[formula73]

The pickup is probably not different at all. Pickups don't get weaker as they grow old (like I do), and chances are you didn't have it stored next to a magnet strong enough to affect the pup's magnet. Your current amp/settings/guitar/signal chain is what is different.

And your ears