New (to me) way to change pickups in a ES-335

[Lewguitar]

Billy at RS Guitarworks suggested purchasing some plastic aquarium tubing or hose. After removing the knobs from the guitar, slip the aquarium hose over the shaft of each pot and then remove the nuts and washer. After you're done working on the control assembly you can use the hose to then pull everything back through the holes and back into place.

As for the output jack, they suggested using a dowel wedged into the output jack opening and connectting that to the hose.

Seems like a pretty clean way to do it.

 

[Grandturk]

Re: New (to me) way to change pickups in a ES-335

Yep. String or wire will also work.

 

[jeremy]

Re: New (to me) way to change pickups in a ES-335

i use string usually but the concept is the same, makes things way easier to get back into place

 

[blueman335]

Re: New (to me) way to change pickups in a ES-335

I do the same thing, but with stiff, flat plastic-coated wire, that comes on garden hoses (string doesn't cooperate like wire does). I put the wire thru the hole in the body, and into the split on the pot shaft and gently pinch it. I pull it thru & then use a forcept to hold it in place while I put the nut & washer on the shaft. I have a set of T nut drivers that let me tighten them without scratching the finish (pliers are risky). I also do this for jacks on F hole guitars too. Makes it a breeze.

I usually only have to do this for the neck tone pot; the others I can reach with a curved 6" forecept thru the F hole. I've rewired several dozen F hole guitars over the years, so it gets to be pretty routine after a while. I can usually do all four in 5 minutes or less. Interesting that the four pot holes are positioned differently in so many guitars.

 

[theodie]

Re: New (to me) way to change pickups in a ES-335

Billy at RS Guitarworks suggested purchasing some plastic aquarium tubing or hose. After removing the knobs from the guitar, slip the aquarium hose over the shaft of each pot and then remove the nuts and washer. After you're done working on the control assembly you can use the hose to then pull everything back through the holes and back into place.

An old Erlewine trick actually.

I have used this method, Fishing line, and also Dental floss. All work well.

 

[Got_tone?]

Re: New (to me) way to change pickups in a ES-335

Nice Thanks for the tip.