Remove tele neck pickup cover

[BluesSlinger]

Hi!

I have searched this forum for ways to remove the cover on a tele neck pickup, but it seems the threads always end up with discussing why and not how. But here's my reason:

I just bought a set of Vintage Stack for a tele project I'm working on, but I want to change the chrome cover on the neck pickup to a gold one. Any tips on how to remove the cover, without damaging the pickup? And do Seymore Duncan sell replacement covers? I haven't found it on their web site.

Thanks!

 

[Myaccount876]

Re: Remove tele neck pickup cover

I've done it plenty of times, usually to swap the magnets around to have a RWRP pickup.As you've probably read, there is a much higher chance of breaking one of true coil wires with telex covers, but it can be done safely (so far I've never broken coil wires). Just make sure you're alright with losing the pickup, and getting a spare isn't a problem.

You start by bending the cover's tabs at the underside of the pickup;releasing.g the cover's grip on the pickup.

Next get a hair dryer and melt the wax inside the pickup, which is keeping the cover in place.

Once you've melting/softened the wax, ever so gently and slowly inch the cover off. This is the time to be extremely careful. After a few millimeters of movement, the wax will probably solidify. Remelt the wax ans continue to slowly work the cover off. Repeat as much as necessary. It is important to be mindful of the tabs at the bottom of the cover, which will slightly scrape against the coils. Going very slow and being very gentle helps here.

Putting the cover back on is much simpler and straight forward. Once the cover is on, just remelt the wax again, and then you won't have to wax pot the pickup.

Good luck.

 

[Myaccount876]

Re: Remove tele neck pickup cover

Almost forgot to mention, the cover is soldered to the negative pickup lead at the bottom of the pickup. This can be identified by a small bare wire connecting the fender solder eyelet to the black wife's solder eyelet. Desolder the cover, and it is best to remove the excess solder from the cover with a solder pump or solder wick.

Once you put the cover back on, you can either reconnect the cover to the pickup's black wire, or just run an independent ground wire from the cover itself. To do this, just solder the wire to the tab that you had to desolder earlier. Personally, I prefer the independent ground wire because you can then run the neck pickup wires for a phase and/or series/parallel wiring without the Dover's ground entering the signal.

 

[BluesSlinger]

Re: Remove tele neck pickup cover

Wow! Excellent explanation! Thank you very much for writing this so thoroughly!

 

[Myaccount876]

Re: Remove tele neck pickup cover

Glad I could help.

The nay-sayers are a bit of a drag, so I can understand the frustration with responses being "why and not how". You just have to remember, it is a Fender design, it was designed to be taken apart haha.

 

[BluesSlinger]

Re: Remove tele neck pickup cover

You just have to remember, it is a Fender design, it was designed to be taken apart haha.

Exactly! :-D

Thanks again!

 

[Myaccount876]

Re: Remove tele neck pickup cover

I assume it worked out?

 

[DrDougal]

Re: Remove tele neck pickup cover

I assume it worked out?

It did for me, thanks

Removing the solder is the hardest bit, given the dissipation opportunity I had to use a much hotter iron than I would otherwise with short applications and some solder wick. With a hair drier you just need to be patient.

Now the neck pickup is looking quite lovely with the rest of the gold hardware on this build.

Many thanks!

 

[pkailas]

Thanks for asking this. I'm going to be doing the same thing, but for a black cover.