Replacing Gibson "Quick Connect" Pickups

[ElectricGuitarForum]

I solved the mystery of how to install single conductor pickups (Seth Lover, 59, Slash, etc.) in a Gibson Quick Connect system. I have a 2014 Gibson SGM, and NOBODY could tell me how to install single conductor pickups. Gibson Repair and Restoration sent me an email stating (paraphrased): "The Quick-Connect system is not ocmpatible with standard humbuckers."

HOGWASH! Gibson just wants to sell their quick connect pickups! I have attached a photo showing where to connect your leads. I did not want to solder anything to the board, so I "dry wrapped" small pickup wires to each pot lug, and soldered them to the pickup leads. I did the same for the ground, slipping the wire into the ground clip and soldering to the braid. I then covered the braid with shrink tubing to isolate it and prevent shorts. Perfect connections with no solder.

 

[Chad]

Re: Replacing Gibson "Quick Connect" Pickups

Sounds like you got that all sorted out.

If I got a guitar with that setup and went to change ANYTHING electronically, I'd go ahead and budget $20 to $30 for all new parts to totally rewire/solder it the traditional way. Just my opinion.

 

[ElectricGuitarForum]

Re: Replacing Gibson "Quick Connect" Pickups

Replacement with equivalent quality parts would have run $50-$60, so I simply used what I already had. Also, if I do decide to sell later, I can tout "original electronics" (the wisdom of which is debatable!)

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: Replacing Gibson "Quick Connect" Pickups

Welcome to the forum.

I "dry wrapped" small pickup wires to each pot lug, and soldered them to the pickup leads. I did the same for the ground, slipping the wire into the ground clip and soldering to the braid. I then covered the braid with shrink tubing to isokate it and prevent shorts. Perfect connections with no solder.

How long ago did you do that? It would be interesting to discover how well your solution withstands typical live performance abuse.

 

[Mincer]

Re: Replacing Gibson "Quick Connect" Pickups

Clever! There are always people who want to know how to do this who don't want to rip all of the stock parts out. There still seems to be a market for an elegant solution for this, as there are tons of PC-board Gibsons out there, and I'd hate to think that those owners are told by Gibson that replacement pickups are not compatible.

 

[Davii]

Re: Replacing Gibson "Quick Connect" Pickups

Why not just snip the stock pup wires so that you can solder to those, leaving the board untouched?

 

[Chad]

Re: Replacing Gibson "Quick Connect" Pickups

Replacement with equivalent quality parts would have run $50-$60, so I simply used what I already had. Also, if I do decide to sell later, I can tout "original electronics" (the wisdom of which is debatable!)

The switch looks like it could be used with a traditional wiring setup, so no need to buy another one. That leaves qty. 4 pots, 2 caps, an output jack, and some wire. Just checking one vendor, with Alpha or Allparts pots (I'm guessing that's a close equivalent to what's in your guitar), I'm seeing around $20+/- shipped. And can change that to CTS or Bourns pots for another $10+/-. You could still keep the original board in that scenario too.

 

[BloodRose]

Re: Replacing Gibson "Quick Connect" Pickups

AWesome! Yeah, I had that setup in a LP I bought. I found the only pups I could use were the few replacements Gibby sold that had that connection.. At that time, replacement connectors couldnt even be found anywhere. I think someone posted a link awhile back where to get connectors. But dont hold me to that.. I had to gut the whole thing for standard pots and all to use the Duncans of my choice

 

[PFDarkside]

Re: Replacing Gibson "Quick Connect" Pickups

Has anyone identified the terminals and connectors Gibson uses? If love to crimp and add connectors to a few SDs (and others) to quick swap some pickups....

 

[beaubrummels]

Re: Replacing Gibson "Quick Connect" Pickups

FWIW - The alternative is putting quick connects onto your replacement pickups. Something like this:
Molex connectors from Mouser.com
http://www.mouser.com/ProductDetail...ha2pyFadujSOpUYR9dF6HGrAF/P%2bbb1YdtZyKQwuRE=
http://www.mouser.com/ProductDetail...ha2pyFaduh7zI/CLmN5T1gJRE4%2btHTOq54fFlGNClA=

 

[grungeman55]

Re: Replacing Gibson "Quick Connect" Pickups

I solved the mystery of how to install single conductor pickups (Seth Lover, 59, Slash, etc.) in a Gibson Quick Connect system. I have a 2014 Gibson SGM, and NOBODY could tell me how to install single conductor pickups. Gibson Repair and Restoration sent me an email stating (paraphrased): "The Quick-Connect system is not ocmpatible with standard humbuckers."

HOGWASH! Gibson just wants to sell their quick connect pickups! I have attached a photo showing where to connect your leads. I did not want to solder anything to the board, so I "dry wrapped" small pickup wires to each pot lug, and soldered them to the pickup leads. I did the same for the ground, slipping the wire into the ground clip and soldering to the braid. I then covered the braid with shrink tubing to isolate it and prevent shorts. Perfect connections with no solder.

View attachment 72339

Okay so I have a '59 neck with the one connector wire and i tried installing as you said, except I actually soldered the one wire to the neck volume pot.

Now I get no sound from the guitar unless it's the middle position and even then I only hear the bridge.

Any suggestions?

 

[Mincer]

Re: Replacing Gibson "Quick Connect" Pickups

Well there are actually 2 connector wires, the braided shield (ground), and the wire that runs through the middle of it (hot).

 

[Guytar]

Re: Replacing Gibson "Quick Connect" Pickups

I solved the mystery of how to install single conductor pickups (Seth Lover, 59, Slash, etc.) in a Gibson Quick Connect system. I have a 2014 Gibson SGM, and NOBODY could tell me how to install single conductor pickups. Gibson Repair and Restoration sent me an email stating (paraphrased): "The Quick-Connect system is not ocmpatible with standard humbuckers."

HOGWASH! Gibson just wants to sell their quick connect pickups! I have attached a photo showing where to connect your leads. I did not want to solder anything to the board, so I "dry wrapped" small pickup wires to each pot lug, and soldered them to the pickup leads. I did the same for the ground, slipping the wire into the ground clip and soldering to the braid. I then covered the braid with shrink tubing to isolate it and prevent shorts. Perfect connections with no solder.

View attachment 72339

Thanks man! There was no way I could of installed these Antiquity pups into my new Gibson SG Special without your info.

 

[Zombiwoof]

Re: Replacing Gibson "Quick Connect" Pickups

Are those quick-connect wires used in all the newer production guitars or just some of the less-expensive models?. I haven't encountered them yet.
Al

 

[garrott]

Re: Replacing Gibson "Quick Connect" Pickups

why doesn't seymour duncan offer pickups with quick connect plugs installed? seems like a deal killer to me. I was going to put classic 57s in my SG then checked out seymour duncan. then checked and my SG has quick connect which I like so maybe I'll go back to the classic 57s.

 

[Chistopher]

Re: Replacing Gibson "Quick Connect" Pickups

why doesn't seymour duncan offer pickups with quick connect plugs installed? seems like a deal killer to me. I was going to put classic 57s in my SG then checked out seymour duncan. then checked and my SG has quick connect which I like so maybe I'll go back to the classic 57s.

There is a Liberator system which will make all guitar pickups more or less "quick connect". It makes it so you simply screw the pickup leads in instead of soldering them.

 

[Mincer]

Re: Replacing Gibson "Quick Connect" Pickups

The Liberator is a cool idea that is perfect if you switch pickups a lot. It makes switching about as easy as a quick connect system.

 

[AlexR]

Re: Replacing Gibson "Quick Connect" Pickups

why doesn't seymour duncan offer pickups with quick connect plugs installed? seems like a deal killer to me. I was going to put classic 57s in my SG then checked out seymour duncan. then checked and my SG has quick connect which I like so maybe I'll go back to the classic 57s.

Because only Gibson has this system, and only in selected guitars. Why on earth, as an aftermarket pickup maker for all types of guitars, would you want to limit the sale of your product only to someone who owns a very small selection of models???
And the clincher.....often the plug won't fit through the electrics channel. So you'd have to install it after the routing into the control cavity.

.....you understand now??

 

[jonsick]

Re: Replacing Gibson "Quick Connect" Pickups

Out of all the "solderless" style connections, I still find EMG's system the best. And I like that Seymour Duncan actives just fit onto the same connector no problem.

I can't see why passives don't have the same system. I'm sure all it would take is for one company to just do it as standard, especially one that supplies a lot of pickups OEM to the likes of Jackson and Ibanez, and boom you have an instant aftermarket option for one and all.

 

[Chistopher]

Re: Replacing Gibson "Quick Connect" Pickups

I can't see why passives don't have the same system. I'm sure all it would take is for one company to just do it as standard, especially one that supplies a lot of pickups OEM to the likes of Jackson and Ibanez, and boom you have an instant aftermarket option for one and all.

Gibson, GFS, and most actives pickup makers do it as standard. That does not mean that people will prefer it over the current method of doing it.