Replacing my Wolfgang Pickups...Help

[EightmanVT]

Hey all - based on some advice...and searching for better tone, I'm replacing my stock Wolfgang pups with an SD Jazz in the neck...and an SD JP in the bridge. I just pulled the neck pup...and am not sure what to do. The pole pieces on the SD extend almost a half inch below the pup....while the Wolf stock pups...are flush....?????? What gives????? Bad enough that I have to grind the mounting bracket to get this to fit.

Thanks

 

[krankguitarist]

Re: Replacing my Wolfgang Pickups...Help

Typically the pole pieces wont stick down much farther than the legs of the pickup...I had a problem like that when installing my 7 string P'up, the carvin pickup had a flat base plate while the duncan had the legs and everything. I had to trim a bit off the edges of the baseplate to get it to fit, but eventually everything started working.

The extra height of the pickup didnt cause any problems, but it might be different for you depending on how deep the route for your pickup is.

It really pisses me off when companies make their guitars incompatable with aftermarket parts.

 

[EightmanVT]

Re: Replacing my Wolfgang Pickups...Help

Thanks for the reply. Soooo.... I decide to dremel the extra length off...only about 2mm or so...of each pole piece. Worked fine for the neck pup...got that installed...(not wired yet)...but at least mounted. Of course...Murphy had to strike...and while dremeling the bracket for the bridge pup...it slipped and I cut the wire...too close to fix.... There's $70 down the tubes. You'd think a job like this would be simpler!!!! I'm seriously pissed right now...2hrs of work...and all I have to show for it...is a disassembled guitar that I can't play....and a ruined pup!!!

Vent off!!

 

[EightmanVT]

Re: Replacing my Wolfgang Pickups...Help

Well - an update - I went an bought a new pup...and finally got everything ground down and installed. One comment-why not use non-magnetic materials for the mounting screws??? Just a thought...would make that a little easier - ...

To be honest...I'm not sure that I notice a lot of difference...I really thought the jazz pup would be a huge improvement at the neck...

 

[EightmanVT]

Re: Replacing my Wolfgang Pickups...Help

Is there a primer...or a rule of thumb for adjusting the pole pieces?? What's the purpose of the adjustability????

 

[walt]

Re: Replacing my Wolfgang Pickups...Help

I had a 59 and a jb in a wolf and didn't like it that much (too much of the ice pick in the fore head tone if you know what I mean). I then went to an Air Norton neck and a Air Zone bridge and it is MUCH better IMO. I put the 59/JB combo in an American Standard Strat and it was ok but after awhile the JB got to me and it had to go. I replaced it with another 59 and it's heaven.

Anyway, "MY" rule of thumb for adjusting pole pieces is to use your ears. If it sounds good after you adjust them, leave it as so. If it sounds good before you adjust them leave them alone. Always turn the screws on the pole pieces no more than 1/4 of a turn so you can return them back to stock if things start to sound the same or confusing to you. Try to turn the screws so that the slot of the screw does not line up vertical to the string but horizonal or close to hoizonal as possible while maintaining a level height for the screws. Got all of that?? :smack: Now that I have given you every possible way to adjust your pole pieces, have at it and have fun. :wizard: