Standard pickup to multi scale conversion question

[abunai.j]

Morning, all.

I bought a multi-scale guitar recently that's got an extreme angle (24 degrees) as it goes from 25.5" to 28", and it's become a nightmare to find a pickup for as most manufacturers won't match the extreme angle, or even produce many pickups in a staggered/multi-scale layout. Everything's 20/20 in hindsight, and though I wish I'd have known this before-hand, there's nothing to be done about it now as the guitar's past the 30 day return policy. That aside, I really enjoy it, and there's nothing else wrong with the instrument, so I'd prefer to keep it.

Which brings me to the main issue - the stock pickups are pretty awful, and I hate that I'm married to them. On doing some research, converting a normal 8 string pickup to fit the angled plate seems pretty straight forward, but I can't get a consistent answer on whether or not this invalidates the wax potting/the pickup needs re-potting afterwards.

I'm pretty clear on the process of removing the baseplate and angling/attaching the pickup to the existing plate, but I don't want to mess with it if I'm potentially ruining a new pickup in the process.

Thanks in advance for any help and insight

 

[Mincer]

Welcome to the forum!

Changing the baseplate would get rid of a lot of wax at the base of the coils, so it would be a good idea to wax-pot after the switch. Another option is having the stock pickup re-wound. I know Seymour Duncan (the company) did this before the pandemic, but stopped when everything shut down. You might want to contact them and see if they offer that. Another option, though more expensive, is contacting the Custom Shop, and seeing if they can fabricate exactly the tone you want. They could even use your existing baseplate to do it.

 

[Aceman]

Re-potting the pickup is not a big deal.

 

[ICTGoober]

Or get some bar pickups with no polepieces....

 

[jeremy]

youll be fine without repotting the pup. the coil itself will still be potted and thats most important.

 

[abunai.j]

Wow, quick responses. Thank you all for the advice and suggestions. It's good to know that if I do need to pot it again, it's not some complicated task. I'll start by contacting SD, and go from there.

ICTGoober I wish it were that easy... Unfortunately, the pickups that came in the guitar have a strange offset screw plate on either side, so it's not as simple as dropping a blade or active in there - I'd have to route the cavity...

Thanks again - the help has been valuable!

 

[Mincer]

Let us know what SD HQ tells you, and remember to let us know how this project is progressing!

 

[hamerfan]

Ask David Plummer from Zhangbucker Pickups he can do every pickup you want soundwise and fitting to your plate.

 

[abunai.j]

Let us know what SD HQ tells you, and remember to let us know how this project is progressing!

Will do, and to be honest, I'm starting to get kinda stoked to try and modify the pickup on my own. Might just have to take a crack at it any road just to learn to do it. But I'll report back when I hear from the squad at SD as well.