Starting to mod my new Squier VM '51 with some YJM Fury pickups

[T-Bone-BBQ]

I got the red Squier for Christmas and have decided to try something different on this one. I decided to put a YJM in the neck and get an adapter to put one in the bridge also. I got two adapter rings for the bridge. One with the pickup angled like a strat and the other with the pickup straight. I'm trying the straight one first. If I don't like it I can always switch and use the other one later. For the controls I'll have one 250k volume (with treble bleed) and one 250k no-load tone pot and add in a 3 way mini toggle for pickup switching that will be placed in between the volume and tone pots. It should be interesting when it's finished.

I got started tonight taking some of the stock hardware out and putting the replacement pickups in just for a visual and here's what I've got so far. It'll be interesting to see how the bridge pickup will sound mounted straight and the neck mounted angled when its done.

Any thoughts on the tonal differences?

 

[Rand-O-Monium]

Re: Starting to mod my new Squier VM '51 with some YJM Fury pickups

Been kinda wondering about that myself,lately.
On paper,you'd think mebbe some of the treble would be tamed,but it's not "that" much of a difference.
Looking forward to the results.

Are you the guy that has the Custom Flat YJMs in something?

 

[T-Bone-BBQ]

Re: Starting to mod my new Squier VM '51 with some YJM Fury pickups

Yeah I have some of the flat pole versions in a couple of guitars and love them.

Tonight I got both pickups mounted and the guitar strung up again. Adjusted the action a little and set the intonation. I was pleasantly surprised by how well the strings went over the poles on the bridge pickup. Thursday it'll go to a friend of mine who will put the new volume and tone pots in and the mini toggle in between the volume and tone. It's going to be a tight fit tho...the control cavity isn't big at all.

 

[Rand-O-Monium]

Re: Starting to mod my new Squier VM '51 with some YJM Fury pickups

Sweet!
:headbang:

 

[T-Bone-BBQ]

Re: Starting to mod my new Squier VM '51 with some YJM Fury pickups

It should be interesting because it looks like a guitar with two single coil pickups, but those YJM pickups will handle all the gain you throw at them and stay quiet.

 

[Rand-O-Monium]

Re: Starting to mod my new Squier VM '51 with some YJM Fury pickups

What about a "Hendrix"-Rev angle?


I've got a re-strung LH Strat that works out pretty well!

 

[T-Bone-BBQ]

Re: Starting to mod my new Squier VM '51 with some YJM Fury pickups

I have thought about that. If I don't like the tone with the bridge pickup straight I bought another adapter plate that's angled and I could flip it over and put the pickup in like that. Problem with doing an angled pickup is that for it to fit I have to remove some of the wood like I did with my other VM '51 for the pickup to fit. We'll see how this works out first.

 

[Mincer]

Re: Starting to mod my new Squier VM '51 with some YJM Fury pickups

Awesome idea! I'd think you'd get a little more output on the high strings, which is a good thing. Can't wait to hear your impressions of the pickups!

 

[T-Bone-BBQ]

Re: Starting to mod my new Squier VM '51 with some YJM Fury pickups

It's going out tomorrow evening to get the new electronics wired in, so hopefully I'll have it back in a couple weeks to try it out. It'll be like getting a brand new guitar over again. LOL!!

After putting the strings on last night I was so wishing it was ready to go, but I'll have to wait.

 

[Rand-O-Monium]

Re: Starting to mod my new Squier VM '51 with some YJM Fury pickups

Problem with doing an angled pickup is that for it to fit I have to remove some of the wood for the pickup to fit.

Oops,didn't think about that,just kinda wondering aloud.


Sure it'll be cool however,looking forward to the return,too!

 

[T-Bone-BBQ]

Re: Starting to mod my new Squier VM '51 with some YJM Fury pickups

Updated pic. He's got the pots and min toggle installed and will be doing the wiring in the next day or so. It's a very tight fit due to the small control cavity, so he's taking his time and laying it all out. Looks good so far tho!

 

[Rand-O-Monium]

Re: Starting to mod my new Squier VM '51 with some YJM Fury pickups

Nice!

Any way to put the Vol pot under the p/g,or is it all solid underneath?

Lookin' sharp,tho!

 

[T-Bone-BBQ]

Re: Starting to mod my new Squier VM '51 with some YJM Fury pickups

Nice!

Any way to put the Vol pot under the p/g,or is it all solid underneath?

Lookin' sharp,tho!

It's all solid under the pickguard. Only the hole for the neck pickup.

 

[T-Bone-BBQ]

Re: Starting to mod my new Squier VM '51 with some YJM Fury pickups

If for some reason the YJM bridge pickup doesn't do it for me I've got a few other options I can try out. I've got a Lil Screamin Demon, regular sized Screamin Demon (supposed to work well with 250k pots), and a PRS SE 245 bridge pickup. One of those four (including the YJM installed already) should work.

 

[T-Bone-BBQ]

Re: Starting to mod my new Squier VM '51 with some YJM Fury pickups

Wiring was tight, but he got it to fit. He was able to leave the neck pickup out of the tone circuit like I like it. When it's switched to both pickups the tone control will affect the neck pickup, but that's ok.

 

[T-Bone-BBQ]

Re: Starting to mod my new Squier VM '51 with some YJM Fury pickups

He also tried it out and said it sounds great, so I'm stoked to get it back.

 

[T-Bone-BBQ]

Re: Starting to mod my new Squier VM '51 with some YJM Fury pickups

Here's a couple more pics. One close up pic of the wiring. Lots of stuff crammed in a small space.



Another pic of the finished mods.