Installing a pickup

[tom18222]

is this recommended to do bymy self? if so how sould i go about doing it, is it just soldering that wires?

 

[gvarko]

Med. difficulty

I have done several myself and found it to be mildly difficult. If you are not good with wires / solder let someone else handle the project. The biggest issue is that different manufacturers have different wiring configs. Some have 2 wire leads, some have 4. All should have diagrams available, but that is like reading a foriegn language to me. I have had the best luck with the EMG set's that are mostly pre-wired. I have the PBass set in my PBass and the David Gilmour set in my strat. I have also installed the Zach Wylde set in a LP with ease. But again they were mostly pre-wired.

Are you swapping pu's just to change the color? If so did you check the responses to your other thread, some good ideas regarding covers etc.

 

[tom18222]

this is a different guitar, but go figure im putting a black invader in a LP copy.

 

[tom18222]

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=3702678797&category=41430#ebayphotohosting


it appears to only have one wire. i can solder pretty good, no probs there.

i just dont want to pay to put on a pickup, seems like i can do it myself.

oh also, are tuners hard to put on?

 

[Light]

If you are handy with a soldering iron, then it is not difficult. The pickup you have is a four conductor pickup. You have to tie the red and white wires together, and the green and the shield together. The black is your hot wire, and the green/shield is your ground. Tie the ground to the back of one of your pots, and the hot to the appropriate switch or pot. If you are not sure, check out Seymour Duncan's website for wiring diagrams. If you are not sure of your skill with the soldering iron, take it to a professional. It shouldn't cost more than $30 - $50.


Light

"Cowards can never be moral."
M.K. Gandhi

 

[tom18222]

i know i sound stupid...but whats a pot? im only 16, but ive been working with stuff like that for my whole life

 

[Light]

i know i sound stupid...but whats a pot? im only 16, but ive been working with stuff like that for my whole life

Potentiometer. They are also called variable resistors. They are the Volume and tone controls.


Light

"Cowards can never be moral."
M.K. Gandhi

 

[tom18222]

ohh lol. thank you very much.

thats what i thought they were

 

[pennylink]

I'm only mildly competent with a soldering iron, but haven't had any problems switching out the single coils in my Strat. It really isn't that hard if you have the wiring diagram for your pickups.

Having said that, it's not a bad idea to practice for a while on some scrap pieces of wire to get your skill and courage up, which is what I did

 

[tom18222]

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=3702678797&category=41430#ebayphotohosting


it appears to only have one wire. i can solder pretty good, no probs there.

i just dont want to pay to put on a pickup, seems like i can do it myself.

oh also, are tuners hard to put on?

what are shields also?

 

[Light]

The braided wires which wrap around the other (insulated) wires.


Light

"Cowards can never be moral."
M.K. Gandhi

 

[tom18222]

thanks light..you make me feel so stupid

 

[Light]

thanks light..you make me feel so stupid

I grew up in a guitar shop. By the time I was your age, I had built three guitars. You are just young, not stupid. Which is good, as the first one will cure itself. The other one is more difficult.


Light

"Cowards can never be moral."
M.K. Gandhi