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drewkiewiet
Bronze Member
USA
86 Posts |
 Posted - 02/09/2009 : 17:58:05
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I've never replaced pickups before and I'm buying some burstbucker pros to go in my Samick Artist Series Les Paul copy. Is it just a matter of some simple soldering or should I take it to a shop and have them do it? I'm not super knowledgable with electronics, but I know enough to do some wiring...if someone could walk me through it perhaps and fill me in on things to look out for or big "no-nos" I'd appreciate it. Thanks. |
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pawnshop_trash
Gold Member
USA
603 Posts |
Posted - 02/09/2009 : 23:04:32
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I understand where you are coming from -- I paid something like $60 to have new (but cheap!) pickups installed in my old Epiphone SG copy a long time ago, and in retrospect felt ripped off. given the cheapness of the guitar (I paid $200 new) and the pickups (EMG selects, marginally better than the stock p'ups), I should have attempted it myself, as at the time I knew my way around a soldering iron and had re-wired an even cheaper guitar (replacing everything but the pickups) by myself. since then, I've installed all replacement pickups by myself (a total of 13 pickups, IIRC), including slightly more expensive pickups (e.g., $90 Duncans) into slightly more expensive guitars.
so I guess my recommendation would be to practice on a different guitar first. do you have a new home for the soon-to-be homeless stock p'ups in your Samick? I'd try swapping them out first, or practicing on a much cheaper guitar, and then you should feel comfortable with doing it all yourself. you don't want to risk frying a Burstbucker.
of course, if the place you are buying the pickups from will give you a discount on installation, the extra cost might be worth your time (in other words, how much is your time worth? if you are doing it by yourself for the first time, expect to spend ~2 hours from start to finish, whereas a pro could do that in half the time.)
whatever you decide, we wish you good luck and good tone.
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nosi0
Gold Member
Netherlands
511 Posts |
Posted - 02/10/2009 : 01:37:51
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I would strongly suggest you do it yourself. it is very simple especially if your replacing passive with passive pickups as you just solder them on exactly the same place. you can find all about colour codes on the internet and i'm sure i could help you with most standard manufacturers especially Dimarzio's and EMG's.
Note installing Active pickups into a passive configured guitar is very time consuming and complicated but if you just follow the instructions it is very simple.
i would be able to answer any of your questions, if you do decide to attempt the process. |
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zerksies
Double Platinum Member
USA
3406 Posts |
Posted - 02/10/2009 : 01:51:38
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| it's not that hard you gotta start some where if need show some pics and if you can send pdf of the instructions. we all gotta start somewhere |
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zerksies
Double Platinum Member
USA
3406 Posts |
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zerksies
Double Platinum Member
USA
3406 Posts |
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moonmarkcus
Silver Member
Nicaragua
224 Posts |
Posted - 02/10/2009 : 06:12:03
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Here is a great guitarist from Mexico, I m learning a lot from him. On this video explains how to change pickups on a Ibanez. You can do it by yourself.
Check it out ... Here is the technical process.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pcVoMUzA2RA
As you can see,this guy add english subtitles too!!! |
Edited by - moonmarkcus on 02/10/2009 20:25:06 |
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moonmarkcus
Silver Member
Nicaragua
224 Posts |
Posted - 02/10/2009 : 06:16:23
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That guitar is not a Les Paul but the principle is the same..
Here the introduction....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=REYGcNjr02Y&feature=related
On summary, it is not a rocket science, we need schematics for new and old pickups, compares and check posible connections with your hardware, you must need to known what kind of pick up selector you have ( 2, 3, 5 positions), what kind of sound do you want, etc... |
Edited by - moonmarkcus on 02/10/2009 20:26:15 |
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moonmarkcus
Silver Member
Nicaragua
224 Posts |
Posted - 02/10/2009 : 06:19:55
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Plus, Cesar show a little secret inside "expensive" guitars, a RC filter to improve response when turn down the volume pot...it is a oldie trick... is a workmouth secret...   |
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moonmarkcus
Silver Member
Nicaragua
224 Posts |
Posted - 02/10/2009 : 06:27:23
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 Following this videos, on last november I changed my original pickups (V7, S1, V8) for a new Ibanez Evolution.
Remember, dont  a lot before you try to change your pickups!!!
Hangover is dangerous for accuracy soldering and also for IC life (A friend of mine told me, On hangover state, you might fried an IC just with a little touch....  |
Edited by - moonmarkcus on 02/10/2009 20:26:58 |
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RickBlacker
Bronze Member
USA
138 Posts |
Posted - 02/10/2009 : 16:02:42
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quote:
Originally posted by moonmarkcus
Plus, Cesar show a little secret inside "expensive" guitars, a RC filter to improve response when turn down the volume pot...it is a oldie trick... is a workmouth secret...
What do you mean improves response when turned down?
I say do it yourself. I replaced everything in my guitar about a month ago. both pups and both pots. I went from EMGhz to Dimarzio Tone Zone and Air Norton. |
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nosi0
Gold Member
Netherlands
511 Posts |
Posted - 02/10/2009 : 16:43:03
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| I'm not sure what he means but it sounds a bit like a high-pass filter. this allows your highs and mids to still shine through at low levels. Usually when you turn down the volume it cuts out highs first and then bass last. with a high pass fitler it cuts down all the frequencies more equally. |
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moonmarkcus
Silver Member
Nicaragua
224 Posts |
Posted - 02/10/2009 : 20:23:22
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| Exactly what nosi0 said, it is to avoid high freq cuts when you turn down the volume, it is useful if you want a better ( normalize ) response of your tone.Vai and Satriani use to have on their guitars |
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drewkiewiet
Bronze Member
USA
86 Posts |
Posted - 02/11/2009 : 06:51:22
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Hey guys thanks for the advice. I watched all the lollar videos and they were really helpful. I think I can handle it....I'm switching out stock epi/samick humbuckers (I'm assuming they are passive) for burstbucke pros (which I believe are passive as well) so it shouldn't be too tough.
Lollar says not to add a high-pass filter in his videos. He said it really becomes much more un-natural sounding because it tries to even things out but ends up being way too trebly at low volumes. Thanks for the advice though! |
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moonmarkcus
Silver Member
Nicaragua
224 Posts |
Posted - 02/11/2009 : 20:43:12
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OK, It depends on your taste of sound, someone ( like me ) loves to have a normalize bass/treble when I turn down the volume, others hates it !!!!
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Edited by - moonmarkcus on 02/11/2009 22:02:27 |
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Topic |
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installing replacement pickups
