How to Install an Electric Guitar Pickup
If your pickup is not performing like it used to, or you want to modify your guitar to get a richer sound, you need to install a new electric guitar pickup. Pickups are an essential part of your guitar's performance and replacing or adding one can change the sound significantly, especially if it's done incorrectly. Here's how to install an electric guitar pickup and get the sound you're looking for.
Other People Are Reading
Instructions
-
-
1
Assess which pickup is giving you trouble, unless you are looking to modify your pickup configuration. On a strat, it's easy to tell which one needs replaced by the toggle switch on the board. With others you may have to guess which one is the culprit.
-
2
Acquire a wiring diagram for your electric guitar and take the time to learn how to read it. Pickups are fairly simple to wire, but if they are wired incorrectly, you may fry your whole system. If you have any doubts about your ability to wire the new pickup in place, take your guitar to the shop and let them do it.
-
-
3
Select your new pickup. Expect to pay about 60 or 70 dollars for a single pickup, or about 110 dollars for a double pickup. Make sure you check compatibility, especially if you are doing modifications to your guitar's wiring. Get a shops opinion on the brand and style selection for your electric guitar.
-
4
Unplug and remove any battery power source before proceeding.
-
5
Remove the old pickup and modify the body of the guitar, if necessary to accept the new pickup. Unscrew the pickup from the pick guard and gently pull it from the body. Read your wiring diagram and remove the wires from the pickup, being careful not to damage them. Gently open up the body to accept the new pickup, if needed.
-
6
Rewire the new pickup and screw into place. If you have modified the body, you may need to fill and re-drill the holes to screw the guitar pickup in place.
-
7
Plug it in and give it a try. If you're experiencing any buzzing or other undesirable effects, ask a professional to look at it.
-
1
More Like This
Comments
View all 7 Comments-
wahy to know the powerout put on each pick up on telecaster guitar.
-
mwhitcomb83
Apr 07, 2010
Also, can I put a single coil pickup into a slot meant for a double? -
MrFixItQuik7
Dec 13, 2008
If you need ANY other help Country27870 I'd be glad to assist you ! Simply leave me a note, I check back every day/night so it shouldn't take long for me to get back to you at anytime for whatever yu may need, I also know of some very very good affordable parts suppliers for any parts you may need !, Always glad to help ! DJ
-
MrFixItQuik7
Dec 13, 2008
re than say $10) on a cheapo beginer guitar that did'nt cost much to begin with, Also, you CAN, however, just buy a replacement pickguard that is already made to fit double coil pup's (YES they DO sell those), most plain ones ARE very very cheap, ones with graphics which look great like ones from Greasy Grooves .com do cost more, look on E-Bay under musical instruments, you can probably get a very good replacement pickguard & a new pickup or two for under $30 !
-
MrFixItQuik7
Dec 13, 2008
You would need to rout out the guitars body to fit the double coil p'up unless the body is already able/routed to fit a double, doing THAT routing by hand takes some degree of skill and a good router with the proper bit,,,as far as the hole in the pickguard for a single coil goes you can just mark out where you want to cut the pickguard with masking tape and use a good steak knife and cut till it fits snuggly, be very careful and DONT make the hold too long or too wide, that HAS worked for me many times over the years, otherwise take it to a good local music store/shop- (NOT one of them nationwide chain stores) that does repairs & installations and have them do it for you professionally, it usually doesn't cost too much and if it gets messed up it's on THEM to correct it and any extra $ needed for the screw up wont come out of your pocket, but Honestly I wouldn't waste a lot of money (mo
