How to Install Guitar Pick Ups
Replacing the stock pickups in your electric guitar is one of the simplest and most effective ways to modify and improve your sound. Aftermarket pickups come in many styles and colors and are manufactured to produce a variety of tones and output levels. After you've chosen the pickup that fits your playing style, install it yourself with some basic tools to save time and money over using an expensive guitar technician.
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Things You'll Need
- Precision screwdrivers
- Soldering iron
- Wire stripper/cutter
- Electrical tape
Instructions
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1
Remove your stock pickup. Pickups are secured to the body of the guitar using two or more small screws. Remove these using a precision screwdriver. Remove the screws in the electronics cover on the back of the guitar and use a soldering iron to disconnect the wires to your pickup. Pull the pickup and wiring out from the top of the guitar.
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2
Strip 1/4 inch of shielding from the wires of your new pickup using a wire stripper tool. Thread the group of wires through the pickup cavity on the top of the guitar into the electronics cavity. Secure the new pickup in place using the included screws or the screws you removed from the old pick up if you wish.
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3
Refer to the instructions included with your new pickup for the correct wiring procedure. Many aftermarket pickups are wired for multiple applications, and each manufacturer uses its own color coding. If you do not have the instructions for your new pickup, call the manufacturer or visit the support section of the company's website. Most manufacturers make their wiring diagrams available as free downloads.
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4
Solder the pickup wiring to the appropriate contacts of your volume and tone pots. For ground connections, solder to the metal housing of one of the pots.
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5
Wrap any unused wiring with electrical tape to prevent any short-circuiting. Replace the electronics cover with the factory screws.
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References
- Photo Credit guitar image by Bosko Martinovic from Fotolia.com
