Molly Ayala
Changing the pickups on your electric guitar can be a powerful upgrade, improving its tone and breathing new life into the instrument. While it may seem daunting, it's actually a simple process that can be done in as little as 20 minutes. The Stratocaster, for example, initially had a three-position switch, allowing guitarists to turn on the bridge, middle, or neck pickups individually. However, guitarists discovered that by lodging the switch in the in-between spots, they could create distinctive sounds by combining two pickups. This versatility has been embraced by many renowned guitarists, showcasing the impact of pickup selection on an electric guitar's overall sound.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Difficulty | Easy, requires some soldering and wiring know-how |
| Time | 20 minutes |
| Steps | Transfer everything to the new guard, label wires, tie wires together, solder remaining wires to old coil |
| Sound | Rich and distinctive |
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What You'll Learn
It's easy to switch pickups
First, transfer everything over to the new guard, taking note of the wires that lead to the output jack and labelling them. Then, tie the wires together to get a series connection with both coils, and solder the two remaining wires to the same points as the old single coil. You can find instructions on how to do this in the manual that comes with your pickup.
If you want to be able to coil split, that's a little more complicated. You'll need to add a switch for splitting the coils or replace a pot, likely the volume pot.
There are a variety of wiring diagrams available online for free, and most pickup swaps are simple, drop-in replacements. So, don't be overwhelmed by the idea of changing your guitar pickups. It's a quick and easy process that can breathe new life into your guitar and improve its tone.
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You will need soldering and wiring know-how
Upgrading your electric guitar's pickups requires some soldering and wiring know-how, but it's a straightforward process. Before you begin, gather the necessary tools, including a soldering iron, solder, and flux. You can find free wiring diagrams online, which will guide you through the process.
The first step is to remove the old pickup. Leave the wires attached to the old pickup long enough so that you can reinstall them or use them in another guitar later. Use solder wick to clean up any excess solder on the jack or the sides of the pots. Remove the pots and jacks one at a time to ensure they go back in the correct spots.
When installing the new pickup, start by soldering the ground wires (usually bare or braided) first. Refer to your wiring diagram to check the correct order of soldering each connection. Pay attention to the direction of any knobs or switches you need to move out of the body to access the wires.
After soldering all the connections, double-check each connection on your wiring diagram. Trim any excess wire, ensuring everything is secure and neat inside the guitar body.
With the right tools, knowledge, and preparation, you can successfully upgrade your electric guitar's pickups, improving the sound and performance of your instrument.
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The switch can produce a rich and distinctive sound
Electric guitar switches are usually three-position switches. The switch closest to the neck of the guitar, often called the "neck pickup", produces a warm, smooth tone with more bass content. This setting is sometimes marked as "Rhythm". The switch closest to the bridge, often called the "bridge pickup", produces a sharper sound with more treble content and is often used for lead guitar. This setting is sometimes marked as "Treble".
Some guitars have a middle switch position that allows both pickups to be used simultaneously. The five-way blade guitar switch is another common variety, which can be wired in a variety of ways. The most common configuration has the bridge pickup turned on by itself when the switch is flipped down, a combination of the bridge and middle pickups in the second position, the middle pickup alone in the third, both the middle and neck pickups in the fourth, and the neck pickup alone when the switch is flipped up.
Rotary guitar switches, which look like ordinary knobs, can also be used for pickup selection. They rotate like a volume knob but click between different switch positions. Push-button switches, which are less common, require multiple movements to turn one pickup off and another on, but they provide more pickup combinations.
The Volume and/or Tone rotary controls on some electric guitars have "push/pull" or "push/push" switches built into them that activate various features, such as pickup coil tapping (which turns a two-coil humbucking pickup into a single-coil pickup by disabling one of the humbucker's two pickup coils). Modifying the wiring of your guitar can allow you to further customize your sound.
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You can activate only one pickup at a time
The Stratocaster electric guitar features a pickup selector switch that allows you to control which pickups are active. For the first 23 years of the Stratocaster's existence, the pickup selector was a three-position switch, allowing you to activate only one pickup at a time. You could turn on either the bridge, middle, or neck pickup. However, guitarists discovered that by positioning the switch in one of the two "in-between" spots, they could activate combinations of two pickups, resulting in unique "'snarling nasal tones".
These "in-between" switch settings were not officially acknowledged by Fender until 1968, 14 years after the instrument's introduction. Finally, in 1977, Fender replaced the three-way pickup selector switch with a five-way switch, allowing for even more versatility in tone selection.
It's important to note that the placement of the pickup switch is carefully designed to be within easy reach while playing, but also out of the way to prevent accidental knocking. This allows guitarists to seamlessly switch between pickups to achieve their desired sound.
While the Stratocaster is known for its three-pickup configuration, other electric guitars may have different pickup arrangements and switching systems, offering various combinations of tones and sounds. Ultimately, the ability to activate only one pickup at a time or combine multiple pickups gives guitarists a wide range of tonal options to explore and create with.
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You can use the switch to mix the sound of two pickups
Electric guitars are known for their versatility and powerful sound, and one important aspect of this is the wiring, which determines how the pickups and other components are connected. Most electric guitars have two or more pickups, which convert string vibrations into electrical signals. The wiring diagram for a two-pickup electric guitar is a visual representation of the electrical connections and components inside the guitar, showing how the pickups, volume and tone controls, switches, and output jacks are connected to create the desired sound.
Additionally, players can experiment with different pickup configurations to achieve various tonal characteristics. Single-coil pickups are known for producing a bright and clear sound, while humbuckers provide a thicker and more powerful tone. By mixing and matching pickups, such as the Seymour Duncan Pearly Gates and Fender Fat 50s, players can further customise their instrument's sound and functionality.
It is important to note that some modifications, such as coil splitting and coil tapping, may require additional wiring changes or the replacement of certain electronic components. It is recommended to refer to instructions provided by pickup manufacturers, such as Seymour Duncan, or to seek guidance from online forums, YouTube tutorials, and experienced guitarists to ensure successful modifications.
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Frequently asked questions
If your guitar has more than one pickup, it will have a pickup selector switch and individual volume control knobs. You can use these to blend various combinations of the pickups onboard.
Electric guitar pickups are the "heart of a guitar", bringing life to the resonance of the music played on the instrument. They are magnets that sense ("pick up") the vibrational movement of the strings and convert it into electrical energy that can be sent to an amplifier and speakers. The type of magnets used, their proximity to the strings, and their position along the string length, as well as the amount and direction of copper windings, all contribute to the resulting tonality. Changing pickups can help you achieve the tonality you want.
Changing your guitar pickups requires a bit of soldering and wiring know-how, but it's much more straightforward than it seems at first glance. You can find a wide variety of wiring diagrams online for free. Most pickup swaps are simple drop-in replacements, and soldering is a quick process. You can also find in-depth courses that will walk you through every step of the process.
Before you start, it's important to plan out the order in which you'll solder each connection. Leave the pickup wires long so that you can reinstall them or upgrade a different guitar later. After installing the pots, switches, and jack, move on to your first pickup, leaving the wires a little long at first to use up slack and keep things neat. Double-check each connection on your wiring diagram.
