7 Essential Steps on How to Swap Your Guitar Pickups
There comes a day in every guitarist’s life when they decide to take their sound into their own hands by swapping out their guitar pickups. Regardless of whether you’re upgrading for a stronger output or merely hunting for the classic tones signature to your music genre, changing your guitar pickups yourself can be a rewarding project.
1. Gather Your Tools
Before you start, you need to ensure you have the correct tools for the job. These include:
- A new set of pickups.
- A screwdriver that fits the screws on your guitar’s pickguard and pickups.
- A soldering iron.
- Some solder wire.
- A pair of needle-nose pliers.
2. Remove the Strings and Pickguard
To swap your pickups, you need to remove the strings from your guitar. You can cut them off or unwind them from the tuning pegs. Once your strings are off, proceed with removing the old pickguard by unscrewing it and lifting it off from your guitar.
3. Removing Old Pickups
After the strings and pickguard have been removed, your pickups are exposed. Unscrew your pickups from their mountings. Once the pickups are free, you need to remove the wires attaching the pickups to the guitar. You can do this by cutting the wires with a pair of wire cutters or desoldering them with a soldering iron.
4. Install New Pickups
Before you begin installing your new pickups, you should double-check the included materials and compare them with the old ones. The new pickups might include extra components like mounting rings or springs. Once you’ve checked everything, position your new pickups in the guitar and screw them in place.
5. Soldering the Pickups
Now it’s time to begin the wiring process. Depending on your guitar’s specific wiring diagram, connect your new pickups’ wires to the correct locations on the guitar’s volume and tone controls. This usually requires soldering.
6. Reattach the Pickguard and Strings
After you’ve finished soldering your pickups, you can replace your pickguard. Screw it back into place and thoroughly clean off any dust or residues from the previous components. Then, restring your guitar and tune it up.
7. Adjust the Pickup Height
Once your new pickups are installed and wired correctly, you may need to adjust the height. The distance from each string to each pickup should be enough to allow the strings to vibrate fully but close enough for optimal tone.
FAQs
- How long does it take to change guitar pickups?
As a beginner, it could take you two hours or more. With experience, you might be able to swap the pickups in less than an hour.
- When should I swap my guitar pickups?
Most people swap pickups to change their sound or experiment with different tones. However, if your pickups are broken or aged, it might be time for a replacement.
- Do I need to change all my pickups at once?
Not necessarily. You can decide to change just one pickup if you like its sound. A popular configuration includes having a hotter bridge pickup and a smoother pickup at the neck position for a wider tonal variety.
- How do I decide which pickups to get?
That depends on the desired tone and your guitar type. Humbuckers are full-bodied and less susceptible to humming, while single-coils produce a bright and clear tone, and P-90s give a blend of both.
- Will changing pickups improve my guitar tone?
Absolutely! Changing your pickups can dramatically impact your guitar’s sound, giving you a chance to customize it to better suit your playing style and musical preferences.
- Is swapping pickups worth it?
If you’re striving for a certain tone or looking to improve your guitar’s sound quality, then yes, swapping pickups can be well worth the time and effort.
Conclusion
The ability to change your guitar pickups yourself puts the power to shape your sound in your hands. You’re able to experiment with different sounds until you find the one that best suits your unique style. Remember, the journey to attaining the perfect tone involves personal preference and experimentation, and swapping out your pickups is one of the best places to start.
Want to find more tips on how to improve your guitar’s tone? Check out our related article: “The ultimate guide to improving your guitar’s tone“.