Modifying a pickguard to fit a mini-humbucker???

[sean79]

If I swap the stock neck pickup in one of my Teles for a mini-humbucker, how hard would it be to modify the pickguard to fit?

Would I put the front edge of the mini where the front edge of the single was, or would I center it? If I match the front edges, I'll end up with two empty mounting holes (after drilling the new ones for the mini). If I center it up and use the existing holes, I'm afraid the mini-humbucker might be too close to the neck.

What would be the "proper" way to modify the pickguard for this swap?

[robt57]

I personally extend the route towards the bridge only, not ever went toward the nut.
If you are going to mod an existing Tele single coil guard, you do need a guard with no screw adjustment holes for the neck PUP if you do not want extra holes when done. If you route the guard for a P-90 opening and use the LP Deluxe style plastic pickup ring ala Brent Mason Tele, that will cut the part out of you single coil guard with the extra holes.

Or use a mini with a chrome trim ring which I think will cover up the old adjustment holes in the Tele guard like a Guitarfetish.com GFS mini HB





Brent Mason Tele with p-90 trim as mentioned pic:

[sean79]

Thanks for the reply. Hadn't really thought about using a ring with a mini. I'm pretty sure the GFS mini-humbuckers come with a ring too.

If someone were to center it up using the old holes, would that mess up the sound - or would it just make the pickguard too skinny up front? I haven't even looked to see if the routing under the pickguard extends any toward the neck.

[grasspicker]

I'd spring for a new pickguard. THEN, if or when you decide you want to go back to stock you have your original pg. Not a lot of money spent here.
(One more reason to buy new gear!)

[sean79]

Originally Posted by grasspicker

I'd spring for a new pickguard. THEN, if or when you decide you want to go back to stock you have your original pg. Not a lot of money spent here.
(One more reason to buy new gear!)

I already have an extra stock W/B/W pickguard sitting around... besides, I'm cheap.

[robt57]

Originally Posted by sean79

Thanks for the reply. Hadn't really thought about using a ring with a mini. I'm pretty sure the GFS mini-humbuckers come with a ring too.

If someone were to center it up using the old holes, would that mess up the sound - or would it just make the pickguard too skinny up front? I haven't even looked to see if the routing under the pickguard extends any toward the neck.

I have seen that kind of install in pics here in fact, I wouldn't do it myself. I saw an example where the 22 fret fret board overhung the GFS trim ring on the nut side. It'll work fine, but I am not removing any more wood between the neck and the neck PUP route on a Tele body myself.

When I do one I have the nut side coil of the mini exactly where the single coil was for shunting one of the coils, leaving the live coil when shunting 1/2 the HB where the Tele single coil was under the node where I feel the tone is the least departure Tele wise of the mod. But that is just my preference, I have seen all manor of neck PUP installs on Teles. ;) I do love a mini on a Tele and have 2 set up this way, one with a shunt blender. I have never left a full size HB I installed at the neck of a Tele, [sorry Keef and Andy ;)]

[sean79]

Is shunting like splitting? How many wires would a mini have to have to be wired like that? Do you add a mini-toggle or drop in a five-way switch or something to give you options with that shunting?