neck pickup options & electronics advice please

[Honga Man]

I am thinking about a fun long-term project as time and spare cash allow but I wonder if the experts can advise me if this is a foolhardy project.

I have a MIM Std. Tele body (with vintage bridge, of course) on my partscaster. A fat MIJ JD Tele neck with threaded inserts is the cool part of it, bought from a TDPRI'er years back who I can't remember, but I digress.

The MIM Std. Tele body comes routed for a humbucker in the neck. In a perfect world, I would like to get a few different pickups (and pickguards, obviously) for different neck pickup options...

1. Standard Tele neck pickup (the current setup)
2. Strat pickup
3. Fender Wide Range humbucker
4. P-90
5. Esquire

Currently my Tele is wired with MIM Std. Tele pickups, stock pots, and a Fender 4-way switch.

Here is the one question I would like answered above all others: Would it be possible to install some sort of connectors on the wires to the neck pickup so I could remove the pickguard and just "unplug" the neck pickup and install a different pickup/pickguard whenever I feel like it?

I understand that different pots are used with humbuckers, maybe different caps too. I don't want to mess with any of that if I can help it. I play bass in bands, this Tele is just for my own fun in the basement and on crude 4-track cassette recordings...so it doesn't have to be perfect...I just think it would be neat to have different options for my own enjoyment.

What if I just went the Tele/Strat/None route? Would a standard Strat neck pickup need different caps or pots or wiring? Even with my 4-way switch? I'm thinking it would be a simple change.

How about the Esquire configuration? I know that if I just de-solder the neck pickup I don't get the "no-tone control" vibe of a properly wired Esquire, but it just might be cool not have the neck pickup just once in a while for the heck of it. Or, could I use a Delta Tone pot for tone and get the same thing? Maybe a push-pull? I'm not a wiring guy and don't even solder too well so I don't want to change more than I have to.

Since the body already has a humbucker rout, could I have a pickguard made to put a Strat neck pickup closer to the bridge like Jerry Donahue does? Or is that stuff about better harmonics just a bunch of hooey? Maybe the distance from the front to the back of the humbucker rout isn't enough to make a difference?

Or should I just forget all this foolishness because it will be more trouble, expense, and work than it's worth?

Maybe the tone is in the wood and I should just work on learning more music theory instead of worrying about subtle difference in tone?

Heck, I just LIKE to mess with guitars, so this whole thing will be fun, not work.

Any advice welcomed and very much appreciated.

[Rich Rice]

Doesn't sound like you have a real pricey collectible on your hands there, so have fun with it, and try all the stuff you can think of. Worst case, you take it apart and try something else... You can buy pickguards with lots of configurations, or you can get a Dremel and open up to suit your needs. Practice your soldering skills. They are important. Don't know if your body rout is big enough to handle a wide range 'bucker.. you might need to open it up a little. The harmonics thing is definitely important. When the pickup is directly below the harmonic, it can't pick up the harmonic because the string isn't vibrating there. I prefer them about 1/4' off the harmonic, and get much livelier harmonics that way. There are connectors available to do what you want, but make sure they are insulated so you don't short out your wiring. At least wrap the connectors with electrical tape. Check with any electronics supply house, and there are quite a few to choose from. The pot values make lots of difference, as do the caps. Try different values to see which ones you prefer. Watch your tapers, too... some will be very fast, others more linear. Depends on what you like, and each component will react differently with the others. If you change one part, it can make a huge difference in how the others work together. If all else fails, you can always get a schematic or a picture of original wiring, and start over. Most of all, don't be afraid to do it, that's how we learned in the first place. Sometimes it's not the end result that enriches, it's the journey.

[Wild Rice Chris]

Originally Posted by Rich@wildriceband.com

I prefer them about 1/4' off the harmonic, and get much livelier harmonics that way.

I assume you meant 1/4". :shock:

To add, moving the pickup will improve harmonics most on the open strings. This is very helpful if you spend most of your time in the keys of E,A,D,G,C, and their relative minors. It will actually be detrimental if you play primarily in flat keys. As an experiment, try capoing on the first fret. Then, play harmonics at the thirteenth, 8th, and sixth frets. Now, repeat without the capo, but use the 12th, 7th, and 5th frets for the harmonics.

I personally prefer the tone of a slightly shifted neck pickup.

[Rich Rice]

The above experiment will give you a little insight into new territory, but take into consideration that it is exaggerated, and moving the pickup slightly will have a different effect... Thanks for the correction, Chris...

[Rich Rice]

Originally Posted by Honga Man

How about the Esquire configuration? I know that if I just de-solder the neck pickup I don't get the "no-tone control" vibe of a properly wired Esquire, but it just might be cool not have the neck pickup just once in a while for the heck of it.

You would want to pull the neck pickup out of the guitar completely to achieve this, as there would still be magnetic "drag" on the strings from the neck pickup.

[Honga Man]

Thanks for the comments, guys.

When I said "de-solder" the neck pickup, what I mean of course was "remove". I understand the Esquire concept; I just haven't tried it yet.