Installing new PUPS?

monson99 · April 29th, 2008, 06:57 PM

When you buy new PUPS, which so many of you seem to do, how do you install them? On your own, or do you have a guitar shop tech do the work? If on your own, how hard is it and what tools are needed? If a shop, how long does it take and what is the cost?
THANKS

BB · April 29th, 2008, 07:55 PM

I believe Seymour Duncans site has a video tutorial on changing pickups. It might behoove you to take a look at that to see if it's something you want to tackle. Like many here, I've been doing it for years, so it's second nature.....but if you have any doubts at all, best to have a shop do it. TDPRI member Terry Downs sells a DVD on how to solder. That would be a great place to start after the Duncan video.

Good luck and welcome!

too

mistermullens · April 29th, 2008, 08:03 PM

I install my own unless there is a problem. Its ridiculous how much those guys charge for basically a little solder.

Flat357 · April 29th, 2008, 08:03 PM

Here's a vid which might help .
Loads more on the same page if you double click the vid .

PJ · April 29th, 2008, 08:11 PM

Unless its a tough job, I do my own. Teles are about as easy as it gets. The wiring diagrams are published on the Fender website and it's a two-color system, with a ground wire (in some cases). If you get a good soldering iron
(pencil type) rosin-core solder and have a screw driver, you can do it in an hour. Once you do one, you'll be looking forward to the next one.

MulliganChebichev · April 29th, 2008, 08:29 PM

Buy a soldering iron from Radio Shack, its ridiculously cheap and works fine. You might also want to buy more solder and a soldering station, but thats like $10 more.

If you decide to solder yourself, try it on a junk pot, just til you get the feeling.

mellecaster · April 29th, 2008, 09:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mistermullens

I install my own unless there is a problem. Its ridiculous how much those guys charge for basically a little solder.

Your payin for our minds and experience, not our Solder.......

PJ · April 29th, 2008, 09:58 PM

Note in the Seymour Duncan piece above, the towel on your guitar body. A Tele is more point-to-point wiring than a Strat (where everything's mounted to the pickguard). So, you'll find yourself working "in" the guitar more. Good suggestion to cover your guitar when soldering around it. Poly finishes don't like hot solder!

Ronkirn · April 29th, 2008, 10:06 PM

Don't touch the soldering iron to your tongue to see if it's hot....

if you're electronically challenged, be sure you get pups with the same leads as those you are replacing, otherwise figuring out where the extra Yellow goes or what ever, (can be as much as 6 leads on some humbuckers) can stump ya... just remember, NO pickup is gonna make a spectacular sonic improvement.

Any good quality set will sound pretty dawggone good, so don't get hung up on the fact that Mega Hot Sound Mites that have 16 leads are what your buddy told ya you gotta have. Just get a quality set of anything, Lollars, Duffs, Novaks, Budz, Fralin, Seymour Duncans, and on and on...that matches your existing pickups leads. all are great and which is best sounding is a rat race that will never be decided... keep it simple.

Ron Kirn

BB · April 30th, 2008, 12:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ronkirn

Don't touch the soldering iron to your tongue to see if it's hot....Ron Kirn

Naw yo tew me!!!

tcadam · April 30th, 2008, 05:38 AM

It's fairly simple and I enjoy doing it myself. Cold bottle of suds and a hot soldering iron have made for many a pleasant afternoon.

TC

guitreble · April 30th, 2008, 07:13 AM

Quote:

It's fairly simple and I enjoy doing it myself. Cold bottle of suds and a hot soldering iron have made for many a pleasant afternoon.

TC

+1

Flat357 · April 30th, 2008, 07:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BB

Naw yo tew me!!!

BTW ........Get a stand .
If you don't have a stand , ALWAYS REMEMBER ... PENCILS TO THE LEFT ...... IRON TO THE RIGHT lol

I picked up the wrong pencil once , and have never done it since he he

Tele295 · April 30th, 2008, 12:44 PM

I am the world's worst solderer, but I can pop a pickup into an existing circuit pretty easy. About as difficult as changing a light fixture - swap the leads and you're done.

Terry Downs has a soldering DVD that I should get one of these days.

Doug Ferguson · April 30th, 2008, 12:51 PM

I install my own. Putting in a set of SC pups in a tele isn't terribly hard, and far cheaper than paying someone else to do it for you. Just take your time (practice a bit of soldering beforehand) and follow the wiring diagram that comes with the new pups.

Here's a link that might be helpful, too:
http://www.tdpri.com/resourceWIREING.htm

April 29th, 2008, 06:57 PM	#1 (permalink)
monson99 NEW MEMBER! Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: modesto, ca Age: 52 Posts: 9	Installing new PUPS? When you buy new PUPS, which so many of you seem to do, how do you install them? On your own, or do you have a guitar shop tech do the work? If on your own, how hard is it and what tools are needed? If a shop, how long does it take and what is the cost? THANKS

April 29th, 2008, 08:03 PM	#3 (permalink)
mistermullens Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Atlanta Posts: 1,574 56 Photos	I install my own unless there is a problem. Its ridiculous how much those guys charge for basically a little solder. __________________ Jonathan - Demos@purevolume.com When the power of love overcomes the love of power, the world will know peace. - Jimi All I need is my Esquire - MM

April 29th, 2008, 08:03 PM	#4 (permalink)
Flat357 Friend of Leo's Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Cheshire Age: 39 Posts: 2,394	Here's a vid which might help . Loads more on the same page if you double click the vid . __________________ Homepage http://www.soundclick.com/members/de...member=flat357 MySpace http://www.myspace.com/flat357

April 29th, 2008, 08:11 PM	#5 (permalink)
PJ Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Philadelphia, PA Posts: 1,688 4 Photos	Unless its a tough job, I do my own. Teles are about as easy as it gets. The wiring diagrams are published on the Fender website and it's a two-color system, with a ground wire (in some cases). If you get a good soldering iron (pencil type) rosin-core solder and have a screw driver, you can do it in an hour. Once you do one, you'll be looking forward to the next one. __________________ PJ "I don't know if it's art, but I like it."

April 29th, 2008, 09:58 PM	#8 (permalink)
PJ Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Philadelphia, PA Posts: 1,688 4 Photos	Note in the Seymour Duncan piece above, the towel on your guitar body. A Tele is more point-to-point wiring than a Strat (where everything's mounted to the pickguard). So, you'll find yourself working "in" the guitar more. Good suggestion to cover your guitar when soldering around it. Poly finishes don't like hot solder! __________________ PJ "I don't know if it's art, but I like it."

April 29th, 2008, 07:55 PM	#2 (permalink)
BB Friend of Leo's Join Date: May 2003 Location: Pacific NW Age: 53 Posts: 3,009	I believe Seymour Duncans site has a video tutorial on changing pickups. It might behoove you to take a look at that to see if it's something you want to tackle. Like many here, I've been doing it for years, so it's second nature.....but if you have any doubts at all, best to have a shop do it. TDPRI member Terry Downs sells a DVD on how to solder. That would be a great place to start after the Duncan video. Good luck and welcome! too

April 29th, 2008, 08:29 PM	#6 (permalink)
MulliganChebichev Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Oregon, USA Age: 18 Posts: 1,531 3 Photos	Buy a soldering iron from Radio Shack, its ridiculously cheap and works fine. You might also want to buy more solder and a soldering station, but thats like $10 more. If you decide to solder yourself, try it on a junk pot, just til you get the feeling.

April 29th, 2008, 10:06 PM	#9 (permalink)
Ronkirn Friend of Leo's Join Date: May 2003 Location: Jacksonville, FL Age: 61 Posts: 2,034	Don't touch the soldering iron to your tongue to see if it's hot.... if you're electronically challenged, be sure you get pups with the same leads as those you are replacing, otherwise figuring out where the extra Yellow goes or what ever, (can be as much as 6 leads on some humbuckers) can stump ya... just remember, NO pickup is gonna make a spectacular sonic improvement. Any good quality set will sound pretty dawggone good, so don't get hung up on the fact that Mega Hot Sound Mites that have 16 leads are what your buddy told ya you gotta have. Just get a quality set of anything, Lollars, Duffs, Novaks, Budz, Fralin, Seymour Duncans, and on and on...that matches your existing pickups leads. all are great and which is best sounding is a rat race that will never be decided... keep it simple. Ron Kirn __________________ Lord, give me a sense of humor. Give me the grace to see a joke, To get some humor out of life, and pass it on to other folks. The only thing necessary for evil to triumph, is for good men to do nothing......

April 30th, 2008, 05:38 AM	#11 (permalink)
tcadam Tele-Meister Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Delaware Age: 41 Posts: 264 1 Photos	It's fairly simple and I enjoy doing it myself. Cold bottle of suds and a hot soldering iron have made for many a pleasant afternoon. TC

April 30th, 2008, 12:44 PM	#14 (permalink)
Tele295 Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Tiger Town Posts: 3,089 14 Photos	I am the world's worst solderer, but I can pop a pickup into an existing circuit pretty easy. About as difficult as changing a light fixture - swap the leads and you're done. Terry Downs has a soldering DVD that I should get one of these days. __________________ "Turn it up and it doesn't need any reverb." - Danny Gatton www.dannygatton.info Tiger Town Aces - Music That Bites Back In Redd we trust! Free Bill Kirchen! If lawyers are disbarred and clergymen defrocked, doesn't it follow that electricians can be delighted, musicians denoted, cowboys deranged, models deposed, tree surgeons debarked, and dry cleaners depressed?

April 30th, 2008, 12:51 PM	#15 (permalink)
Doug Ferguson Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Indianapolis, IN Age: 55 Posts: 1,121	I install my own. Putting in a set of SC pups in a tele isn't terribly hard, and far cheaper than paying someone else to do it for you. Just take your time (practice a bit of soldering beforehand) and follow the wiring diagram that comes with the new pups. Here's a link that might be helpful, too: http://www.tdpri.com/resourceWIREING.htm __________________ If you get hung up on just guitar players, you've missed something.... Don't ever get to a point where you just gotta be a guitar player. You hear something, go try to get that note and sound as much like that as you can.-Buddy Guy