Guitar Techs - fitting pickups

[gbbird]

I have finally got round to deciding to do something about my trusty Charvel 650xl super strat. The electrics have been a bit dodgy for years, and now they hardly work at all. So, having decided on a set of EMG SA/SA/81's, as soon as the posty delivers them i shall be fitting my first pickups.

My question is, is it difficult, and are there any pitfalls to avoid? I understand EMGs now come with wiring that does not need soldering, so that must be a plus. I just hope the fitting instructions that come with them are simple enough to follow.

g

[Funk Odyssey]

gbbird said:

I have finally got round to deciding to do something about my trusty Charvel 650xl super strat. The electrics have been a bit dodgy for years, and now they hardly work at all. So, having decided on a set of EMG SA/SA/81's, as soon as the posty delivers them i shall be fitting my first pickups.

My question is, is it difficult, and are there any pitfalls to avoid? I understand EMGs now come with wiring that does not need soldering, so that must be a plus. I just hope the fitting instructions that come with them are simple enough to follow.

g

most new pickups come with good wiring diagrams

there are plenty on the web for an alternative

Seymour Duncans site has lots -- not sure it will suit yours though>?

[Steve McQueen]

Just remember when your fine tuning the pickup height that EMGs can go "way closer" to the strings than a normal conventional magnetic pickups.

[satchbot]

They'll come with a wiring diagram. And go for the 81s

[gbbird]

Thanks chaps,

have gone for the SA/SA/81 matched pack. Should receive later this week, so hopefully i'll get them fitted at the weekend.

g

[gbbird]

Chaps just one question.

I have stripped my Charvel superstrat and i notice that in addition to the bridge earth (which apparently for EMGs i need to disconnent) there is also an earth? wire terminating to the guitar body (by way of a metal plate) in each pickup scoop, so three more earth's in total.

Do i still need these? And if so what do they connect to when i install my new kit?

regards

Greg

[Dai Capp]

I would leave those earths in place just to make sure you have adequate grounding. When I last changed a set of pick ups (years ago mind) the toughest bit to get right was the final set up with heights etc.

Good luck with the project!

DC

[Steve McQueen]

sounds (sic) like those are shielding wires.

option 1- leave them in place and see how it sounds after the upgrade.

option 2- strip it out, then refit it all later when it all goes wrong.


OPTION 1 OPTION 1 OPTION 1

Never change 2 things at the same time, you can't decide how you've fked it up otherwise.

[gbbird]

Thanks for the replies all. I'll keep you updated as to how i get on over the weekend.

[gbbird]

RE the earths in the pickup scoops. What part do i attach/solder them to i.e. the volume pot, jack pot? Something else?

I got my new pickups yesterday, so will be fitting them tomorrow