pickup problem

thumbinmyway

im going to try and make this as simple as possible- basically, i have a strat that i bought from a pawn shop and it sounds like shit. i want to either replace the pickups and pots or get a whole new guitar (telecaster). if i just get new pickups, i want to install them myself to save money and time since there isnt a music shop within about an hour and a half of me. but i dont have a clue how to go about it. i would feel confident about doing it if i had some instuction and was wondering if any of you guys could help me out. sorry if this post is a little scatter brained. if you need any more info just ask. thanks!!! -jason

exhausted

you'd need a basic soldering iron, some solder/desolder etc. from radio shack. practice a bit on scraps of wire etc. there are "lessons" of sorts on the net.

as for the pickups, pretty easy, especially on a strat-type guitar. again, there are how-tos if you search a bit.

and have a look at http://www.seymourduncan.com and http://www.guitarelectronics.com for schematics, parts, etc.

thumbinmyway

so i guess the only diagram i would need would be the pickups, etc that are already hooked up. where would i buy new wire? what kind? gauge?

Pacomc79

http://www.fender.com should have schematics probably from fenders site http://www.mrgearhead.com It's not exceedingly difficult you just need a little bit of skill with the soldiering iron. Make sure you use the right gauge of wire and 250K pots with your pickups


My favorite strat or tele or whatever pickups you can learn a lot here.

http://www.fralinpickups.com/ http://www.stewmac.com


WhosPearlJam (Bob) has built several guitars and can probably handle more technical questions if you ask him, or you can e-mail fender tech support.

thumbinmyway

thanks!

who's_pearljam?

Actually, before you even change anything, check over the wire connections in all the existing pots and switches, especially the input jack, and at the pickups.
You didn't say how it sounds crappy, but try to tighten up what you have first.
A lot of problems stem from loose connections. You definitely want to get a soldering gun and practice on some wire, like exhausted says.

Then spray the pots with tuner cleaner that you can get at radio shack or an electronics store. Scratchy volume and tone controls are usually just dirty

Then make sure your pickups are set high enough near the strings. You can raise them with the screws at the sides on the pickguard. There usually is a "sweet spot" where it sounds best.

Then you can go for it if you want to change pick ups.

Everyone should have Dan Erlewine's "Guitar Player Repair Guide". He is a super guy and the guru of guitar repairs
Best 25 bucks you can spend if you want to fix and fool around with your guitars!

http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Books,_plans.html

thumbinmyway

i took the pickguard off and everything looks fine. ive also tried spraying it with some contact cleaner a few time but nothing seems to work. the pots "pop" when the volume is being turned and sometimes it pops when i dont even touch the volume. and i just dont like how it sounds. it might just be in my head but i think im gonna change everything out. i ordered a strat wiring kit from stewart macdonald among some other small things and i think im gonna put some texas specials on there. any advice on the texas special pickups? good? what else would you recommend?

mccreadyisgod

Well, Texas Specials are the pups I'd put in a Strat.

Lace Sensors are pretty good for the right person, and I hear good things about the new cobalt pups.

Stacked humbuckers are worth a thought, too. Was it ex. that had the stacked buckers? Anyways, they give you single-coil tone but no hum.

I'd also suggest sifting through the Seymour Duncan collection, see if anything tickles your fancy:

http://www.seymourduncan.com/website/products/stratsdescr.shtml

May I point out, specifically, the Hot and Hot Stack models?

Pacomc79

Originally posted by thumbinmyway
i took the pickguard off and everything looks fine. ive also tried spraying it with some contact cleaner a few time but nothing seems to work. the pots "pop" when the volume is being turned and sometimes it pops when i dont even touch the volume. and i just dont like how it sounds. it might just be in my head but i think im gonna change everything out. i ordered a strat wiring kit from stewart macdonald among some other small things and i think im gonna put some texas specials on there. any advice on the texas special pickups? good? what else would you recommend?

Check the input jack. it's probably either a loose soldier joint or the clip is loose. when the cable is moving it's popping because you're loosing contact somewhere.



and yes mig it was Ex the Seymour Duncan Vintage Stacks.

djyman15

check to make sure verything is grounded. It makes a world of difference. This means all the black wires (which i believe are the standard for fender ground connections) are at a ground surface, which is probably the bottom of a pot. If you dont know what your doing so much, Id stick with pretty standard singles, the Texas Specials are a good idea, as are the lace sensors. Nothing against the stacked humbuckers, but wiring them is a little more complicated if i remember right, and its just one less thing to worry about. If you still dont want the standard single pick-up hum then look at cobalt pick-ups

who's_pearljam?

Originally posted by Pacomc79
Check the input jack. it's probably either a loose soldier joint or the clip is loose. when the cable is moving it's popping because you're loosing contact somewhere.



and yes mig it was Ex the Seymour Duncan Vintage Stacks.

Paco is right. The jack might have loose connections that you can't see. Sometimes when the jack is loose, it twists in its fitting and shorts out, so you resolder it.
The volume pot may be old and no good, try getting more tuner cleaner in there and turning it again. Sometimes it takes a bit of juice inside the pot to get all the sweat and beer and cigarette smoke out!

And, of course, the number one problem with crackling that everyone overlooks is the damn cord! Try another cord.

I would be willing to bet that your pickups are ok, but you might as well put some in, because you want to anyway!:D

Texas specials are great if you like the in between bridge and middle pickup sound. A tapped humbucker never seems to get that sound.
If you don't use that sound, then listen to those guys, Exhausted, Paco, MIG combination. Stick a stacked humbucker in the bridge for some ooomph.

I have a Deluxe 50th anniversary with the cobalt pickups and the s1 switching, and they are my favorite yet! I haven't even looked to see if those are available on their own yet.

Good luck

thumbinmyway

by the way, its not a fender strat its an older epiphone strat copy. i really like how it looks though, especially the headstock. it look exactly like this one except they have something wierd going on with their bridge.--- http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=33037&item=3734937269&rd=1