Wilkat's Help Tips © 2001

HOT PICK-UP REPLACEMENT & WIRING TIP FOR G&L STRAT¹ OR STRAT STYLE GUITAR

So you're not satisfied with your single coil pick-ups and want more? Well here's a neat little solution I can highly recommend, that will give you more options than you have now, and combine it with the warm and powerful sound of a vintage style humbucking pick-up.
    The set-up I show here  is from a G&L guitar I recently upgraded, and is also equipped with an additional phase selector switch for even more tonal variation. If your guitar doesn't have this, you can easily add it and locate it between the bridge and the volume control.  Bear in mind that your single coil pick-ups likely have different colour wiring.  Check which ones run to the 5 - way selector switch ( these are the hot wires sending the signal out ), and which ones run to the pots, as these are the ground wires, and note the differing colours on the accompanying diagram.  Also, don't worry if your guitar doesn't have the same capacitors as used in the G&L, just take note of what you have and put them back the same way if you had to temporarily remove them.

Where do I begin?

Well let's start with looking at what you have. If you've got the standard arrangement with 3 single coil pick-ups and a 5 - way selector switch, you're more than halfway there already! This is already a great set-up, but it can be easily improved on by adding one or more humbucking pick-ups. In this article we're just going to replace the lead (or bridge) pick-up with a humbucking style, and add a switch to allow you to go from the dual humbucking mode or, back to the single coil. We'll do this with the least amount of modification to keep it simple.

The first thing you'll have to do is decide on the type of humbucking pick-up you want. There are a lot of good choices, and you may have to make it based on your budget rather than your heart and ears. You can safely use any well known brand, but you'll have to be aware that they do not all use the same colour coding, nor do they have the same output. I've chosen a Stewart MacDonald Vintage Golden Age humbucker (great for their sound and easier on your wallet). If you elect to go with a different brand, you'll have to determine which is the hot lead, etc., and make the changes to the accompanying diagram. Most manufacturer's supply details on their wiring, and provide some tips and examples with the pick-up, so it's usually not too difficult to figure this out.

What's next?

Decide whether or not you want to keep your original pick guard (as it is) for future re- use, or if you're ready to route out a new hole to fit the humbucker. Alternatively you can purchase another pick guard (some ready-made replacements are available for this option, but they don't fit all Strat style guitars), or you can elect to use a "stacked" humbucker that fits the standard single coil bore. Stacked humbuckers may not have the same output as conventional humbuckers, and you'll have to consider this before you proceed ( I purchased one recently that was too piercing and treblely -- you'll probably want the warmer, bassier sound too, so I suggest you stick with a more conventional humbucker).

There's also the matter of whether or not the body under the pick guard will require further router work to accommodate the larger vintage style humbucker. Fortunately the G&L guitar body is already routed to accept a variety of pick-ups ( which isn't usually the case if you've got a Strat, or Strat copy ). Of course you'll have to remove the pick guard to see what you've got, and make the body modification, if required.

Take note of all the connections and colour coding and sketch up a diagram of the existing arrangement before you do anything else. Assuming you're good with a router, and have the required template to enlarge the hole for the new humbucker, you'll need to get that done.

Wiring:

For this step, you should find it easier to have everything mounted on the pick guard. If you work with the separate components on your bench, be sure to leave the wiring long enough to reassemble everything onto the pick guard.

Step 1:

Remove the old single coil pick-up in the bridge position, and replace it with the new humbucker.

Step 2:

Remove the bottom tone control and replace it with a new push / pull pot. You'll have to carefully remove the capacitors from the existing tone control and re-solder them onto the new pot the same way. This new pot features a double pole, double throw (on - on) switch on the bottom of the pot. We're using only one side of the switch here, and it allows you to alter pick-up selection by pulling up, or pushing down on the pot's control knob.
 

NOTE: Alternatively, you can install a separate single pole double throw (on - on) switch and leave the existing tone control as is. However, this will require that you drill another hole in the pick guard in a suitable location. I prefer the push / pull pot since it requires no additional drilling (and it can be used to connect a second humbucker--with coil switching--in the future).

All pots for volume and tone controls used here are 250 K rating ( these are the norm for Strat style single coil pick-ups ). You can use 500 K pots if you like, just remember that they will affect the sound ( 250 K pots bleed off more high frequencies than 500 k, and will give you a warmer tone).

Step 3:

Simply follow the wiring diagram and solder all the connections as shown. You'll have to install a new piece of wire for the push / pull section of the new pot.

Step 4:

Check to ensure that you've reconnected all the wires you had to disconnect from the original tone control removed earlier, and that none of your ground connections have been overlooked. Once your satisfied, your ready to test / check your work.

Step 5:

Don't reinstall everything back into the guitar just yet. It's a lot less painful to test everything before you put the strings back on. I usually use a tuning fork to simulate string vibration, and hover it above each pick-up as I check each combination and test the tone and volume controls. Of course you'll need to be plugged into your amp when you do this. If you don't have a tuning fork, gently tap on each pick-up with the tip of a screwdriver as you check the selections (sometimes it can be difficult to tell if your tone controls are working this way, so listen closely). Also, don't forget that in the standard Strat set-up, the bottom tone control does not work on the bridge pick-up except when it's selected in unison with another pick-up.

Now your ready to string up and wail away. Be sure to set your amps's gain control up high when ripping through your best riffs or crunching those power chords--you won't be disappointed!!!

¹Strat is a registered trademark or Fender Musical Instruments. G&L is a registered trademark of G&L Guitars. Fender, G&L, and Stewart MacDonald are not affiliated with Wilkat Guitars in any way.