Here’s a great way to improve our guitar.  Rather than trade it in for an upgrade how about changing the pickups?  These should sound good.

About the only bits that I’m going to keep are the volume pot and the pickup switch.

That’s the new wiring.  I’ve added push/push pots on each of the tone controls to coil tap each pickup.

I’ve also added in a new “Orange Drop” capacitor since the old one didn’t really do anything to the tone circuit.

It was also missing an earth wire for the bridge so I added one.

While the strings are off, a bit of a clean.

and some lemon oil.

With the strings back the first thing that became apparent was the tremolo, far too high.

so I tightened up the springs.

That’s better…

and the rest of the setup, starting with the neck set…

just a turn or 2 on the truss-rod.

The action was just a little high at the 12th fret.

so drop the bridge saddles down, starting with the outside “E” strings.

and then the other strings to match the curve of the fretboard.

Then the action back at the 1st fret.

The E, A and D strings were just a little high so I cut the slots down a little.

Next the intonation, to make sure it sounds in tune all the way up and down the neck.

There it goes, playing and sounding really great.

For more of what I can do check out my website: www.guitar-george.co.uk

A word from the owner:

“This is my guitar! It sounds fantastic now George, thank you very much“