Essential pro tips for swapping pickups in electric guitars
Is it time to try out a new pickup in your favorite guitar? Gibson’s Master Luthier Jim DeCola is here to help. In this episode of “Gibson’s Guide to Guitar Setup and Maintenance,” Jim walks you through swapping your pickups step by step, offering advice, tricks, and MacGyver tech tips to get you rockin’ in no time.
Changing guitar pickups can be a transformative experience for any guitarist looking to refine or redefine their instrument’s tone. Pickups are the key component of an electric guitar’s sound, converting the vibrations of the strings into electrical signals that can be amplified and shaped into the music we hear.
Over time, the desire for a different sound, be it brighter, warmer, or with more clarity, drives many musicians to consider swapping their guitar pickups. However, before you heat up that soldering iron, we recommend making sure that your existing pickups have been adjusted for the best performance. Then, if you still aren’t getting the sound you are looking for, it’s time to experiment with a new pickup set.
Why should I change my guitar’s pickups?
Changing your pickups can deliver significant tonal variations without purchasing a new instrument. Whether it’s achieving the vintage crunch of classic rock, the smooth definition of modern jazz, or the biting edge of metal, changing pickups offers a direct route to sonic customization.
The reasons behind changing guitar pickups vary widely among players. For some, it’s the pursuit of an elusive tone heard on a favorite record or the need to adapt to different musical genres for gigs with eclectic set lists. Others might seek to improve dynamic response or reduce noise in their signal chain. Tone-chasing is as old as the music industry itself, with pioneers such as Les Paul and Seth Lover reaching for new heights and influencing nearly everyone in their innovative quests.
Stock pickups in some beginner guitars can be inconsistent in quality; upgrading these components can significantly enhance the sound quality. Ultimately, changing guitar pickups is about personal expression and finding a unique sound that resonates with your musical identity and style.
Explore the Gibson Pickup Shop for a huge array of tone-shaping options and check out more pro tips from Jim DeCola on Gibson TV. For more detailed information on guitar setup and maintenance or more complicated DIY repairs, check out Gibson’s free Virtual Guitar Tech service.
