How do you replace guitar pickups?

Answer 1

here's a new answer update

There is a little toggle switch right by the volume knobs, just move that around

to select a different pickup configuration if your guitar is equipped with more than one pickup and a selector switch to choose your pickups.

and if you mean to physically change new,different pickups in place of your old ones, its a good idea to view some online pdf manuals showing how a guitar is wired(usually can be downloaded from your Guitars manufacturers website,if it exists.)or ask at a music store with a reputable guitar service department.

guitar pickups can have anywhere from 2 wires to 5 depending on the style

of the pickups and if they're passive or active(this is usually a choice when buying a guitar and active pickups are generally much better,more responsive and much more expensive and require a battery in your guitar as well)

Answer 2

Desolder/break the welds that hold the cover to the pickup.

*The pickup MUST be removed from the guitar for you to do this!* It requires a lot of heat to desolder the joints. It is easier to carefully cut them off with a exacto saw or a dremel cutoff disc. Heat the cover with a heat gun to soften the wax potting and gently remove the cover. You can reheat the pickup slightly to help remove the excess wax.

Answer 3

Google the wiring diagrams as they have to be done a certain way, heres step by step all you need is a soldering iron really. This is only for passive to passive pickups as EMG pickups if you're a Zakk Wylde or James Hetfield (to name a few) Fan their slightly different.

flip the gutiar on its "belly" and you're going to open up the control cavity with your screw driver

unsolder all the wires that the pots and other electronics the guitar is wired to

remove the old pickups, be careful you can still sell them on eBay

loosen the faceplate or whatever holds up the guitars pickups

than remember look at the wiring diagram! put the new pickups in and slide the wires into the control cavity doing this one at a time to install

solder the wires at the right potentiometers (pots or knobs inside the guitar)

now you're done, to test them plug the guitar in and enjoy.. Craigslist or kijiji can do this incredibly cheap if you live in a big city.

Answer 4

1. Step 1

   Start off by taking off the strings on your guitar, allowing access to the pickguard in which we are going to remove. It is recommended that you unwind the strings first, and avoid snapping it, otherwise you may cause unwanted tension on parts of your guitar, resulting in damage.

2. Step 2

   You now need to remove, the pickup switch tip, the two tone knobs, and the one volume knob which are located on the bottom right of your guitar. This could need a little assistance by simply using a knife to lever the three knobs, as in most cases just pulling them off could prove difficult. Obviously try to use as little force as possible with the knife, as it could result in very minor damage. After removing the plastic tone knobs, there will be small square washers on the top of the pickguard, holding the three pots in place. Remove these with either a spanner of the correct size, or alternatively a pair of pliers could be used to grip the washers and twist. Once these are removed you are ready to move onto your next step.

3. Step 3

   On your stratocaster, you will have screws going all around the outside holding your pickguard in place. On a recognised Fender Strat Guitar, there is normally 11 screws, but this will vary. Once removed your pickguard will simply lift off. Now don't let the wiring inside frighten you, just be careful not to break any of the soldering applied to them, whilst carrying out your next step.

4. Step 4

   You will now need to remove the pickup selector pot, and the pickups from your guitar. This is easily done by unscrewing each of the screws holding each article in place. Once this is done, put your old pickguard out of the way as you will not be needing it anymore. Now just place the pickups, and pickup selector pot, into your new pickguard, and follow this article backwards, start with screwing in the pickups, to replacing the strings.

(taken from http://www.ehow.com/how_2284438_change-a-pickguard.HTML)

Answer 5

hit , tap or pluck the strings on the guitar and the pickups are like micophones

Answer 6

Just reverse the process of removing it. It's not a very difficult task to perform.

Answer 7

You by a new one.