I tried to replacing pickups and cleaning my guitar!

Do you maintain your guitar every day? I hadn't done any proper maintenance for 15 years since I started using this guitar thinking that made it the real thing, allowing the parts to get worn out. However, when I looked at the Gibson SG that I have been using for a long time recently, •••

The pickup is cracked!?

Even if this part is cracked, if there is no problem with the coil, it will not affect the sound in particular, but if water gets on the coil directly, the coil will be damaged, and probably because I have been using it for many years, I felt that there was insufficient power, so I woke up. I tried replacing the pickup for the first time! While I was excited about replacing the guitar pickups that I had been using for many years, I was worried that the sound would change to something I didn't like. But if it didn't work, I decided to take the challenge to restore it!

I referred to the Sound House cheat sheet → Types of pickups for electric guitars

■ Remove each part

The pickups had never been replaced, so it was rusty. I'll did my best here to remove the screws...

When I removed the pickguard screws and opened it like this, the dust that had accumulated over many years showed it was messed up! (The photo is self-restraint...) And finally, the pickups were removed. I didn't know how to do the wiring... (laughs) For the time being, I removed the wiring connected to the pickups using a soldering iron and a solder blotting wire.

FERNANDES / SI-1500 Soldering iron

MONTREUX / Soldering wire 1 meter [1676]

I got it.

Something is written in the counterbore of the pickup. WC...

Looking at the pickups that I removed again, they’re in pretty terrible shape. I am surprised that they were still making any sound in such a state.

Thank you for 15 years of service.

■ Cleaning the guitar

So I cleaned the guitar with its neck and body having accumulated dirt over the years.

KEN SMITH / PRO FORMULA POLISH Musical instrument polish

This can be used to clean the entire guitar. This guitar is finished with satin lacquer, but PRO FORMULA POLISH can be used without worrying about it.

dmiguitarlabs / FRET BUTTER Fret polishing cloth

This is super useful for fret polishing. It contains a cloth soaked with a mysterious liquid that easily removes dirt, and can be used as it is. Honestly, even if you wash the cloth after polishing the frets, the dirt on the cloth itself will not be easily removed, so this provides the best performance for the cost as you can use several times and toss it.

BIGBENDS (Big Bens) / FRET BOARD JUICE 1oz

This is also a fingerboard cleaner. After thoroughly cleaning the frets with fret butter, use this to pinpoint and clean them to make them shiny in a short time.

■ The challenge of replacing the pickups

So to today's main subject now that the guitar is clean to some extent. I will try replacing the pickups!

These are the replacement pickups used this time.

SEYMOUR DUNCAN / SH-2n Jazz Neck Nickel Pickup

SEYMOUR DUNCAN / SH-4 JB Nickel Pickup

They’re standard pickups. However, for guitarists who have no experience with replacing pickups, there may be many who say, "The DUNCAN name is famous, but the brand is actually unfamiliar to me..." As you can see in the staff review, these two types are famous for being the best combination in DUNCAN combinations. I definitely want to try them•••

So, the installation started!

I referred to the Sound House cheat sheet → Wiring of parts

The humbucker 4-core shielded wire type introduced in the cheat sheet was the same, so it was easy to wire while looking at the site. Such kindness! I soldered the red and white, green and the bare wires, wrapped the red and white with masking tape so that they do not come in contact with other wires, soldered the green and bare wire to the volume pot, and soldered the black wire to the tone pot. Where to connect everything•••

I forgot to take a picture•••!

Please refer to the detailed wiring diagram in the cheat sheet! → Wiring of parts

••• So, here is the guitar with the pickups replaced after cleaning the body and fingerboard ↓

It shines!

After that, I adjust the height of the pickups, adjust the volume balance, checked the sound, and I’m done.

There is no noise and the tone volume works! Perfect!

The original pickups were probably the genuine Gibson 490T & 490R, with a fairly high and violent sound. I really liked them, but I felt that the sound was a little thin, so I basically used the pickup at the front or center. When I changed the pickups this time, the mid-range was emphasized and the sound became thicker, I could also chop the riffs and riffs at the rear, and I could hear the single notes at the front well!

I'm really satisfied!

■ Summary

I tried replacing the pickups and cleaning my guitar, but it took about 2 hours. The equipment I used included a screwdriver, a soldering iron, and nippers, so it was easier than I expected. I felt that the guitar to which I had a strong attachment would be a great pleasure to play having been modified to my liking. It is also an excellent point to change the screw from chrome to black for a sober appearance! If you are interested, please give it a try. See you ~ ♪