14 replies to this topic

[sarah b.]

And do I need a soldering iron to replace a humbucker?
Does which kind I get matter? How so? About how much do they cost? What kind would you recommend?
The guitar's just a little electric guitar, nothing fancy. But my humbucker wiggles if I push it and there's a buzz when I plug it in, now, so I'm guessing I should probably remove it and see if there's any mold underneath (sandied). It played, so something's working, in there. Thanks.

[Royal]

levals?

[gregoir]

I'd probably get it fixed where I lived so if not fixed properly it can be brought back.

[insolent cur]

replacing a pickup is a relatively simple repair, but you'll need a few tools including a soldering iron. there are LOTS of humbuckers out there. you'll need to have an idea of what sound you want to crank out of the guitar to determine the pickup.

[JBetty]

my humbucker wiggles if I push it and there's a buzz when I plug it in

[insolent cur]

But my humbucker wiggles if I push it and there's a buzz when I plug it in....

the wiggle could be a mounting spring is loose. the buzz might be a wiring/ground issue, not necessarily with the pickup.

[JBetty]

perspective is reality

[Feesh]

replacing a pickup is a relatively simple repair, but you'll need a few tools including a soldering iron. there are LOTS of humbuckers out there. you'll need to have an idea of what sound you want to crank out of the guitar to determine the pickup.

Two thoughts:
1) A² speaks sooth.
2) I just realized: the "b." stands for blues. Git down wit yo badass delta self, Sarah Blues!

[sarah b.]

I like a michael bloomfield sound. A buddy guy sound. It was under water (the bottom part, anyway) for a few hours. My amp had lots of mold in it. I figure I should take it apart, anyway, if only to clean it out.

[sarah b.]

Thanks, cur. Will experiment with wires.

[Lemireacle]

I'd probably get it fixed where I lived so if not fixed properly it can be brought back.

I agree. If you need to do it in Albatoga though, start with Parkway Music or Collar City Guitars.

[sarah b.]

Thanks, Rich. It's just a refrigerator guitar (every home needs a guitar, like every home needs a refrigerator). I replaced it with a pee wee kiddie acoustic. I want to soak all the rusted screws in CLR. Got new strings, will borrow my dad's wire cutters. I'm having fun.

looked up humbuckers. realized I have other budgetary priorities, this week.

[insolent cur]

I like a michael bloomfield sound. A buddy guy sound. It was under water (the bottom part, anyway) for a few hours. My amp had lots of mold in it. I figure I should take it apart, anyway, if only to clean it out.

bloomfield used both single coil and humbuckers, depending on whether he was playing a fender or a gibson (gibson issued a '59 lp bloomfield model at one point). these days buddy guy usually plays fender strats. in order to have both options, you might want to consider a seymour duncan p-rail, the same humbucker i used for my build. it's a humbucker created by mating a gibson style p-90 single coil with a fender rail single coil. with proper wiring, you can play the pickup as a humbucker, or either a p-90 or fender rail.

[sarah b.]

Noted, and thanks. When I get around to picking one up, that sounds like a winner.

[PeaceFrog]

Thanks, Rich. It's just a refrigerator guitar (every home needs a guitar, like every home needs a refrigerator). I replaced it with a pee wee kiddie acoustic. I want to soak all the rusted screws in CLR. Got new strings, will borrow my dad's wire cutters. I'm having fun.

looked up humbuckers. realized I have other budgetary priorities, this week.

CLR doesn't work really good on rust any more (I think they changed the formula to make it safer), but this stuff does:



as an added benefit, it's non-toxic and environmentally safe and all that, but trust me.. it works great! CLR sucks for rust, but not bad for calcium (white) and lime (green).

It comes in a smaller container than 32 Oz too. I can't remember where I bought it though... I think it was Harbor Freight tools.