I've already posted this question in a few other threads..so I apologize if you're reading this and you already replied somewhere else....but because I'm currently ordering parts, I want to make sure I have everything I need before I take this to my guitar tech. So needless to say, I'm a bit under the gun.

I love this guitar...but the Atomic humbucker is a little weak in my opinion. I typically play SD JBs/JB Jr.'s as well as a few Dimarzio Tone Zone equipped guitars. So I just ordered a Duncan Custom SH-5 which should suit my playing style nicely.

That said, I'm a bit concerned about the install. The standard pickup has two mounting holes/screws on top and one underneath (through the pickguard). I think this is actually a nice idea...providing more adjustment options for the humbucker. But it's my guess that what I just ordered is going to be the standard one hole/screw on top and one on the bottom...So this begs the question..am I going to have to replace the pickguard. If so, I'll order one now...but if I don't need to, then that's fine too.

If any of you have any suggestions, I'd sure appreciate them..in addition, if there's anything else you think I need to know about this install, I welcome that as well.

Thanks for taking the time to read this, and hopefully reply.
Much appreciated!

Todd

You should have bought a TB-5. This is a Fender string spaced version of the SH-5. Further, the TB-5 has three mounting screw holes on either side of the pickup, the outer two of which will accommodate your existing pickguard with the two holes on one side.

Not to worry: If you can't change your order or return it, Seymour Duncan has a 21 day exchange policy.

_________________
You dig?

Thanks so much man. For whatever reason, I kept reading posts/reviews from folks that upgraded their strats with the SH-5...so that's what I ordered.

I really appreciate the suggestion. As it turns out, the SH-5 that I ordered was backordered. So I called GC, and they told me that the TB-5 was also backordered. I ended up finding the TB on an ebay store...got it for a couple bucks less than GC.

Anyway...I'm really glad to have found this out ahead of time...I'd have been really upset if I would've gotten the wrong pickup, when the exact same one is available just with the proper spacing and hole placement.

This saves me from having to buy another pickguard...which I was prepared to do.
Thanks again man...you really did me a solid.

Todd

Glad to help AND save you a lot of grief!

FWIW, in the bridge position, the Custom is my favorite full sized Duncan HB.

_________________
You dig?

I'm not sure why...but everything i see says that these trembuckers are for locking tremelos....that's why I bought the SH-5 and not the TB-5 originally. The description from reviews (as well as from Seymour Duncan) are a little misguided....
In any event, it looks like I'll have the right pickup now...It looks like it's pretty easy to mount....My only concern (which is why I would normally take this to a tech) is soldering...I don't want to make a mess of that, obviously.

Any recommendations/suggestions on how to install one of these. Is it as simple as pulling the old one out and soldering the wires in the same place on the new pickup? I don't know...maybe I should just suck it up and bring it to my guy...it would be nice to know how to do this however.

Thanks again man...I appreciate it. You definitely saved me the headache.

Todd

It is a bit confusing the way they are marketed. See, originally if you had a Gibson which is and remains the 'standard' spaced pickup, the Duncan SH series were for them and if you had a Fender, the Duncan Trembucker spaced series (TB) were for them. DiMarzio was easier to understand. He too had standard spaced pickups for the Gibson ilk and his Fender spaced pickups are simply called, "F spaced". As you might expect, Duncan couldn't call his 'F spaced' pickups the same thing. Hence, he chose the designation, "Trembucker".

Nowadays, the plot thickens: American Standard and Mexican Strats have a narrower string spacing akin to traditional Gibsons. Gibsons with the Nashville bridge on the other hand, oftentimes do better with an F spaced bridge pickup.

Like I tell people so many times when they are selecting aftermarket pickups and are unsure, simply take both a standard and a wider spaced pickup and gently bring them at a 90 degree angle to the top of your guitar's strings. You'll easily see which is better for the guitar's string spread.

If you can solder, then there's no problem as it is easy especially since the wiring instructions come with the Duncan. The only problem you might have is if the Duncan is out of phase with your OEM pickup(s). This is even covered in the Duncan instructions where all it involves is reversing two wires.

If you don't have a lot of experience with soldering, grab a few scrap components and practice on them. Instructions on the basics of how to properly solder can be readily found on the web. Remember, slow and steady wins the race. Conversely, if you have any reservations, then yes, bring it to a COMPETENT tech.

Once again, you're quite welcome and I'm glad I could spare you a whole lot of grief!

_________________
You dig?

That is such a great explanation. I've been playing for 25 years...but only recently have I been bold enough to start taking apart my guitars. It started with the brass blocks on my Charvels...now with this American Special, I kinda looked at it right from the start as a project guitar. It's actually the first strat that I've ever actually removed the pickup cover and seen what's underneath!

That lead to a lot of Youtube videos, and a Strat coffee table book.
I actually work in computers, but started in electronics, so I do know how to solder...I just never tried it on a guitar pickup. Matter of fact, I'm not really familiar with the wiring and how pickups are wired/connected to the switches, pots, etc. So while I've become quite familiar with Floyd Rose setups, intonation setup..even neck removal and adjustment, I haven't gotten into the wiring yet. That said, like I mentioned, I would certainly love to learn...and I'm kinda looking at this guitar as a good place to start.

I do have a really good tech...this guy has been working at the same music shop for over 30 years..so, yeah...he's really good. Forget about those guys at Guitar Center or Sam Ash (no offense to anyone who works at these stores)...but they've actually put the wrong size strings on my guitar....and one time I asked them to block the bridge...i.e. no more floating...you know...just being able to push down on the trem arm...this guy did the opposite...he made it so I could only pull up on it! I mean...I never even heard of that kind of setup?!? I was finally done with those guys when they had one of my guitars for 2 weeks, and when I picked up the guitar, they put my Duncan 59 in the bridge, and the JB in the neck..exactly the opposite of what I asked. Then they lied about it to my face...telling me..no...that's the JB in the bridge. But I knew better. Boy did I cause a stink with the manager...they made the repair on the spot (albeit, I had to wait an hour for it)...but you can imagine how much stink must have been made to get them to stop what THEY'RE doing!

I guess I'll wait and see. The pickup has already been shipped (props to Mike's Music on Ebay for getting this thing out so fast - and for actually having it in stock!) I've watched a few videos on how to replace the pickguard on a strat, and it doesn't look overly complicated. The videos I saw didn't get into the pickup wiring...but it certainly is accessible enough.

Anyway..your posts have been extremely helpful. I'm actually looking forward to giving this a shot...and I'm certainly more confident now..about the whole process. If it gets a little too sketchy for me, obviously, I'll bring it to my tech....but I'm optimistic. Either way, I'll certainly post how everything goes...

I gotta say..for all the $@!&#*% posts that you have to weed through on online forums...it's responses like this that make it worth it. Thanks again buddy...have a good one man!

Todd

Definitely let us know how you made out.

You're quite welcome. Any time you need help, just yell!

_________________
You dig?

Hey Martian...I promised I'd let you know how everything went. Let me start by saying in the very beginning, ultimately, the end result is fantastic....I couldn't be happier.

...but it was a little bit of a bumpy road. I got the pickup friday afternoon..which was good cause i knew i might be working on it all night.

First lesson learned (and I should've listened more carefully to the guys on Youtube)...cover the guitar when working on it...to protect the finish. So I lifted the pick guard up and out of the body, and was examining the wires, trying to do a comparison of the stock pickup compared to the Duncan. When I put the pickguard back in place (temporarily), I noticed that my finish (right under the pick guard) was scratched. Oh well...chalk it up as a battle scar.

So then I started taking the old pickup out. I attempted to de-solder the old wires...the one off the selector switch came right off. But the two wires on the volume pot were really on there good. No matter how long I kept the soldering iron on there, the wires would not rip off. That was the same point I always get to...time to throw in the towel. I snipped the tiny little bit of wire left on that volume pot, just so I could remove the old pickup. To my horror, the new pickup didn't quite fit in the hole in the pickguard...or I should say, it didn't fit all the way through...as in, I couldn't push it all the way in. The TB-5 was slightly too wide. Either way, I knew there's a chance I coiud've f'd things up worse, so I packed it in and took it to my tech. I just requested that he solder in the pickup and mount it in the guitar...I'd do the rest. He's a good guy...charged me 20 bucks...pickup installations at that place are usually closer to $40.

Sorry to keep rambling...Just want to make sure my story is straight (for anyone else thinking about doing this upgrade). so I got the guitar back yesterday. I noticed that he didn't use the two holes (on top) and one on the bottom to mount the pickup...he must've just drilled a small hole so that there was one on top and one on the bottom (both centered)...and then two empty holes (which are so small, you'd never see them unless you were looking for them). I asked him why it was done this way, and it turns out, he had a little trouble getting it through the pickguard as well...at least straight...because of the width.

I'm not sure if it's strange on Seymour Duncan's part, or on Fender's part, that the hole in the pickguard (for the humbucker) is too narrow for that TB-5...not too narrow..but definitely tight. My tech managed to get it through there (albeit, some of the cloth stuff - have no idea what it's called..around the perimeter of the humbucker...you know, the black almost tape-like stuff that hides the mangnets/wires/etc - is now pulled down a little up around the top part of the pickup....the pickguard is actually pulling it down. Fortunately, these pickups are pretty high output, so no worries that it sits a little lower than I normally like (I set my bridge humbucker unusually high because I primarily play through a little Line6 pocket pod, and the guitar won't sustain well enough unless I raise the pickups a little bit...of course, I lower them back to spec when I play through my amp/effects. Good news is, I wouldn't have to do that with this guitar...the height is perfect..whether playing through the headphones, or through my rig.

So....wew! At the end of the day, the pickup is mounted...no need to buy another pickguard, and the thing sounds killer (and I've always liked the way the neck feels on these guitars...and how it plays). I appreciate your help with this thing man. I guess my old days of working on electronics have not paid off, because my soldering skills kinda suck. Oh well...I got a killer sounding guitar out of it. Here's a pic of the end result. Camera phone shot, so not the greatest...I'll take some real pictures tonight.

Todd

All's well that ends well!

You're quite welcome and now, all that's left to do is for you to enjoy your guitar to the extreme!

Enjoy!!!

_________________
You dig?