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Post subject: Replacing pickups from single-coil to humbucker
Posted: Fri Dec 28, 2012 4:08 pm
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I'm considering a tele select, but I would like a humbucker at the neck, like the one on the standard strat HSS. Is that an easy thing to do? What do I need to consider? Waht choices do I have?


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Post subject: Re: Replacing pickups from single-coil to humbucker
Posted: Fri Dec 28, 2012 8:17 pm
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If the Tele Select is routed under the pickguard for a humbucker then it's easy. You would need to order a new pickguard and the pickup. Then it's just desoldering the leads from the old pickup and soldering the new ones in its place. Again, depends if the body on the Select series is routed out underneath the pickguard. If not, then it's a fair bit more involved.

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Post subject: Re: Replacing pickups from single-coil to humbucker
Posted: Fri Dec 28, 2012 8:19 pm
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Here's an SH pickguard.

Image

Please bear in mind that most Tele SHs usually came with a metal-covered humbucking pickup. Some models even feature a super 5-way switch for coil-splitting.


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Post subject: Re: Replacing pickups from single-coil to humbucker
Posted: Sat Dec 29, 2012 6:06 am
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There are humbucker pickups that are the same size and depth as the single neck Tele pickup. I'm considering the DiMarzio Area T which has the chrome cover and looks exactly like the standard pickup. I believe it's a side-by-side humbucker but it may be a stacked humbucker. It's designed to sound like the standard Tele neck pickup but with hum canceling. No routing required and an easy swap. There are other single size true side-by-side humbuckers available.

Here's the Area T:
Image

This is the Seymour Duncan Vintage Stack:
Image
It's voiced to sound like a vintage tele neck pickup but it's a stacked humbucker so you get hum canceling.

Here's the Seymour Duncan STHR-1n (n for neck) on the right:
Image
It's a high output aggressive pickup.

All of these pickups use 4-conductor wiring so you have the option of wiring them to a coil cut or serial/split/parallel switch which would give you 7 different tones to select from. It looks like the pickguard may have to be altered to make the STHR-1n pickup fit but I'm not sure.

If you want the classic soap bar shape humbucker look you'll most likely have to rout out the pickup cavity and then re-shield the cavity.


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Post subject: Re: Replacing pickups from single-coil to humbucker
Posted: Sat Dec 29, 2012 10:51 am
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There are also hum-cancellers and regular full-sized humbuckers for T-style guitars from "boutique" pickup manufacturers such as John Suhr, Curtis Novak, James Tyler, Bare Knuckle, Tom Anderson, David Schecter, Dr. Allen and Rio Grande.

Generally boutique pickups are extremely expensive.


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Post subject: Re: Replacing pickups from single-coil to humbucker
Posted: Sat Dec 29, 2012 11:48 am
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Consider too, if you use two different brands, you MAY run into phasing issues.

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Post subject: Re: Replacing pickups from single-coil to humbucker
Posted: Sat Dec 29, 2012 1:37 pm
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Martian wrote:
Consider too, if you use two different brands, you MAY run into phasing issues.


A four conductor humbucker allows for (relatively) easy electrical phase correction and most allow an easy magnet flip to fix magnetic phase issues.

Electric and magnetic phase can get complicated when going from HSS to HSH. If you're not trying to coil split the new neck humbucker and don't mind losing hum canceling when combining the neck and mid pup (which would require coil splitting) the wiring is easy. If it turns out the neck is OOP you'd simply reverse the pickup wires. Magnetic polarity wouldn't be an issue since you're using both coils of the humbucker. This is my plan if I do go with a humbucking neck pickup.


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Post subject: Re: Replacing pickups from single-coil to humbucker
Posted: Sat Dec 29, 2012 1:51 pm
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robrob wrote:
...A four conductor humbucker allows for (relatively) easy electrical phase correction and most allow an easy magnet flip to fix magnetic phase issues.


Which may or may not result in the pickup becoming microphonic if the pickup isn't subsequently (re)potted.

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Post subject: Re: Replacing pickups from single-coil to humbucker
Posted: Sun Dec 30, 2012 9:15 am
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Thanx a lot all for your responses. I do read a lot of if's en when's. I wasn't planning on doing it myself either, which some repliers might be thinking. Just wanted to know if it would be something that wouldn't take as much effort and money that it wouldn't be wise.


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Post subject: Re: Replacing pickups from single-coil to humbucker
Posted: Sun Dec 30, 2012 10:18 am
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Malphie48 wrote:
Thanx a lot all for your responses. I do read a lot of if's en when's. I wasn't planning on doing it myself either, which some repliers might be thinking. Just wanted to know if it would be something that wouldn't take as much effort and money that it wouldn't be wise.


Malphie,

On behalf of us all, a belated welcome and you're quite welcome!

As you've acknowledged, there are a lot of variables to consider where you wisely chose to gather your information prior to getting involved with any kind of project.

Yes, it can get a bit complicated which usually translates to expensive. I perceive that you are also attracted to the cosmetic appearance of a full sized humbucker in the neck position - You and millions of other Tele enthusiasts! I won't try to persuade you either way but I will say this: All things considered, you have to ultimately ask yourself if it would be worth it to you. Not just in terms of whatever monies spent mind you but with the worth of the sustained enjoyment in the final product. If you're by any means undecided, do nothing!

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Post subject: Re: Replacing pickups from single-coil to humbucker
Posted: Sun Dec 30, 2012 2:25 pm
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You precieve well ;-) And not just the pickups have to look good. To be frank... a standard tele is just not an attractive instrument. I own a Les Paul Supreme and an L4. I guess that you can say I'm spoiled when it come down to looks. I bought an American Standard Strat a few years ago just because of the really different sound (from Gibson), but found the single-coil pickups just too juiceless in comparison with the Gibson humbuckers... Just so you understand where my question comes from.
I guess I'll go to the shop (a Fender authorized one) and let them take the responsibility. If they won't ... well I just won't do it and keep on looking for some compromise configuration that can be bought from the shelf. No hurry here... that's my advantage.


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Post subject: Re: Replacing pickups from single-coil to humbucker
Posted: Sun Dec 30, 2012 3:09 pm
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Malphie, this is my MP Tele with the pickguard off. You can see the size of the standard neck and full size humbucker cavities. Most likely your Tele would have the same size neck cavity so you'd have to have the cavity enlarged by routing, then the cavity would need to be re-shielded with conductive paint.

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Post subject: Re: Replacing pickups from single-coil to humbucker
Posted: Sun Dec 30, 2012 3:14 pm
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$@!&! That sounds serious :-( Plan B I guess.... sob...


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Post subject: Re: Replacing pickups from single-coil to humbucker
Posted: Tue Jan 01, 2013 2:25 am
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My '09 American Standard is routed out for a humbucker at the neck and a single middle pickup underneath the pickguard. The only thing they didn't do is route out the two extra little oblong shaped holes to accommodate the usually very long pickup mounting screws for the humbucker, so I had to chop off the excess thread of the screws to get the pickguard to mount flat with the HB in it.

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Post subject: Re: Replacing pickups from single-coil to humbucker
Posted: Fri Jan 04, 2013 5:03 pm
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After doing some research I ordered a DiMarzio Area T stacked humbucker for the neck in my MP Tele Plus. I wanted a standard looking chrome covered humbucking pickup with close to standard tone. I'm not sure if I'll just wire it for series or do some routing to add a series/split/parallel and phase switch for it.


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