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Posted March 21, 2022 in News
A guitar is more than the sum of its parts, but sometimes there’s a part that could really make a difference. Many guitarists have a choice of whether to modify their existing guitar or to go for a different one entirely. In the guitar world, mods are very common, and many guitarists seek that special mod to take their guitar to the next level.
One of the most popular guitar modifications is the pickup swap. For a vast majority of electric guitars, this is something that is very much possible, and can result in a huge tonal overhaul.
Humbuckers are often known for creamy, thick cleans or high, balls to the wall, gain that don’t have a 60-cycle hum. Meanwhile, a signature glassy tone or spank can be found in single coils. A pickup swap may just give you the character you desire in a certain position on the guitar. A complication may be the guitar cavity itself, as humbuckers have a thicker physical configuration and fit must be considered. For those who desire a single coil sound with a humbucker cutout, the P90 single coil is popular, offering a signature single coil sound with a humbucker size. Similarly, there are single coil pickups that are wired to be noiseless, that fit in those narrower cavities.
A majority of the modern humbucker pickups today came with a 4-wire cable (a humbucker pickup is made by 2 single coil pickups). That means that you are able to rewire the pickup and get different tones. Traditionally (Gibson) a humbucker comes prewired with the 2 coils connected in series. If your pickup has 4 conductors, then you can rewire the 2 coils in parallel or series mode or split the pickup and use just one coil (single coil mode).George Vasiliou, Senior Guitar Technician, Plek Certified
We spoke to Cosmo Music’s own George Vasiliou, a veritable guitar wizard (the more technical term is Senior Guitar Technician, Plek Certified). For George, tone can be adjusted beyond just choosing a pickup, as he deals with the modifications of rewiring the electronics of the guitar itself. A humbucker, for example, can be rewired to be split so that a single coil configuration can be used.
In addition to pickups, everything from tone pots to potentiometers can often be replaced, and in many guitars, such as this Gibson Flying V, the electronics are located under the pickguard.
While George is passionate about folks getting their hands dirty with DIY, there’s a reason why he’s one of our trusted people when an instrument needs to be taken apart. For modifications like wiring of electronics, soldering skills and a more robust knowledge of electronics may be required. Our repair department is well equipped for situations like these.
DIY modifications that are more known for ease is replacement of hardware such as volume knobs or tuning machines. However, knowledge of compatibility is key. For example, certain headstocks may require holes to be drilled to fit certain locking tuners. In these cases, our product specialists can easily help find the right parts.
There is always the danger to do some minor damage (especially on the finish) on the guitar but If someone has some kind of skill and the right tools, they may be able to do it at home. For most cases, it is always better and safer to take your guitar to a guitar tech.George Vasiliou, Senior Guitar Technician, Plek Certified
While a guitar can be taken apart and modified in many different ways, ultimately the decision lies with you on whether it’s worth exploring modifications to your guitar innards, or trying out new ones. If you do decide to mod, our dedicated team of professionals in our repair department is here to make sure the job is done right.
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