594 WL pickup swap

[dmatthews]

Some of you know I grabbed a 2017 594 WL a while back.
https://forums.prsguitars.com/threads/ngd-wl-594-satin-oh-yes.41777/
Somebody decided that the bridge needed a Dimarzio.
Nice pup but I wanted to have it stock.
As the sale came with a 58/15 LT I jumped on it only to discover that it is a two conductor pup as used in HB guitars.
So I found a local guy that would tap the 58/15LT and install it.
Wish me luck, I'll get it back on Monday.

 

[Black Plaid]

Some of you know I grabbed a 2017 594 WL a while back.
https://forums.prsguitars.com/threads/ngd-wl-594-satin-oh-yes.41777/
Somebody decided that the bridge needed a Dimarzio.
Nice pup but I wanted to have it stock.
As the sale came with a 58/15 LT I jumped on it only to discover that it is a two conductor pup as used in HB guitars.
So I found a local guy that would tap the 58/15LT and install it.
Wish me luck, I'll get it back on Monday.

Wow, good luck, I can't imagine handing a $200 pickup over to someone to take it apart and attempt to separate out the jumper wire to make it 4 conductor.

 

[dmatthews]

Wow, good luck, I can't imagine handing a $200 pickup over to someone to take it apart and attempt to separate out the jumper wire to make it 4 conductor.

Dude was nonchalant.
Interesting indeed. Nice guy and has been doing mods/repairs for almost 30 years.
I can always put the Dimarzio back in, but this seems like a worthy experiment for $70 CAD

 

[Herr Squid]

That wouldn't be hard for somebody with the experience and the skills.

(I have neither. All I know is that those wires are tiny and my soldering messes are big)

 

[Herr Squid]

Hmm, that 58/15 LT should have had the white wire alongside the shielded wire. Did it not?

 

[Andrew Paul]

Looking forward to hearing the results.

 

[Callan]

$70 cad you say?
I have a set of 57/08's here that also came from a HBii and would like to be able to split them (they currently live in my Gibson, not that I play it very much)

I'm interested to hear how you go, good luck

 

[bodia]

Go Dave, go!

 

[dmatthews]

Hmm, that 58/15 LT should have had the white wire alongside the shielded wire. Did it not?

That's what I assumed as well, but not all 5815LTs were made with the 3rd white wire. Confirmed by Shawn.

 

[dmatthews]

Looking forward to hearing the results.

Me too! Can't wait.

 

[dmatthews]

$70 cad you say?
I have a set of 57/08's here that also came from a HBii and would like to be able to split them (they currently live in my Gibson, not that I play it very much)

I'm interested to hear how you go, good luck

Yup... $50 to add the tap, and $20 to install it. Jumped on it!

 

[dmatthews]

Go Dave, go!

Fast as I can!

 

[dmatthews]

OK here it is...
Had one practice and a couple hours at home with the tapped/modified 5815 LT in the bridge.
Tapped you get that spank/quack when you want it. Reacts just as I'd expect the original pup to, and you know you're there with a little added hum.
Humbucker mode is glorious and adds that wonderful mid and drive.
The tap on the bridge falls in line nicely with the tap on the neck pup. Same like same.
If you have a similar pup without the 3rd wire and want to be able to split/tap it, run don't walk to a luthier/tech that knows how to do it.
Not sure why I didn't think of it earlier, but yeah... it works!
And it looks cool/stock too!

 

[ViperDoc]

Could the third wire be hidden under the cover? How else would the 58/15LT be tapped?

 

[dmatthews]

Could the third wire be hidden under the cover? How else would the 58/15LT be tapped?

Nope. The 5815 LT that I got was 2 wire only.
There's a common connection between the two coils, and that's what you tap.

 

[ViperDoc]

Nope. The 5815 LT that I got was 2 wire only.
There's a common connection between the two coils, and that's what you tap.

The 5815 LT uses a braid-shielded wire for hot and ground, and the white wire is connected between the coils as you said. This is two wires, but technically three conductor. All you have to do is connect the white wire to ground through a switch and you’ll get your coil tap. All your tech had to do was install the pickup and wire the tap up. No pickup modification required.

 

[dmatthews]

The 5815 LT uses a braid-shielded wire for hot and ground, and the white wire is connected between the coils as you said. This is two wires, but technically three conductor. All you have to do is connect the white wire to ground through a switch and you’ll get your coil tap. All your tech had to do was install the pickup and wire the tap up. No pickup modification required.

Yup... I think we're both saying the same thing in two different ways.
In any case, a simple addition that I didn't feel comfortable doing myself but am thrilled with the results.

 

[dmatthews]

Gratuitous after shots...