Has anyone changed there 408 pick ups???

[Laffy]

Hi,
Was just wondering has anyone successfully swapped out there 408 pick ups??? I'm wanting to put a mini humbucker in the neck and a standard size in the bridge. Can't find any info on anyone else who has attempted it and if they have.....was there any issues like cavity depth?? Would really appreciate some advice!!
Anyone....
Laffy

 

[Laffy]

Has anyone changed there 408 pick ups??

Hi,
Was just wondering has anyone successfully swapped out there 408 pick ups??? I'm wanting to put a mini humbucker in the neck and a standard size in the bridge. Can't find any info on anyone else who has attempted it and if they have.....was there any issues like cavity depth?? Would really appreciate some advice!!
Anyone....
Laffy

 

[kmburkhart]

Not sure how many people out there would change their 408 pickups - don't take that the wrong way at all, but that's the main reason why they are so well regarded! I'd love a 408 MT Trem w/piezo...

 

[CoreyT]

No reason to swap them out.
It will no longer be a 408.

 

[Laffy]

Not sure how many people out there would change their 408 pickups - don't take that the wrong way at all, but that's the main reason why they are so well regarded! I'd love a 408 MT Trem w/piezo...

I just find the neck pick up way to hot and muddy....even when split. I know a lot of people love them, i just find when I'm using it live especially the neck just doesn't cut it!! Was an impulse buy and now I'm just trying to make it work as I do love the playability of it!! There must be one person out there who has changed them??

 

[John Beef]

I believe when you buy a 408 you're pretty much buying the guitar as is. 408 pickups are not a standard/generic size.

 

[]-[@n$0Ma☩!©]

Threads merged.

 

[]-[@n$0Ma☩!©]

I just find the neck pick up way to hot and muddy....even when split. I know a lot of people love them, i just find when I'm using it live especially the neck just doesn't cut it!! Was an impulse buy and now I'm just trying to make it work as I do love the playability of it!! There must be one person out there who has changed them??

Crappy amp (not likely)?

Good amp with settings not adjusted for the guitar (more likely)?

What amp was used when you bought it?

Have you lowered the neck pup?

Swap to stainless string (don't use cobalt strings) ?

Put the neck in full bucker mode, the treble in split mode, turn on both pups, and play this song (below). I think you'll like what you hear - assuming you're not rocking a JCM800 dimed-out for glory.

 

[]-[@n$0Ma☩!©]

Do we know each other ??? Or is it pure coincidence you posted a video of me playing??? Lol

Anyway in that video I'm in the middle position with the neck split and the bridge on full...amp is a Hk tubemeister 18 on the gain channel with the gain nearly all the way down and the master around half. Those maton guitars split extremely well!! The problem with the 408 is when it's split it's still sounds like a humbucker. If it split like the maton I wouldn't have an issue. When I bought the prs i tested it through a prs amp.... my main rig is a suhr badger 35 or the tubemeister. I have the neck humbucker sitting as low as possible which had made it a lot cleaner but it just has no spank to it and if you adjust the amp to it the bridge bucket sounds to toppy no to mention all the other guitar I use during the night will sound out of wack!!! Very frustrating ...no time to be mucking around with amp settings on stage!!!

Laffy, please excuse the clogged system. We've had a rash of trolls and spammers in the last 2 months. Your posts were getting caught up in the auto-moderation feature which allows us to scrub new members - to make sure they're legit before their posts hit the open forums. I've nuked the duplicates. I'm sorry for the hassle.

Welcome to the forum. I hope your situation with the 408 works out. Not many guys buy a guitar of that caliber on a whim.

Yes, I knew that was you. When I scrubbed your account details (to make sure you were legit) I ran across your YouTube page. You're a talented guy and I hope you stick around - even if you sell that 408 or trade it for a PRS that is better suited to your needs.

 

[Laffy]

Laffy, please excuse the clogged system. We've had a rash of trolls and spammers in the last 2 months. Your posts were getting caught up in the auto-moderation feature which allows us to scrub new members - to make sure they're legit before their posts hit the open forums. I've nuked the duplicates. I'm sorry for the hassle.

Welcome to the forum. I hope your situation with the 408 works out. Not many guys buy a guitar of that caliber on a whim.

Yes, I knew that was you. When I scrubbed your account details (to make sure you were legit) I ran across your YouTube page. You're a talented guy and I hope you stick around - even if you sell that 408 or trade it for a PRS that is better suited to your needs.

Ah cool..
i think I'm going to try a blend pot so I can bleed the bridge into the neck to give it abit more highs...hopefully should work as I've done some measuring and the cavity depth is too small for any other humbuckers.