What’s the best method for pickup swap on a hollowbody?

[RickP]

As most here know, I’m a fairly recent convert to love of the PRS core hollowbody guitars. I was considering swapping out pickups in a McCarty HB 1 to get a better match with my 594 Hollowbody 2, but have never swapped pickups or controls on a guitar without cover/pickguard access to the controls. There must be a standard method of working in these things.

Although I’m not 100% opposed to the cut and solder method, I’d really rather remove the wire at the pots. It appears, though, that there are also wire retainers inside the guitar the might make removing the whole wire difficult.

If anyone can point me to a good pictorial type primer on this, or a video that applies to PRS guitars, I’d like to start the research and learning process to decide if it’s even worth the hassle. Thanks in advance for sharing your know-how!

 

[CandidPicker]

Here ya go, old buddy...be sure to view the entire video because the guy does something that illustrates what could happen if you don't do something the correct way.

 

[RickP]

Here ya go, old buddy...be sure to view the entire video because the guy does something that illustrates what could happen if you don't do something the correct way.

I saw that one on the list but it looked a bit strange…. Going to watch it on your recommendation.

UPDATE: It’s cool that it’s from Guitar Chimp… actually bought my HB Spruce from them. This looks pretty straight-forward, which means I’ll likely bork it up several times along the way! I do like the surgical tubing idea, I hadn’t thought of that.

Now, if I can find anything showing this on a PRS for the cable arrachments…

Thanks, @CandidPicker !

 

[bodia]

All I got is tie strings to the pot shafts before you take them out. You can then use the strings to pull them back through when re-installing

 

[Boogie]

All I got is tie strings to the pot shafts before you take them out. You can then use the strings to pull them back through when re-installing

As the owner of a 335, the answer is, tie a long string on everything. The alternatives suck big ones.

 

[garrettb]

If you're just doing pickups on a non-594 Hollowbody, it's pretty easy. There is no need to pull the pots.

Put some masking tape around the f-hole to prevent scratches.
Undo the nut on the switch and then you can drop it into the body and wriggle it back up through the f-hole.
Desolder & remove pickups.
Run your new pickup wires through the body and back out the f-hole.
Solder and then put it back together.
Rawk.

 

[RickP]

If you're just doing pickups on a non-594 Hollowbody, it's pretty easy. There is no need to pull the pots.

Put some masking tape around the f-hole to prevent scratches.
Undo the nut on the switch and then you can drop it into the body and wriggle it back up through the f-hole.
Desolder & remove pickups.
Run your new pickup wires through the body and back out the f-hole.
Solder and then put it back together.
Rawk.

This had not occurred to me. Good time to clean the selector switch too. Thanks, Garrett!

 

[Herr Squid]

This had not occurred to me. Good time to clean the selector switch too. Thanks, Garrett!

Yep, selector switch was all I needed to pull on the two I've done. Do tie a couple feet of string or yarn to that switch before you drop it into the body so you can fish it back into place once you're done soldering.

 

[Rapdog]

I 2nd herr squid. I only had to pu the 3 way switch on mine to swap out. I would rec the specific nut tool to loosen or tighten the switch back on as it will make life much easier. Either steac one or I also got one from Amazon.

 

[RickP]

Yep, selector switch was all I needed to pull on the two I've done. Do tie a couple feet of string or yarn to that switch before you drop it into the body so you can fish it back into place once you're done soldering.

Losing something into the body is a concern, as I wasn’t sure if there were any washers, etc, on the bottom side. But like you and others point out, with something ties up top nothing can go far!

I 2nd herr squid. I only had to pu the 3 way switch on mine to swap out. I would rec the specific nut tool to loosen or tighten the switch back on as it will make life much easier. Either steac one or I also got one from Amazon.

Thanks Jay. I’ve thought about buying on of those things a hundred time. I need to just do it!

 

[CandidPicker]

Rick, washers slide up onto the string on the outside after the selector or pot drops into the cavity. When you pull back on the string to secure the selector/pot, the washer is there to tighten. Best wishes!

 

[NBW]

I changed the pickups, pots, and jack. I tied stainless steel muffler wire around the pots and jack. Kind of re placed everything wholesale. If you take the jack plate off the SE hollow body you can get a tool or dowel in there to help manipulate things. This was especially handy as the wiring was clipped in in places.

 

[RickP]

This was especially handy as the wiring was clipped in in places.

That’s a part of what I was worried about. I wasn’t sure if the HB Spruce has tie down spots or not. I was considering a complete rewire so I could drop the original harness back in if I wanted. I’m still in research mode.

 

[Draconomics]

I have an Ibanez jazz box that needs pickups. My plan was to reuse the harness and splice in new pickups. Never had to do full harness replacements on one. Ill admit, looks a bit intimidating.

 

[RickP]

I have an Ibanez jazz box that needs pickups. My plan was to reuse the harness and splice in new pickups. Never had to do full harness replacements on one. Ill admit, looks a bit intimidating.

I’m leaning towards following that “drop out the selector and wire to there” advice right now. Simple, with a minimum of hair-pulling. I like that!