Humbucker in Mustang

superfilip

I have a 65 Mustang reissue and I want to install a JB Humbucker in the bridge postition. What would be the best way to carve out space for the pickup? I have also heard that some people use 500k pots when they install humbuckers; what is the purpose of that, and would you recommed me to do that as well?

/Superfilip

harrison

first off i'd suggest looking into the jb junior, or a hot/cool rail. because i went the full size direction and now have a gaping hole i can never get rid of. if you arent pleased with the sound of the single coil sized humbuckers then you will need a router, and some basic woodworking skills. also a custom pick guard will have to be bought or made yourself. the pot change is due to the higher output of the pickup and with the standard 250's people say it can sound muddy, but i never had this problem.

jacksonjackass

I changed the pots in my old strat ages ago and I was pretty damn happy with the result.... you could be too.

But yes sir, A router is pretty much the only way to go. You might also want to get the routing templates for making humbucker cavities and a guided router bit from stewmac.com to do a more accurate job. You could even use the original pickguard and route that out to fit instead of getting a new one.

Welcome to the forums 😉

tragictravisty

higher resistance pots = more treble + volume. don't buy from the thieves at stewmac.

jacksonjackass

tragictravisty said: higher resistance pots = more treble + volume. don't buy from the thieves at stewmac.

I know the bits are a complete rip off but there's little option if you want them to work with those templates they sell. Why are stewmac theives anyway?

superfilip

Ok thanks for the great advice

tragictravisty

tragictravisty said: higher resistance pots = more treble + volume. don't buy from the thieves at stewmac.

cause the prices are absolutely ridiculous, for plenty of things which you can buy at lots of other places. isn't the cost of a 1M pot like 10 bucks?

jacksonjackass

No, he should get a pickup instead of that rip-off JB from GFS who are much cheaper.

tragictravisty

...no you stupid ####. again, stop pretending like you know things. order from an electronics dealer. if you are liable to #### up ordering from huge lists like that, order from small-bear - they specialize in guitar related electronics, and their prices are naturally higher than those of a mega-store like digikey, but it's harder to #### up. a pot there will cost you maybe 25 cents.

jacksonjackass

I was saying he should get a pickup from GFS

bobcat1979

If youre not totally comfortable using a router i'd do what harrison suggested and grab a lil' 50 from seymour duncan or Dimarzio ProTrack. It's easier to drop a single coil humbucker in than take a chunk of wood out your guitar. saves on the pickguard too.

Of course i don't know if you used woodworking tools. Fran would give you a better idea of the difficulty level. I think he's a carpenter.