Help - Installing New Pickup

[desertrat07]

I am expecting delivery of a new bridge pickup for my Legacy today (a Seymour Duncan SSL-5). I've never replaced a pickup before, but I like working on my own guitars so I am going to give it a try. Any tips or things to watch out for would be appreciated.

-Adam

[jonc]

I've found that the video walk-through's help a lot. Here's one by Seymour himself installing pups into a LP:

[youtube]jgib50ROqRc[/youtube]

and here's a search result that has Strat-style installs, etc. that you might find useful:

http://www.youtube.com/results?search_q ... strat&aq=f

The only suggestion I have is have everything ready beforehand, read through the instructions and plan out the steps, and most important GO SLOW.

Have fun.

[desertrat07]

Thanks for the advice - got thru the install without a hitch. I went slow for sure, but it was worth it. The sound of the new pickup is exactly what I was going for and I would highly recommend the SD SSL-5 to anybody looking for more ooomph from the bridge pup without going to a humbucker. Lots more output and sustain but still well-balanced with the stock middle and neck pups, and as it says on the box great for harmonics. I was more surprised by the sound of position 2 though, incredibly quacky and rich sounding. Amazing upgrade IMO.

[jonc]

I was thinking of going with a SSL-1 but will take a closer look at the SSL-5 since a bit hotter, slightly beefier, sustaining sound might work well in a guitar I've been tinkering with, and extra quack is always welcome. Glad the swap went well. Next thing you know you'll be wiring up different pickguards to swap in and out. Does your Legacy have a bathtub or individual pup routes? one of the plusses with bathtub routs is you can try a variety of pups including p90's, large MFD's, humbuckers, etc., but even w/o a bathtub you can try a lot of different sounds given the formats pups are available in. I've always wondered how a set of lipsticks would sound in a G&L? in any event nice job.

[Michael-GnL-Michael]

With the SSL-5 how is the noise when using the bridge pickup exclusively?

[desertrat07]

Next thing you know you'll be wiring up different pickguards to swap in and out. Does your Legacy have a bathtub or individual pup routes? one of the plusses with bathtub routs is you can try a variety of pups including p90's, large MFD's, humbuckers, etc.,

Yeah, it has a bathtub, and the thought has already crossed my mind to "experiment." It's such a relatively easy and affordable way to dramatically alter tone. Like having a new guitar . . . almost.

With the SSL-5 how is the noise when using the bridge pickup exclusively?

I can honestly say the hum is no better no worse. I am now noticing a slightly more dramatic volume drop when going from position 1 to 2, but probably just need to dial in pickup height a bit. The pickup is awesome though, and I like it much better than the stock bridge pup which sounded a little too tame for my taste. I actually got it because it's the bridge pup Fender uses in its David Gilmour Custom Shop, and I am a huge DG fan.