Replacing pickups on old strat clone

[Jimi2]

I recently reacquired my very first electric guitar - a 1990ish Peavey Predator. Thought I'd fix it up - learn to do a setup and replace the pickups for an upgrade. First time with both - any good resources online for instructions on how to do this?

[The Old Gaffer]

Lots of online resources: videos, wiring diagrams (check out Seymour Duncan's website). A quick Google search will reveal thousands. For Instance:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SzV_62ClFaw

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8rpH2OSF1K8&t=5s

https://www.seymourduncan.com/resour...iring-diagrams

[guitararmy]

If you are looking for noiseless pickups the DiMarzio Area pu’s are nice.
If you want more oomph, the DiMarzio Fast Track pu’s are also nice. I have both of them in two of my strats...

[redir]

Those are great guitars imho for what they are. And you can still get them cheap.

Look into Duncan Hot Rails.

If you want true boutique and are willing to pay for it then Joe Barden.

[Jimi2]

Thanks all. I already had a set of Fender Tex mex pups on hand, and decided to try them. I’ve never soldered anything before, though. I thought I had everything connected right, but at first I was getting a terrible buzz, and now a less terrible buzz but no sound from the pickups. Might not be grounded right? I also had to reconnect the output jack, and may have done it in reverse. Just ordered a new jack, and will connect it up when it arrives in a few days. Any other ideas?

[FreeRangeTrout]

Without seeing some close up photos, it would be hard to guess. Another diagnostic tool is multi-meter - helps identify non-conductive solder joints and other stuff.

There are a lot of online resources, of course and many youtube videos. The youtube mentioned above has some good helpful reminders.

Here's a link to the StewMac site that has a standard Strat wiring diagram with one volume and two tone pots.
https://www.stewmac.com/video-and-id...l-pickups.html

Here's a youtube vid to watch that addresses just the output jack wiring and the ground wire.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sycMq2Fd2Pg

I'm a tele player, simpler set up - I've done a few pickup swaps. My soldering is effective, but not always pretty...

[Jimi2]

Originally Posted by FreeRangeTrout

Without seeing some close up photos, it would be hard to guess. Another diagnostic tool is multi-meter - helps identify non-conductive solder joints and other stuff.

There are a lot of online resources, of course and many youtube videos. The youtube mentioned above has some good helpful reminders.

Here's a link to the StewMac site that has a standard Strat wiring diagram with one volume and two tone pots.
https://www.stewmac.com/video-and-id...l-pickups.html

Here's a youtube vid to watch that addresses just the output jack wiring and the ground wire.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sycMq2Fd2Pg

I'm a tele player, simpler set up - I've done a few pickup swaps. My soldering is effective, but not always pretty...

Great, thanks - I will check those out!

[neilca]

I just replaced my pickups on a Squier Bullet telecaster. Used pickups from Bootstrap. Good pickups and hand made in Ohio. Reasonable priced. I recommend them.

[TiffanyGuitar]

When first learning to solder and keep things as noise free as possible, it it like anything else, it takes practice. Once you get it, though, you won't forget.

A couple of tips...

1) Keep your soldering iron clean between solders (use a sponge t wipe the tip)
2) Before going in to solder, pre-tin the soldering iron with fresh solder,
3) Pre-tin the wire ends,
4) Pre tin the back of pots
5) I will sometimes pre-tin jacks, but you don't have to
6) Protect the the guitar from solder splatter with old dish rags.
7) get some alligator clips - these are not expensive and they can help hold wires in place and will also work as heat sinks to protect resistors and capacitors.

I looked at loads of videos learning - and honestly screwed up a couple of pots in the process. I also screwed up the wires on one pickups and had to send it back to Seymour Duncan to be fixed. But, I eventually got it, and I am pretty good at it now.

As for pickups - these can be very personal choices. I think it is hard to go wrong - especially at first - with Seymour Duncan. They don't tend to be terribly expensive and they sound good. But your playing style and what you want to play matters. I saw someone mention hot rails - nice pickups - but they are hot...so they don't work for everyone. If you are looking for SRV or Clapton - you probably want something more vintage inspired.