Official Luthiers Forum!

I've looked at this a bit, but don't know too much about this area. Nor do I really want to, as my emphasis is on acoustics. HOWEVER ....

I have an electric that I had assembled in the 80s. It has a 70s strat neck, african walnut strat shape body, original floyd rose, and EMG active humbuckers (not sure which model), wired with vol, tone, tone & a 5 way that only really works as a 3 way.

I want to switch out the pickups for some passive humbuckers, something with mainly a clean warm sound, and replace all the crackly old pots, cover the cavities in grounding tape etc.

Not looking to spend a fortune on the humbuckers, and thinking the GFS Classic IIs maybe? Anyone have experience with these? http://www.guitarfetish.com/GFS-Classic-II-Alnico-2-Vintage-wound-Humbuckers-Black-_c_86.html

Or maybe the stewmac golden ages? http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Electronics,_pickups/Pickups:_Guitar,_electric/Golden_Age_Humbuckers.html

In terms of wiring it up, for a bit of flexibility, was looking at the seymour duncan site wirings, something like the "2vol, 1tone, 3way, push/pull," but am not super-clear on what the push/pull pot would do in this setup ... provide a split of whichever humbucker was selected? http://www.seymourduncan.com/support/wiring-diagrams/schematics.php?schematic=2h_2v_1t_3w_pp

Any input, clarification, or better ideas gratefully appreciated, thanks!

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If trees could scream, would we be so cavalier about cutting them down? We might, if they screamed all the time, for no good reason. - Jack Handey

Yeah, looks like the push/pull splits the 'buckers to me.
As for pickups, the GFS ones you mention I have been meaning to try. I bet they'd fit the bill for what you're looking for.
I have a set of their Vintage '59's that I love. They get a nice warm tone, but you won't get super clean out of them unless you back off the volume on the guitar slightly. IME with them, they push an amp pretty good, and you can get a nice, warm, yet slightly compressed tone out of them. The guitar they are in right now is the nicest sounding guitar I've ever owned, and I've owned some nice guitars(with some nice pups in them) in my day. i will definately use those pickups again.

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Mike

The only thing nescessary for evil to thrive is for good men to do nothing.

Thanks Mike, yeah, I think I will give that setup a go ... I'll letcha know how it turns out!

(oh btw, the stewmac customer satisfaction ratings/reviews on the 3-way & 5-way switches is scary!!! any hints there? guess i can just go to a local shop for one)

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If trees could scream, would we be so cavalier about cutting them down? We might, if they screamed all the time, for no good reason. - Jack Handey

I used the Vintage '59's on my last build - love 'em! Warm and just clean enough.
I have also used the Crunchy Pat's - and yes, they are nicely crunchy!

Hi Al,

You are correct, the p/p splits the coils on both pickups.

Steve

Cool, thanks guys

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If trees could scream, would we be so cavalier about cutting them down? We might, if they screamed all the time, for no good reason. - Jack Handey