X-500 pickup question

[mad dog]

I've been considering trying other pickups in my 2001 X-500. Having heard a set of Lollar Imperials in a friend's old Ibanez hollowbody, thiose pickups are high on the list. Now I have the chance to pickup up a set of Imperials ... the seller tells me they are "4 conductor" pickups.

Being completely ig'nant of pickup wiring, does that mean anything important? Would I be able to use these pickups in the X-500 without modification? And a related question: would I need to buy a set of pickup rings to make the switch? (This was one of the last Westerly built; assuming that makes these the Fender HB-1 pickups.)

Thanks for your help.
MD

 

[Walter Broes]

4-conductor means that if you want to install coil taps, or have other custom switching options like both coils parallel, out of phase, etc.., you can, but you don't have to. You can install them as if they were regular two-wire humbuckers.

 

[mad dog]

Thanks Walter! Would I need pickup rings, or do other pickups drop right into the Guild ones with no mods?

MD

 

[Walter Broes]

I have no idea, but I'm sure someone who knows will chime in!

 

[Jeff Haddad]

Guild humbuckers usually have 3 adjusting screws, most others only have 2. Better to replace the pickup rings (keep them with the pickups) and get the right kind for your replacement pu's.

 

[hideglue]

What Jeff says.

And keep in mind that Guild used metal tabs to attach to & modify Duncan pickups to a 3 screw adjustment.