New Pickup Thoughts (X170T)

[GAD]

So I've been less than impressed with the fender HB1s in my X170T. They look great, but they're just *meh* otherwise. I had come to live with them until I got the redhead, and she's got SD1s that blow the fender stuff away.

Now on my SF4, I had the pickups rewound and love 'em now. They still look like Fender HB1s, but they sound like the $300 boutique pickups that they are.

On the X170T, it's just begging for a set of TV Jones Classics. I've got them in the shopping cart ready to pay when it struck me that I'd likely enjoy them even more if I replaced the electronics. I've had great success with doing this on my solid bodies. Yeah it's a PITA on hollow/semis, but I love doing that sort of work, so I'm good there.

The X170T has a coil tap switch, which is a very unique switch that I've never been able to find. It's a single switch that splits both pickups at once. Pretty cool until it breaks. Anyway TV Jones doesn't recommend splitting the Classics because they're only 4k to begin with, so splitting them makes them really weak. If I don't split them, then I've got a switch/hole serving no purpose. I so wish my coil tap was on the bottom bout - I'd throw a master volume in there in a second. I'm still tempted to add one, but drilling into that beautiful guitar isn't something I'm willing to do lightly.

Any recommendation on what to do with the extra hole? I could just leave it like Brian Setzer does, but I'm not an "open hole" kinda guy (easy fellas!). I have no desire to add a Gretsch-style mud switch. Then I had the thought that I could put the MV where the coil tap is. What do you think?

From this:

To this (via photoshop mock-up):

It looks a little goofy, so maybe finding a smaller knob like Guild uses, or maybe a big 'ol Gretsch knob. I thought it would get in the way, but the reach seams even better than if it were on the lower bout. Best of all it would be a totally reversable mod. I could pull the entire harness with pickups out and store them, so I could return the guitar to stock if needed.

Thoughts?

GAD

 

[AlohaJoe]

That's the way to do it... no drilling and it's reversible... perfect! I'd never do an alteration if a reversible option is available.

No big honkin' knobs though, it's too pretty a guitar. Something tasteful like the smaller Guild knobs or something small like this http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Knobs/Dome_knobs/Bevel-top_Knob.html, or even a simple black dome knob. It's an elegant guitar but considering the color and the gold hardware, it's already got just the right amount of flash... I'd keep it simple.

 

[GAD]

That's the way to do it... no drilling and it's reversible... perfect! I'd never do an alteration if a reversible option is available.

No big honkin' knobs though, it's too pretty a guitar. Something tasteful like the smaller Guild knobs or something small like this http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Knobs/Dome_knobs/Bevel-top_Knob.html, or even a simple black dome knob. It's an elegant guitar but considering the color and the gold hardware, it's already got just the right amount of flash... I'd keep it simple.

Somehow the larger diameter of a bigger knob makes for easier rolling. Still, I agree that a big honkin' knob up top will look goofy. Luckily changing knobs is a 10-second chore, so I'll try a bunch!

 

[yettoblaster]

Maybe a coil splitter and put the pickups in series would make an interesting sound when combined.

Or a MV with a push-pull switch for series, and a pull switch on one of the other pots for the coil split.

I should shut up now. I've been known to complicate a guitar enough that it's a pain for live stage use because it's confusing.

 

[mad dog]

I would do just what you propose re: master volume, except I would find a smaller knob. The smaller, not flared one would work with the beautiful look of that guitar. And I sure do find the MV useful on my Starfire VI ... keep wishing I had one like it on the ES-335.
MD