pickup dilemma for vintage SG junior

[jerry]

I have a 65 SG Junior in lesser -seen Polaris White ; it's all original and plays great . The downside is that the dogear P90 squeals when used at stage volume with anything approaching a reasonable level of gain . The options seem to be a) leave the guitar as it is and just play it at home , b) have Tim wax pot the pickup , c) put a new BKP dogear in . Both a) and b) mean breaking the original solder joint , but I'll be able to use the guitar as intended . All opinions welcome !

[kevinr]

If you like giging the guitar I would have a BKP fitted and enjoy it.

[Ratrod]

I'd keep the guitar as original as possible. So keep the original pickups.

If they sound good, just have them wax potted.

If they don't sound good (wich I doubt) have them rewound.

The last option holds two options again. Tim has a winding technique that prevents them from squeling without the need for wax potting. I'm not sure how effective this is with high gain though.

Or you can have them wound to your taste and wax potted.

[badgermark]

You could buy a new BKP and keep the old one safely away. Means if you ever decide to sell it you can sell it on stock for more $$$

[Will]

You could buy a new BKP and keep the old one safely away. Means if you ever decide to sell it you can sell it on stock for more $$$

I think some people get anal about pickup changes in older guitars though. ie the original solder joints being broken to swap out at one point or another, even if they are swapped back :?

Would you be content with playing the guitar live? Does it intonate well enough for playing out?

[hunter]

Not playing the guitar is a waste.

Potting the pickup is more of a change than soldering a new one in. You could order through a good vintage shop and have it fitted, if you ever decide to sell the guitar, use the sho reputation to advertise the alteration in a positive way and throw the original pickup in, so it will be an add-on rather than an off-putter. I am not a pro in vintage guitars though, so better ask in a vintage shop to get the right advis, to be able to make use of the guitar and retain its value.

[Philly Q]

I read the other day that if you unsolder the cable from the pickup, rather than unsoldering from the pot, it has less effect on the value of the guitar.

No idea if that's true or not, but seemed worth mentioning.

[HTH AMPS]

I read the other day that if you unsolder the cable from the pickup, rather than unsoldering from the pot, it has less effect on the value of the guitar.

No idea if that's true or not, but seemed worth mentioning.

on a vintage P90 you could do this too since they spliced the leads together.

on my old '67 SG junior, I had the same problem with the pickup squeeling - Tim potted it and I was able to gig it. 

[gwEm]

i would get tim to do the work on the original pickup..

[FernandoDuarte]

I'd keep the guitar as original as possible. So keep the original pickups.

I agree with it but not with the other part... I would change for a BKP and keep the original, so if someday the need for $$ come, sell it all original...

[dheim]

I'd keep the guitar as original as possible. So keep the original pickups.

I agree with it but not with the other part... I would change for a BKP and keep the original, so if someday the need for $$ come, sell it all original...

+1

[indysmith]

I'd probably get it routed for 3 WARPIGS, and then get a FLOYD ROSE FITTED for some wicked whammy action. I'd also get a wicked inlay of a naked fat woman put on EVERY FRET.

But in real life... I'd change the pickup for a BKP, but keep the original. I'd probably solder the original back in if i were to sell it, but use the right kind of solder and make it look like the original joint. $%&# the vintage guys. It's a guitar, who the hell cares if the solder joint is original or not?

[Philly Q]

It's a guitar, who the hell cares if the solder joint is original or not?

The vintage guys you just $%&#ed. 


(I agree that it really shouldn't matter, but if it had been untouched for 45 years I personally wouldn't mess with it.  But that's one reason why I don't buy vintage guitars.)

[Henk]

I have the same problem with my 25/50 LP anniversary, great guitar but lousy pickups.

If i have a sound plan to change them i will in a heartbeat, its my guitar...... If you dont want it collecting dust in the corner of the room, just change it!

On the other hand, ive seen really cheap LP specials with DC and 2HB on sale recently, maybe its time to get on.

[syr2012]

I understand that you're concerned about maintaining the value of your guitar, but guitars are meant to be played, not just stared at lovingly. If I were in your shoes, I'd consider whether the guitar means more to me personally or financially. If you don't plan on parting ways with it any time soon, you should certainly treat the guitar (and yourself as well!) to a new BKP. However, if you get the pickup wax potted and/or rewound, it's not exactly gonna be vintage anymore.