How do you remove pickups?

[JimmyMoorby]

I'm saving up for several sets of BKP's but to fund it im selling numerous bits of gear I dont use.

I want to remove some of my pickups and put them on e-bay, once I get some BKP's ill get a professional to fit them properly.

Is removing them pretty simple?  Is it just a case of unscrewing them from the guitar and cutting the wire and leaving as much 'length' as possible?

[FELINEGUITARS]

It is considered best form to carefully unsolder the old pickups from the pots or switches - leaving everything as close to original as possible .

Makes sense too as you will be soldering in your BKPs with care or paying someone to do so
If you don't have a soldering iron, then take the time or care to snip the wire as close to it's end (where it is soldered to the switch or pot) to give whoever buys them a fighting chance of installing them neatly on his guitar

[JimmyMoorby]

Thanks a lot for your response.  I've been looking at your guitars for years but I havent taken the plunge yet, maybe when ive got some spare cash one day!

Any way I don't fancy doing it my self as you've described so I think it looks like ill pay for the pickups and some one to fit them on the credit card and sell the old pickups after !!

[FELINEGUITARS]

Thanks a lot for your response.  I've been looking at your guitars for years but I havent taken the plunge yet, maybe when ive got some spare cash one day!

Any way I don't fancy doing it my self as you've described so I think it looks like ill pay for the pickups and some one to fit them on the credit card and sell the old pickups after !!

Thanks Jimmy - where are you based?
If you are ever in the area Croydon, Surrey - please feel welcome to pop in

[JimmyMoorby]

I dont think ill be 'popping in' as I live in Notts but I might make the trip down one day :)

[Brow]

I dont think ill be 'popping in' as I live in Notts but I might make the trip down one day :)

Another Notts guy, cool.

Yeah, do as Jon says: just unsolder them from the pots or switch and sell them as close to original as you can. I hate buying pickups that have the wires shortened. Makes it a ballache having to sort it out.

[darkbluemurder]

I hate buying pickups that have the wires shortened. Makes it a ballache having to sort it out.

Indeed it does. Sometimes you have to install a new wire. With some pickups - especially those that are fully potted in epoxy - this is impossible. So +1 to all the unsolder recommendations. Take your time while doing this and take precautions as to not damage the guitar's finish.

Cheers Stephan

[Lezard]

I took great pleasure in carefully removing my first and only set of epiphone pickups, carefully setting them on the ground then carefully smashing them to dust with a hammer.

[darkbluemurder]

I took great pleasure in carefully removing my first and only set of epiphone pickups, carefully setting them on the ground then carefully smashing them to dust with a hammer.

 :lol: :lol: :lol:

At least you did not damage the guitar while carefully removing the pickups!

Cheers Stephan