Pickups are the biggest single change you can make to how an electric guitar or bass sounds. Whether you’re swapping in a new set or just want your current pickups to sound better, TuneUp Guitar in Redding can install and dial them in.
Pickup installation
We install single coils, humbuckers, P90s, bass pickups, and active pickups. A pickup swap includes:
- Removing the old pickups and cleaning up old solder joints
- Installing the new pickups with the right springs or foam
- Wiring to the existing controls, or to a new layout if you want one
- Checking polarity and phase so pickups sound right together
- Setting pickup height and testing every position on the switch
If you want more than a straight swap, like coil splits or a new switching layout, see custom wiring.
Pickup height adjustment
You don’t always need new pickups. Pickups that sit too low sound weak and thin. Pickups that sit too high can sound muddy, cause strange overtones, and even pull the strings out of tune from magnetic pull. Getting the height right is a quick, cheap fix that can make a big difference.
Signs your pickups need adjusting:
- One string is much louder or quieter than the rest
- The neck pickup is boomy and the bridge pickup is thin
- Switching between pickups causes a big jump in volume
- Notes sound warbly or out of tune high on the neck
Getting the tone you’re after
Tell us what you play and what you don’t like about the current sound. Brighter, hotter, cleaner, less hum, more output. We’ll help you sort out whether new pickups make sense or whether an adjustment and a fresh set of strings gets you there.
If your guitar is noisy or hums, that may be a wiring or grounding issue instead of the pickups. Check out hum and noise troubleshooting.
Bring it in
Drop your guitar off at our shop on Redcliff Drive in Redding. Most pickup swaps are done in a day or two. A pickup swap is also a good time for a guitar setup, since you’ll have fresh strings on anyway.
Pickup Installation and Adjustment questions
Can I bring my own pickups?
Yes. Bring the pickups you bought and we'll install them. If you're not sure what fits, bring the guitar and the pickups in and we'll check before we start.
How much is a pickup swap?
Pricing is per pickup, with parts extra if you buy them through us. A full set swap usually costs less per pickup than doing them one at a time.
Will new pickups fit my pickguard and routing?
Most standard sizes drop right in. If the new pickup is a different size or mounting style, we'll tell you what it takes to make it fit before doing any work.