330/12 Pickup Swap

[Folkie]

After years of playing my 1991 330/12 with the stock hi gain pickups, I finally ordered up the necessary parts from POTR and replaced the hi gains with two 7.4k toasters. Because the guitar is red with black hardware, I had to order a special set of black pickup covers. My tech did a superlative job. Not only does the guitar have treble and chime to spare (the hi gains sounded rather muddy), but the action and intonation are spot on, and the guitar plays (and tunes up) better than it did when I got it used and in mint condition in 1997. There can be some harshness when the tone isn't dialed in right, but I'm very happy with the results of the experiment. In fact, it gave me the courage to send my other 12'er into the shop for more major work. But that's the subject of another thread.

Robert

[jps]

Welcome to ToasterWorld®!

Inside you will find the village of JangleLand™.

[Folkie]

Jeff,

I've loved my 330/12 for years, but I was truly spoiled by the 7.4k toasters on my 2010 360/12. They were everything I'd expected and more, so I knew it was only a matter of time before I swapped out the hi gains on the 330 for scatterwounds. I like to have plenty of treble and chime under the hood, which is to say that I like to push the pickups and the amp to the point of treble overload and then gradually tame the sound by blending the bridge and neck pickups or backing down on the tone controls. As soon as I'd played the 360 about a year ago, the hi gains on the 330 began to sound muddy to me, so it was only natural to swap them out. I am entirely happy with the results.

Robert

[8mileshigher]

Robert -- enjoy those Toasters !!

What's happening on the wider string-space nut swap ?

[Folkie]

Well, now that we're well into 2012, I've decided to go ahead with the string-spacing mod to my 360/12. I've ordered a PTFE slab from Graph Tech (thanks to Todd Bradshaw's suggestions) as well as a 12-saddle bridge and a new set of TI Flats from Chris Clayton at Pick of the Ricks. My tech works at Sam Ash, where they have a used 360/12C63 on the wall. He will be measuring the string-spacing at the nut and at the bridge, and using that George Harrison model as a prototype for my modded 360. I'm hoping to have a guitar that looks like a stock Fireglo 360/12, but plays and sounds closer to a C63.

It took me a while to summon the courage to take the plunge, but this tech just did an amazing job on my 330/12, and the store is only 15 minutes from where I live, so if things aren't right, we'll work together to make them that way. I'm experiencing a mixture of excitement and nervousness, as I always do when one of my guitars is in for major work. Thanks, everyone, for your insights and suggestions. Without the advice of members of this forum I would never have had the courage to take the plunge.

Robert

[Folkie]

Hey, Jeff, you'll have to check out the 360/12 when it comes back from the shop!

[jps]

No problem, I asked the guys at Sam Ash to call me before calling you. (Oops, I wasn't supposed to tell you!)

[Folkie]

No problem, I asked the guys at Sam Ash to call me before calling you. (Oops, I wasn't supposed to tell you!)

[8mileshigher]

My tech works at Sam Ash, where they have a used 360/12C63 on the wall. He will be measuring the string-spacing at the nut and at the bridge, and using that George Harrison model as a prototype for my modded 360. I'm hoping to have a guitar that looks like a stock Fireglo 360/12, but plays and sounds closer to a C63.

Robert

Curious, what sort of calipers or scientific tools do they actually use for these precise nut measurements ??

[Folkie]

Rich,

I thought my tech would use a simple straight edge to measure the string-spacing, but he used a metal caliper. It turned out there was a substantial difference in string-spacing between the two guitars, particularly on the G-pair, which was my main concern.

Robert