Hey Mick. I’m one of three guys that build the ES models, in White wood, at the Gibson Custom Shop. I know you are very particular about details so a few things you may like to know… Gibson builds two main years (with a few small exceptions) a ‘59 and a ‘64 (not a ‘63)… and the hole in the maple Center block is called a “window “. (A detail only someone as geeky as us would appreciate)…. Also, the window was added in 1964. Love the show… I’ve watched since the beginning… love what you guys do… God Bless my friend. Tell Dan Hi from the Custom shop. Ps… very impressive how you pushed through and got the job done. Even people here (who do this every day) has a hard time with ES style guitars. Great job, Brother.
Thank you so much Aaron! It was inspirational to visit Memphis (when it was there) and also the Nashville facility. It was Mike Voltz who showed me around and had I had the money, I’d have bought a Rusty there and then. That was the inspiration for this one. Thanks for your work Aaron!
Aaron, you guys do great work, thank you! Asking cause you're on the inside, but I understand you may have no idea... Is there any interest from Gibson on bringing back the 333 with the LP style rear access plate?
Find yourself a 333, it has a Les Paul style backplate and pickup swaps are really straightforward. They only produced them for a couple years, and they get snatched up by Blink 182 fans and modded because Tom Delonge had a signature 333 that is unobtainably priced.
At around 11:30 I can't take it anymore! Mick! PLEASE put some painters tape around the F hole before you go dragging the pots out, it would helped prevent scratches to that beautiful guitar.
I have essentially the same guitar with the same pickups. I've always liked the tone and after watching this I ESPECIALLY like it and have no desire to change anything considering also that I couldn't tell a difference. But that's just me and I'm nobody. Mine will remain stock down to the switch tip.
Dude. No way. Lol There's absolutely nothing about this process that appeals to me as a do-it-yourself weekend adventure. Anyone who does this is a monolith of patience and dexterity.
i have never felt so represented in a youtube video. Mick sorry for all the trouble but man did it feel good to not be the only one who thinks they are undertaking a simple task with their guitar and getting to the point where you just can't handle it anymore. Great video on showing the utter frustration that guitars can be!
mental preparation is the key, you can't be thinking about something else or getting angry at inanimate objects. (easier to say than to do for most though...)
The Gibsons are louder and bassier which always sounds ‘better’ in sound comparisons and in music stores (and something that RUclips gear demoers know all about). Ask a producer or a mix engineer though, and they’ll tell you they don’t want all the flub. What they want is the articulation…. Which is what I wanted, and why I prefer the new pickups. Cheers!
Once saw Trogly show a neat little trick to avoid all that fishing the pots in and out hassle: he ties thread 🧵 around the shafts before dropping them inside the body. That way you can just pull each thread through the respective holes and fish the pots back up in no time. Works for the pickup leads, or the jack as well
Mick, I applaud your willingness to experiment with trial and error for an International audience. You're teaching countless budding guitar techs valuable lessons, including perhaps the most important: frustration is real, but can be circumvented. Thanks for your work, per usual. Good job. 335 sounds fantastic.
The building rage and frustration seen in this video is quite possibly the funniest and relatable thing I’ve seen this year. I would love to see the outtakes. You have the patience of a saint.
I rewired a jazz box once, it was a breeze because I tied washers and strings to the existing pots then removed everything leaving the washers and strings in the guitar. I then did all of the wiring outside of the guitar. I then just tied the strings to the new pots and fished the entire new harness and pickups back through the respective holes by pulling the strings with the washers. It was actually the easiest wiring job I’ve ever done.
Mick, I felt your pain so much on this one that I had to pause halfway through and go and get a glass of wine! 🍷 I could actually hear a difference (albeit a small one) and really appreciate that you gave us some examples in the context of some tracks. Take a bow, Sir!
I went through the same emotions you went through when rewiring mine with push-pull pots, and I had a window in the cavity to work with! Working on an ES’ electronics takes nearly an act of God. Congrats on pulling through. It took me 4 days but I finally got through as well and it is glorious. Just left with a lot pride and crippling guitar PTSD.
the old ones sound a little muddy to me but the true revelation for my ears is the open string to string articulation... lovely! thanks for sharing another adventure in tone.
I hope Monty's and other techs give you a kickback on all the work you've just (deservedly) sent their way 😀 My revelation about money 'saved' versus quality of job was a few years back, I'd way rather pay a pro now. Much like how I feel when clients ask if their family can sing at our gigs....
I watched this during breakfast with my wife this morning who asked me if that is the same reason she can hear shouting and screaming coming from my workshop sometimes! Sorry, but I was crying with laughter, (sympathetically) when you realised the pots were too short. But you didn't give up and that's the trick to learning for next time. Great vid.
If ever there was a "beware, don't try this at home" warning, this was it. Thank you for taking some stress and multiple swear words away from my life. 👍🤟😎
Tone is obviously subjective, but I don’t hear that much of a difference between the old and new pickups. I think the old ones are slightly creamier sounding, but it’s really close. Also, there are a few tools my luthier recommended to me when working on hollowbody guitars, which are long angled lockable clamps that look like dentist tools. But because they are long angled and lockable, they don’t let go, making it WAY easier to work on them. That being said, it’s well worth the money to me to pay a professional to do it for me. (I will only work on solid body guitars by myself.)
Mick, your frustration was visceral and palpable -- and way too relatable. I've modded many, many guitars and basses, and the one notable failure was my attempt to install a set of Duncan P-Rails (and a coil-splitting tone pot) in my Dean Boca semi-hollow electric 12. The three biggest issues were the original wiring (which included a multi-pin plug assembly for the pickups), the narrow f-hole, and the shallow body cavity. After two days (seemed longer) my frustration was off the charts and I threw in the towel. Am truly glad you were ultimately successful with the 335. Congrats!
An old fable about a young man, in his search for that perfect tone, visits his local guitar shop and trades in his amp for a new one. A couple of months later he goes into the shop to buy some strings and hears someone playing in the back of the store. He runs to the back declaring that is the tone I am looking for only to find someone playing the amp he traded in. The search is endless.
Love the pet cameos as well. Luckily you did the soldering at work, otherwise the cats would sense your intense concentration, and would *love* to cause some ill-timed mischief.
As soon as I saw the thumbnail & title I knew what to expect. Sat down with a mug of tea and some biscuits and thought 'let the fun begin'. Wasn't disappointed. From 7:00 I just grinned all the way. Over time, I've swapped out three looms & pickups from 2 '335's and a 339 - custom wound Wizz Paf replica's, Bareknuckle Mules and SD Pearly Gates, if anyone is interested. You seriously almost have to be in a zen state of calmness to attempt this job. But the end result is what its all about. I now have three hollow body's with three seperate sound colours. Was it worth it? 100%. The biggest suprise was the Mules. Hadn't heard them in a '335 but they just kicked the package up a level more than the others. Won't be doing it again, though.
I have an ES-335 studio (no F holes) from the 80s. The pickups finally gave up from exposure to high heat and sweat. After seeing your video, thank God I had an excellent luthier for the replacement surgery! Seymour Duncan Jeff Beck and Jazz pickups. I have worn a lot of the finish off that guitar and love it to death.
What a colossal difference. Reminds me of why I put the same pickups in my LP. The clarity, articulation, and note separation are night and day between the two. Been waiting for this video for a while and it did not disappoint. Thanks, Mick, if for nothing else than confirming I should never work on my 335-style guitars. And the beautiful shots of Those Pedal Pets!
I think the full quotation is: “To do is to be” - Descartes “To be is to do” - Sartre “Do be do be dooby do” - Sinatra “I bid you adieu” - Taylor The top two come from Descartes' “I think, therefore I am” and Sartre’s “Existence precedes essence”. There’s another version where the bottom line is: “Hey, Sartre, stop stealing my blimmin ideas!” - Heidegger
I know the process was terribly frustrating, but to my ears the new loom and pickups have given that guitar new life! The absolute clarity is astonishing, but without sacrificing what I hear to be the “voice” of that guitar. Time well spent in my opinion!
I think what I admire most about this is the perseverence alongside the honesty and admission of near-failure. Many, many people (probably myself included) would have given up and packed it off to Monty's long before you considered that might be your only option. To me the new pick-ups sound more "you" in the sense that the smile that grew across your face when playing them was a reflection of the inner satisfaction of "yup, that's a sound". Huge thanks for showing every painful bit of the process, and for producing yet another insight into the perils of tone-hunting, whilst also proving, sometimes it's worth the pain!
I have never felt such camaraderie and fellowship with a RUclips video... years of thinking we're all built different, but I felt every second of that... been there sooooo many times! Collected/fashioned 20 something pokey/grabby tools yet still you just struggle through... I also have the same project for a 335 in mind which I'm now going to research for a further six months - then pay someone else to do.
Love the Lollar imperials. I have the normal wind bridge in several guitars, but I’ve been thinking about doing low winds in my 335. Thanks for another great video, Mick!
Oh, mate. This is where so many of us live trying to get it done. But, speaking of where people live: wtf. Your place is extraordinary. I need a TPS tour of that castle. Wow. Good on you.
This video is particularly relevant for me, as I have a 2018 Gibson Memphis, ES 335 traditional model with the MHS pickups. Your framing of the issue at the top of the episode is exactly what I thought I might be missing with these MHS pick ups. Particularly at lower volumes, I was just looking for a little bit more sparkle and life sonically speaking. Given the opportunity to open up the guitar and play at gigging volume, the issue dissipates. So recently, several friends and I got together - each bringing a 335 to the party. And we did a bit of a shootout between the MHS, Burstbuckers, Seymour Duncan Pearly Gates (out of phase) and I believe the 57 Classic. In the end, everything sounded more alike than different. However, we all agreed there was a clear winner. Perhaps surprisingly, it was the Seymour Duncan pearly gates. A little bit hotter a little bit more life and bounce and sizzle. And for me a little bit more top end. And when you set them out of phase, I was really turned on by that. But seeing what a pain in the ass it is to swap pick ups I still have the MHS pick ups in my 335 at present. But this was very thought-provoking. Fantastic content. Thank you!
Post vid thoughts: I can understand why you might prefer the new set up. The transient (Attack) is a little sharper, there is less bass and a higher main mid frequency and this I think is more the type of thing you go for. Personally I prefer a softer attack and overall I preferred the Memphis pick ups but as you say there is no better as tone is so subjective.
I know a lot prefer that warmer "traditional Gibson" thing - but I have to say for me the new pickups are so much better. Especially coming from a single coil background, that clarity is like your nostrils finally clearing after a headcold. Congrats on persevering Mick! Was worth every frustrated second.
Thanks Steve. I think anyone who thinks the warmer woofier sound is more traditional Gibson, then they’ve never played many old Gibsons! Warm and woofy = nasty Gibson to me. Bright, airy and quacks = proper PAF tone to me!
Seymour Duncan Seth Lover PAF's, for me they beat Lollars Imperial range and Bare Knuckles. However any swap from the original Gibbo pickups is going to help. I took the pickups from my Gibson ES345 and dropped them into a Strat. They work very well there, as it happens!
I did this to my bandmate's and my 335 back to back all with lock washers. Instead of tubing, I used long pieces of neon green sewing thread tied to each pot shaft and a nut on the back side of the jack. Somewhat easier
I seem to remember I used malleable thin green gardening wire. It definitely needs that method from the get go. Knobs off, attach the wire, fishing line, whatever to the pot necks then undo the nuts and pull the harness out, making sure you don’t pull the guide wires through… doh!
When I clicked on this video I thought it was gonna be the installion of old and new pick ups then comparison. What I got out of it was a dogged determination to get done what u set out to do while at the same time knowing at any time u could quit or hand over to the guitar shop and u chose to stay with it. The tones were a just bonus to the video. Well done and thank you
Has to be one of my favourite TPS videos. Have so often found myself at the point of wanting to smash whatever guitar related thing I've been toiling with, it's hugely refreshing seeing another highlight the struggle. Red light fever's bad enough tracking guitars for recording let alone taking them apart for nightmare service jobs on camera - top job!
Ha ha this brought back some uncomfortable memories Mick! 😱🤣well done for persevering against all odds and getting the job done without an access hole... sorry to have given you false hope, we now know for sure that not all 335's are created equal and that Matt's earth wiring is very pretty but a complete 🤬
Thank you for transparently showing the struggle of this project! Given your experience doing these type of swaps, it will prevent less experienced operators from damaging their stuff and is also a shared experience for anyone who has had challenges on similar tasks.
Nice job, Mick! Thanks for posting this. Putting new pickups & wiring, etc in a 335 was the first mod I ever took on. I used a backpacker's wire survival saw to widen the center block window so the new (coil tapping) pots would fit through. My second mod was to a strat and was quite pleased at how simple it was! I probably won't do another 335 but I'm glad I didn't know beforehand just how difficult it would be. Now my only real hesitation to mod guitars is from soldering. It's such a frustrating disappointment to get the thing all back together only to find that it doesn't work. I really wish I could find a way to make my soldering more consistent.
I got a lesson from a couple of people… and also watched some RUclips vids. The right tip, making sure you clean it, the right solder and practising about 100 joints will get you there! And a good iron of course! Good luck!
Hi guys I am using a very versatile guitar that does it all . A telly, rose wood neck, old style fender humbucker split pole pieces, standard single coil bridge. Adjusted so humbucker and single coil have equal output. This gives you 3 tones for jazz, funk, rock, and a lot of bass boost.
This was hilarious! As someone who started a pickup swap on an ES style/F-hole guitar about a year ago, that is still hanging unfinished in my workshop - I can totally relate!
I just finished mine a few days ago.. took 2 attempts to get the loom oriented correctly, and took a number of tools out of the garage to accomplish it. Shrink wrap and a butane torch are invaluable.
I’d add a wire from each of the volume pots to each of the pickup cavities so that any time I want to change them, I only have to remove the pickups and not the harness. The extra lead wire under the pickup will have no effect on the sound.
Well. I learned something important today. I will never even consider swapping out my 335's pickups. Fortunately, they're Tim Shaws so I can't imagine I would ever want to.
cheapest way to add more air and sparkle: convert tone pot to no-load and swap volume pot for 1meg. Definitely start there before swapping for other pickups. It might be all you need.
😊You are making my day… by a strange coincidence, last week I decided to change the pots of my over 20 years semi guitar, one pot stopped working… and last night, yes really last night… after spending much time to solder and trying to fit the pots back into my guitar, I decided to stop and take a break before trying again :-) A ground wire broke while moving all the parts around inside the guitar so I will have to start everything all over again… I will wait a few days before I try again… cheers and congrats on your job…
This video came just in time. I was in the middle of a pickup swap for a hollow-body Ibanez jazz box. My very first time. I made a wiring loom from scratch, also my first time, and after seeing you test the setup by hitting the polepieces, i did exactly that. And it worked! That way my mind was at ease, because i assumed I had to wait for the guitar to be fully assembled to test it. Thanks! I must agree that a full hollow body is probably easier to access it seems.
Hey Mick, Iain here. I was going to slip a set of those into my Eastman……….just decided it’s easier to convince Mrs V that I must purchase a Gibo VOS 335. Well done sir
Hi Mick, i hope this make you feels better: if you change pickups and pots in a 345 stereo, you have the extra jack, and 2 bigs and heavy bobbins to install inside the same guitar. I spend 6 or 7 hours in my 345.
Hi Mick, I decided to change the pickups myself on my Hagstrom D2F to CreamT afterburners. After looking at what was actually involved,I chickened out and got a professional to do it for me. It is a really fiddly job and the man did a fine job for me. I would definitely have got into difficulty trying to do this myself. Well done on doing a really good job that would have had me blowing my top myself..
Hey Buddy, some flux and a small paintbrush will help tremendously in any de-soldering activities. Simply paint a bit of flux on the old joints/back of pots, and the old solder will melt in a split second, and transfer less heat, but also control any splatter. Re-wiring 335s live in my nightmares…
I was screaming encouraging words at the screen, following the suspense and then you do an edit leaving out those moments of triumph as the control pots fall into place. Would really like to have seen those moments, but cheers for perseverance!
I have a 335 with the T Top pickups and I just love them. They are bright but not harsh. It can do country, rock with clear note's and when you reduce your amp treble knob down to 4, and use the neck pickup, that wonderful jazz tone is there. With both pickups, you get that BB King sound. I personally will only buy a guitar with pickups i already love. Unless you buy a cheaper guitar like a Ephiphone 335 and you put Seth Lover pickups to save money over a Gibson 335. With that said the old pickups sound a little dull and the newer pickups are brighter and sound closer to my T top pickups.
Firstly, well done. Secondly, the neck pickup (and therefore of course the middle position) is the biggest contrast. The Lollar has tons more air and tons less wool and boom. Lovely.
Trick for desolding, add some fresh solder on top of the old to let the iron have an easier time getting the old solder to temp, idk exactly why it works that way, but it does.
You're a legend Mick, not an easy task! I'm sure there are many of us who have avoided it due to the limited number of quality video tutorials out there. Nothing worse than seeing an expert making it appear like a simple 30 minute task, when in fact the existing loom won't even fit through the f-hole without a tremendous struggle. This has given me the confidence to give this one a crack.
What a great episode! I was considering replacing the pots in my ES-339. Now, I am convinced that I will mess it up (probably not going to stop, though). And yes, I think many here can relate to that sense of anger and frustration when something that seems simple turns out to be such a pain. But, delighted that you went through with it and figured it out -- that guitar sounds gorgeous!
A big effort it was indeed…What I find peculiar in every pickup change, and this makes no exception, is that the fundamental character of the guitar is still recognizable to my ears
Indeed! That shouldn’t come as any surprise really. The only people who would disagree are those people who think the only thing that determines a guitar’s sound is the pickups. I find that peculiar! :0)
I use string tied to the Pots when pulling them out. Helps to not lose any washers in the cavity as well making it easier to pull the pots back thru. Then I just cut the string off the pot when I have the pot locked in place.
ROFL!! THIS is my FAVORITE EPISODE of TPS EVER!!!!! Having done exactly this many times on historic reissue 335s, I can totally relate to the frustration. But honestly the longest I ever took was maybe 2-3 hours. And it's a 45 minute job on a modern USA model with the huge routes. Some tips. Start from a place of humility. It IS a hard job. You figured out the next tip.....gimmicky tubes and floss and stuff really doesn't work as well as playing the game Operation with small tools and your fingers. Lastly the FIRST time you have to repeat a step because you forgot a washer or put the wrong pot in the wrong hole or such....WALK AWAY! Not for 20 minutes but for hours or a day. Finally don't feel bad that you couldn't demo the harness (not loom) alone. Unless the potentiometer or/and capacitor VALUES are significantly different there is zero difference in wire sound. Its a ridiculous religious myth amongst ignorant guitar players that didnt get enough science classes in school. An .047 cap will sound different from a .015. But 2 .047 caps of differing types in a guitar don't sound different, at least to a human listener. Same with pots. If your came with 440kohms and you put in 550 ya it will be brighter and hotter. But if it isn't a good 10-20% change nobody will hear it. Of course pot taper, wiring style, (50s vs modern) will change how it behaves at different settings, but all the same tones are there at some setting. But heck, you HAD to take out the harness anyway to change pickups so why not put fresh stuff in? One suggestion. Since you have the stock pickups out intact, next time you want to try new pickups just CUT THE WIRES and splice in the new pickups. No shame in it as long as you restore the originals correctly. Thank you for this episode! Lol.
I'm glad that we were spared the eight hours of footage of Mick crying into his dog's fur and regretting his life choices. I can't tell you how many times I've been glad that my grandfather was a watchmaker. He left me so many ultra-fine tweezers and magnifying loups.
This reminds me of when I took an old used Gretsch Eletromatic and did a complete pickup/wiring harness, tuners and cosmetic overhaul to it. TV Jones harness and Brian Setzer Signature pickups were easily installed with the TV Jones installation kit but the catch was that the holes were too small for the controls to fit through. Out came a proper sized dowel rod with sandpaper wrapped around it. Took quite a long time to sand the holes wider to fit the controls. To TV Jones credit, they offered me a very good deal on the pickups and harness. What I learned over the years is that whatever you put your blood, sweat, tears and (often) mental frustration into becomes your favorite thing(s) because you put a bit of yourself into it. This may answer the question presented here about pregnancy and birth and why women endure excruciating pain a couple, to multiple, times. I could be wrong, time will tell, but I think this guitar will start to become a favorite of yours strictly based on the agony and time spent upgrading it to your specific wants and needs. The guitars I've modded, and I've modded quite a few, once completed are never considered for anything further than playing. I try to ensure what I want before modding them. I have one Strat that I've been putting off swapping the harness on because of time and (sometimes) financial restraints but this video is kinda pushing me to complete. Once completed it will be perfect. Those guitars will stay in my possession forever. The others I'm contemplating on ridding myself of as I have way too many guitars for such a small living space (apartment). Guitars are literally strewn throughout my apartment and the ones I always play are those that I put myself into. The others are really just 'there' for the most part. Lol. Thanks for sharing Mick! Stephen
I like this Stephen and I think you’re absolutely right about the bonding process. I had the same experience you’re having with a Casino and ended up having the widen the holes for the pots. I love that guitar now too! Cheers man, and thanks for the thoughts.
Good on you for knowing when to take a break and walk away. Frustration is no good to anyone. I’ve done my own wiring and pickup swaps over the years on my Strat Shaped Object (SSO) with all sorts of combinations - phase switches, coil taps, etc. But my last (final?) pickup swap I bought a solderless loom from Obsidian Wire and I so glad I did. Now my soldering iron gathers dust.
Mick: on first watch I felt immense, indescribable gratitude. Days later, on rewatch, what I'm thankful for is something like reassurance. And maybe permission. Guitars have been my constant companions for over four decades, but it wasn't until a few years ago -- three? five? -- that your Strat journey reminded me: they're wood and wire and solder. It's going to be okay if you poke around under the hood. Note: I'm NOT saying "If Mick can do it without mucking things up too bad..." I'm saying it was the visual, the auditory, the discussion, the experience of being there under the hood with you that opened these doors. They remain open, thanks very kindly -- in part owing to the reinforcement of videos like this one. Thanks.
Thanks so much Kurtis - I love the sentiment, yeah man it will be fine! I wish you hours of discovery and falling in love with these things even more deeply than we ever thought possible!
I gutted my 2012 LP traditional as soon as I got it. Replaced everything, got rid of the coil taps, and popped in a set of standard wind Imperials from Lollar. Been my #1 ever since. Low winds are sounding nice in the 335, Mick! Nice work!
Thanks for sticking with the install Mick. As I listened to the comparisons, by the 40 or so minute I preferred the new Lollars. But, as I've found. When one gets to the upper end of quality, sometimes both are as good, just in different places. Tough call, but the Lollars are best all around to my ear.
Back in 1975 I purchased an old ES 345 (stereo) that had broken solder joints for the wires connecting the varitone switch. I pretty much had to remove everything as you did, but with more complexity of the varitone. This was obviously decades before RUclips and I knew nothing about guitar repair. I had no lifelines. But I managed to get it all done despite my severe shortcomings. Instead of plastic tubing to guide through the components to their holes, I recall using old guitar strings that I first fished through the destination holes to the F hole. I used electrical tape to help secure the strings to the screw columns. Bent coat hangers helped fish stuff through as tough angles. It was time consuming and a bit frustrating, but I think I got it done in two 1.5 hour sessions. I was happy since I bought the broken guitar for $200 and made it perfect despite my abject lack of experience and ability.
Mick (and anyone else): Marvelous, fun and funny episode. If you want more air, chime and overall clarity without changing pickups look up the “Pinnacle Locking Aluminum Base, Titanium Saddles TOM Nashville bridge”. Price went up to ~$70 since I got mine in 2021, but the tonal difference from the standard Gibson Zinc (“pot metal”) is major, and it’s not as mid-aggressive as Stainless Steel. The stock pickups should be fine with it. I’d order a few spare of the locking brass nuts with it. I striped one pretty easy. You could seek out an Aluminum tailpiece as well for increased tuning stability and sustain.
I am actually finishing up a guitar with this config. I finally got it done except for stringing it up. I had to take a break after 3 evenings of the same frustrations so I pulled up your video randomly. This isn't the first time I've worked on a hollow or semi hollow body electric but re-installing the guts is always a mental trial. I am so appreciative of your honesty, most tubers try to make it look relatively easy, but if it were we'd all be repairmen. I'm glad you pushed through and got it done. The one I'm finishing up has the toggle switch on the top side of the upper bout horn. That's even a bit worse.🤣🤣
Mick... this was great. I really appreciate you showing your struggles. I bought a 2001 ES-335 Dot about 9 months ago and decided to replace the 57 Classics and harness with a set of Duncan Antiquities and an emerson harness. I spent an entire Saturday, about 8 hours, fiddling with it and it ended up not working. It was the most frustrating guitar work I have ever done. I have replaced pickups on my guitars for the last 12 years and consider myself fairly proficient. I ended up just taking it to a local guitar luthier who has decades of experience and had him do it for me. He charged $70 for the work, but I gave him an even $80 because I know how hard that was to get done. Now, I love this freaking guitar so much.
I remember swapping pickups and the loom in one of my semi-hollows. It took a good 7 hours and at the end of it, I told myself I'd save enough and have a professional deal with it for the sake of my mental health. Glad to see I'm not alone.
![The Gibson ES-345 [In Defence Of The Varitone & Stereo Output]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/-nHwoIgysnQ/mqdefault.jpg)
![The Gibson ES-345 [In Defence Of The Varitone & Stereo Output]](/img/tr.png)
Hey Mick. I’m one of three guys that build the ES models, in White wood, at the Gibson Custom Shop. I know you are very particular about details so a few things you may like to know… Gibson builds two main years (with a few small exceptions) a ‘59 and a ‘64 (not a ‘63)… and the hole in the maple Center block is called a “window “. (A detail only someone as geeky as us would appreciate)…. Also, the window was added in 1964. Love the show… I’ve watched since the beginning… love what you guys do… God Bless my friend. Tell Dan Hi from the Custom shop.
Ps… very impressive how you pushed through and got the job done. Even people here (who do this every day) has a hard time with ES style guitars. Great job, Brother.
Thank you so much Aaron! It was inspirational to visit Memphis (when it was there) and also the Nashville facility. It was Mike Voltz who showed me around and had I had the money, I’d have bought a Rusty there and then. That was the inspiration for this one. Thanks for your work Aaron!
Aaron, you guys do great work, thank you!
Asking cause you're on the inside, but I understand you may have no idea... Is there any interest from Gibson on bringing back the 333 with the LP style rear access plate?
There's only three of you? Does that include start to finish or just final assembly?
Hey Aaron, is the ‘61 not considered a catalog model then?
Please Push the management to make more ES varieties plz, ty.
It's amazing how much younger Mick looks in the the pre-op playing samples. 😆
Hahaha!
This video has thought me a lesson, don’t buy a 335 style guitar unless I love the pickups it comes with
Or pay a guitar tech to install the pickups for you!
Yes… it is such an incredible hassle.
A 335 has to be PERFECT to even think about it.
was literally thinking this ha
HA! ...that's why I chopped the lead heading off into the oblivion, and soldered the new pickup leads to them ;)
Find yourself a 333, it has a Les Paul style backplate and pickup swaps are really straightforward. They only produced them for a couple years, and they get snatched up by Blink 182 fans and modded because Tom Delonge had a signature 333 that is unobtainably priced.
At around 11:30 I can't take it anymore! Mick! PLEASE put some painters tape around the F hole before you go dragging the pots out, it would helped prevent scratches to that beautiful guitar.
This might be one of my favourite vids ever. Watching a man fight a full breakdown & I felt every second of the frustration!!! Massive effort.
Well said. So funny. Entertaining and reminded me of “Will Smith” and the Oscars. Take your damn pots and pick-ups out of my geetar. 🤣🤣🤣
It was so relatable, I had a full fledged breakdown the one and only time I did a pickup swap. And that was on an SG!
Hahahahhaha!!!
Same!
Great job staying composed and completing the job! 👏🏻
I have essentially the same guitar with the same pickups. I've always liked the tone and after watching this I ESPECIALLY like it and have no desire to change anything considering also that I couldn't tell a difference. But that's just me and I'm nobody. Mine will remain stock down to the switch tip.
It’s good that it cements the decision for you!
You haven’t lived until you’ve rewired a 335. So relaxing…😳
A cross between dentistry, plumbing, and forestry. 😬🙅🏻♂️📺👍
So… Sooooo relaxing…😅
Dude. No way. Lol
There's absolutely nothing about this process that appeals to me as a do-it-yourself weekend adventure. Anyone who does this is a monolith of patience and dexterity.
the stress...🤮
you should give an ES-137 a shot... having the pickup selector at the top like a Les Paul makes rewiring it..... SO...MUCH....FUN
i have never felt so represented in a youtube video. Mick sorry for all the trouble but man did it feel good to not be the only one who thinks they are undertaking a simple task with their guitar and getting to the point where you just can't handle it anymore. Great video on showing the utter frustration that guitars can be!
Yup. This is me w Guitar Amps for sure!
mental preparation is the key, you can't be thinking about something else or getting angry at inanimate objects. (easier to say than to do for most though...)
The new pickups certainly add clarity and brightness. That being said, I actually slightly prefer the original ones.
I like to see that video of him putting it all back to its original state agree.. it's too shrill now
Absolute mad lad for stating that out after that odyssey 😂
The Gibsons are louder and bassier which always sounds ‘better’ in sound comparisons and in music stores (and something that RUclips gear demoers know all about). Ask a producer or a mix engineer though, and they’ll tell you they don’t want all the flub. What they want is the articulation…. Which is what I wanted, and why I prefer the new pickups. Cheers!
@@ThatPedalShow Very interesting. I agreed with his comment, but as you say the the sound of the new pick ups and loom is better defined.
@@ThatPedalShow Yêah 👍
Once saw Trogly show a neat little trick to avoid all that fishing the pots in and out hassle: he ties thread 🧵 around the shafts before dropping them inside the body. That way you can just pull each thread through the respective holes and fish the pots back up in no time. Works for the pickup leads, or the jack as well
Mick, I applaud your willingness to experiment with trial and error for an International audience. You're teaching countless budding guitar techs valuable lessons, including perhaps the most important: frustration is real, but can be circumvented. Thanks for your work, per usual. Good job. 335 sounds fantastic.
Thanks Aaron! Here’s //not// how to do it. Hahahaha!
The building rage and frustration seen in this video is quite possibly the funniest and relatable thing I’ve seen this year. I would love to see the outtakes. You have the patience of a saint.
I rewired a jazz box once, it was a breeze because I tied washers and strings to the existing pots then removed everything leaving the washers and strings in the guitar. I then did all of the wiring outside of the guitar. I then just tied the strings to the new pots and fished the entire new harness and pickups back through the respective holes by pulling the strings with the washers. It was actually the easiest wiring job I’ve ever done.
Mick, I felt your pain so much on this one that I had to pause halfway through and go and get a glass of wine! 🍷 I could actually hear a difference (albeit a small one) and really appreciate that you gave us some examples in the context of some tracks. Take a bow, Sir!
Thank you Roger. This was an exponentially large amount of ‘work’ hahahah!
And lots of kudos that you showed all that frustration and modesty, and never once seemed embarrassed to show it to the world.
I went through the same emotions you went through when rewiring mine with push-pull pots, and I had a window in the cavity to work with! Working on an ES’ electronics takes nearly an act of God. Congrats on pulling through. It took me 4 days but I finally got through as well and it is glorious. Just left with a lot pride and crippling guitar PTSD.
The sparkle and clarity in the new ones got me. Love em much more than the originals. Congrats Mick!
the old ones sound a little muddy to me but the true revelation for my ears is the open string to string articulation... lovely! thanks for sharing another adventure in tone.
I hope Monty's and other techs give you a kickback on all the work you've just (deservedly) sent their way 😀
My revelation about money 'saved' versus quality of job was a few years back, I'd way rather pay a pro now. Much like how I feel when clients ask if their family can sing at our gigs....
Especially since he's helping them continue the scam of special tone capacitors. Shameful!
I watched this during breakfast with my wife this morning who asked me if that is the same reason she can hear shouting and screaming coming from my workshop sometimes! Sorry, but I was crying with laughter, (sympathetically) when you realised the pots were too short. But you didn't give up and that's the trick to learning for next time. Great vid.
If ever there was a "beware, don't try this at home" warning, this was it. Thank you for taking some stress and multiple swear words away from my life. 👍🤟😎
Tone is obviously subjective, but I don’t hear that much of a difference between the old and new pickups. I think the old ones are slightly creamier sounding, but it’s really close.
Also, there are a few tools my luthier recommended to me when working on hollowbody guitars, which are long angled lockable clamps that look like dentist tools. But because they are long angled and lockable, they don’t let go, making it WAY easier to work on them.
That being said, it’s well worth the money to me to pay a professional to do it for me. (I will only work on solid body guitars by myself.)
"The Gentle Barking of a Distant Labrador" is a great song name!
Mick, your frustration was visceral and palpable -- and way too relatable. I've modded many, many guitars and basses, and the one notable failure was my attempt to install a set of Duncan P-Rails (and a coil-splitting tone pot) in my Dean Boca semi-hollow electric 12. The three biggest issues were the original wiring (which included a multi-pin plug assembly for the pickups), the narrow f-hole, and the shallow body cavity. After two days (seemed longer) my frustration was off the charts and I threw in the towel. Am truly glad you were ultimately successful with the 335. Congrats!
I've experienced so many different emotions watching this video, you're a champion Mick
An old fable about a young man, in his search for that perfect tone, visits his local guitar shop and trades in his amp for a new one. A couple of months later he goes into the shop to buy some strings and hears someone playing in the back of the store. He runs to the back declaring that is the tone I am looking for only to find someone playing the amp he traded in. The search is endless.
You can always put the old ones back in :)
This was a lesson in perseverance. Nice work Mick!
Hi - some serious A/B there - it's appreciated. Have to say I really dig the oldies. They reach'n'hit me just right.
Cheers
Your patience knows no bounds. The amount of nonchalance with which you tell us "I'm so angry I could smash the thing to bits." Good on you!
Love the pet cameos as well. Luckily you did the soldering at work, otherwise the cats would sense your intense concentration, and would *love* to cause some ill-timed mischief.
As soon as I saw the thumbnail & title I knew what to expect. Sat down with a mug of tea and some biscuits and thought 'let the fun begin'. Wasn't disappointed. From 7:00 I just grinned all the way. Over time, I've swapped out three looms & pickups from 2 '335's and a 339 - custom wound Wizz Paf replica's, Bareknuckle Mules and SD Pearly Gates, if anyone is interested. You seriously almost have to be in a zen state of calmness to attempt this job. But the end result is what its all about. I now have three hollow body's with three seperate sound colours. Was it worth it? 100%. The biggest suprise was the Mules. Hadn't heard them in a '335 but they just kicked the package up a level more than the others. Won't be doing it again, though.
I have an ES-335 studio (no F holes) from the 80s. The pickups finally gave up from exposure to high heat and sweat. After seeing your video, thank God I had an excellent luthier for the replacement surgery! Seymour Duncan Jeff Beck and Jazz pickups. I have worn a lot of the finish off that guitar and love it to death.
What a colossal difference. Reminds me of why I put the same pickups in my LP. The clarity, articulation, and note separation are night and day between the two. Been waiting for this video for a while and it did not disappoint. Thanks, Mick, if for nothing else than confirming I should never work on my 335-style guitars. And the beautiful shots of Those Pedal Pets!
Mate I was thinking of changing myself the pups on my 61 335 vos😅 You have totally killed that idea for me🤣😂
I can relate to this whole experience in a very real way! Love the new p/u's! They're choice and have so much clarity!
Thanks Blake!
I think the full quotation is:
“To do is to be” - Descartes
“To be is to do” - Sartre
“Do be do be dooby do” - Sinatra
“I bid you adieu” - Taylor
The top two come from Descartes' “I think, therefore I am” and Sartre’s “Existence precedes essence”.
There’s another version where the bottom line is:
“Hey, Sartre, stop stealing my blimmin ideas!” - Heidegger
Hahaha! Philosophy humour. I laugh therefore you are. Hahahaha
Oh man, I feel the pain. And still you managed to keep pushing onward. Congrats on your endurance
I know the process was terribly frustrating, but to my ears the new loom and pickups have given that guitar new life! The absolute clarity is astonishing, but without sacrificing what I hear to be the “voice” of that guitar. Time well spent in my opinion!
Cleaner and more defined sound is what I hear. Nice upgrade Mick!!
I think what I admire most about this is the perseverence alongside the honesty and admission of near-failure. Many, many people (probably myself included) would have given up and packed it off to Monty's long before you considered that might be your only option. To me the new pick-ups sound more "you" in the sense that the smile that grew across your face when playing them was a reflection of the inner satisfaction of "yup, that's a sound". Huge thanks for showing every painful bit of the process, and for producing yet another insight into the perils of tone-hunting, whilst also proving, sometimes it's worth the pain!
Dear Santa. Please send Mick a magnetic scredriver and a packet of rubber bands to help him pull the pots through.
I have never felt such camaraderie and fellowship with a RUclips video... years of thinking we're all built different, but I felt every second of that... been there sooooo many times! Collected/fashioned 20 something pokey/grabby tools yet still you just struggle through... I also have the same project for a 335 in mind which I'm now going to research for a further six months - then pay someone else to do.
Enjoyable lesson Mick, thanks for letting us know what a royal pain in the arsse it is to change the wiring harness on a ES-335
Here I was thinking this would be a relaxing video 😂 nail biting thriller ensued.
New pickups sound terrific. Love the clarity and sparkle.
Love the Lollar imperials. I have the normal wind bridge in several guitars, but I’ve been thinking about doing low winds in my 335. Thanks for another great video, Mick!
Oh, mate. This is where so many of us live trying to get it done. But, speaking of where people live: wtf. Your place is extraordinary. I need a TPS tour of that castle. Wow. Good on you.
HUGE difference. Much more air to my ears, sounds great Mick. Sincerely hope it was worth the pain!
This video is particularly relevant for me, as I have a 2018 Gibson Memphis, ES 335 traditional model with the MHS pickups. Your framing of the issue at the top of the episode is exactly what I thought I might be missing with these MHS pick ups. Particularly at lower volumes, I was just looking for a little bit more sparkle and life sonically speaking. Given the opportunity to open up the guitar and play at gigging volume, the issue dissipates. So recently, several friends and I got together - each bringing a 335 to the party. And we did a bit of a shootout between the MHS, Burstbuckers, Seymour Duncan Pearly Gates (out of phase) and I believe the 57 Classic. In the end, everything sounded more alike than different. However, we all agreed there was a clear winner. Perhaps surprisingly, it was the Seymour Duncan pearly gates. A little bit hotter a little bit more life and bounce and sizzle. And for me a little bit more top end. And when you set them out of phase, I was really turned on by that. But seeing what a pain in the ass it is to swap pick ups I still have the MHS pick ups in my 335 at present. But this was very thought-provoking. Fantastic content. Thank you!
Post vid thoughts: I can understand why you might prefer the new set up. The transient (Attack) is a little sharper, there is less bass and a higher main mid frequency and this I think is more the type of thing you go for. Personally I prefer a softer attack and overall I preferred the Memphis pick ups but as you say there is no better as tone is so subjective.
RUclips compression.....
@@davidtomkins4242 I'm not sure the point you are trying to make?
I like a no-load pot, best of both worlds.
I know a lot prefer that warmer "traditional Gibson" thing - but I have to say for me the new pickups are so much better. Especially coming from a single coil background, that clarity is like your nostrils finally clearing after a headcold.
Congrats on persevering Mick! Was worth every frustrated second.
Thanks Steve. I think anyone who thinks the warmer woofier sound is more traditional Gibson, then they’ve never played many old Gibsons! Warm and woofy = nasty Gibson to me. Bright, airy and quacks = proper PAF tone to me!
Seymour Duncan Seth Lover PAF's, for me they beat Lollars Imperial range and Bare Knuckles. However any swap from the original Gibbo pickups is going to help. I took the pickups from my Gibson ES345 and dropped them into a Strat. They work very well there, as it happens!
Tried a bunch of the boutique stuff, the only one I like better than the Seth Lovers are the Fralin Pure Pafs! But indeed, Seth Lovers are amazing!
yep, did the same on my 335: seth lovers, and 500k pots. so much better now.
Your hypothesis was 100% right. Way less bloat and more clarity. Felt more percussive in a really pleasant way too. Great job!
There was a point in this video where I thought.... This 335 is going to be an acoustic guitar for the rest of its life....
I have an older 333. I dropped the pickups and it got magical. Dropped meaning put them lower. I love the show.
I did this to my bandmate's and my 335 back to back all with lock washers. Instead of tubing, I used long pieces of neon green sewing thread tied to each pot shaft and a nut on the back side of the jack. Somewhat easier
Waxed dental floss is what I've used in past jobs. I found it stronger & less likely to slip than plain thread...
I seem to remember I used malleable thin green gardening wire. It definitely needs that method from the get go. Knobs off, attach the wire, fishing line, whatever to the pot necks then undo the nuts and pull the harness out, making sure you don’t pull the guide wires through… doh!
When I clicked on this video I thought it was gonna be the installion of old and new pick ups then comparison. What I got out of it was a dogged determination to get done what u set out to do while at the same time knowing at any time u could quit or hand over to the guitar shop and u chose to stay with it. The tones were a just bonus to the video. Well done and thank you
They call them F-holes for the word you say a lot whilst rewiring a guitar with them.
Has to be one of my favourite TPS videos. Have so often found myself at the point of wanting to smash whatever guitar related thing I've been toiling with, it's hugely refreshing seeing another highlight the struggle. Red light fever's bad enough tracking guitars for recording let alone taking them apart for nightmare service jobs on camera - top job!
Ha ha this brought back some uncomfortable memories Mick! 😱🤣well done for persevering against all odds and getting the job done without an access hole... sorry to have given you false hope, we now know for sure that not all 335's are created equal and that Matt's earth wiring is very pretty but a complete 🤬
Ha! And thanks for the video. It gave me hope. Hahaaha!
Thank you for transparently showing the struggle of this project! Given your experience doing these type of swaps, it will prevent less experienced operators from damaging their stuff and is also a shared experience for anyone who has had challenges on similar tasks.
I heard they made people do ES wirings and pick up swaps in Guantanamo.
Oooof!
Nice job, Mick! Thanks for posting this. Putting new pickups & wiring, etc in a 335 was the first mod I ever took on. I used a backpacker's wire survival saw to widen the center block window so the new (coil tapping) pots would fit through. My second mod was to a strat and was quite pleased at how simple it was! I probably won't do another 335 but I'm glad I didn't know beforehand just how difficult it would be. Now my only real hesitation to mod guitars is from soldering. It's such a frustrating disappointment to get the thing all back together only to find that it doesn't work. I really wish I could find a way to make my soldering more consistent.
I got a lesson from a couple of people… and also watched some RUclips vids. The right tip, making sure you clean it, the right solder and practising about 100 joints will get you there! And a good iron of course! Good luck!
A purring cat always helps
Mick, small tip, try some reverse tweezers. They grip until you press on them. Any small increment of making things easier can be helpful.
MrDblStp Forceps.
I'll second this, they can be a lifesaver.
Hat's off to Mick for the first part because for me it's like why surgeons don't operate on loved ones brave man
Liked the old ones
Hi guys I am using a very versatile guitar that does it all . A telly, rose wood neck, old style fender humbucker split pole pieces, standard single coil bridge. Adjusted so humbucker and single coil have equal output. This gives you 3 tones for jazz, funk, rock, and a lot of bass boost.
Now we know why it’s called an F-Hole
Hahahah!
This was hilarious! As someone who started a pickup swap on an ES style/F-hole guitar about a year ago, that is still hanging unfinished in my workshop - I can totally relate!
I just finished mine a few days ago.. took 2 attempts to get the loom oriented correctly, and took a number of tools out of the garage to accomplish it. Shrink wrap and a butane torch are invaluable.
I’d add a wire from each of the volume pots to each of the pickup cavities so that any time I want to change them, I only have to remove the pickups and not the harness. The extra lead wire under the pickup will have no effect on the sound.
That makes A LOT of sense. :0)
Well. I learned something important today. I will never even consider swapping out my 335's pickups. Fortunately, they're Tim Shaws so I can't imagine I would ever want to.
The new setup sounds great. There's something tighter about it, but without losing bass response. And you seem to have your shimmer. Very nice.
cheapest way to add more air and sparkle: convert tone pot to no-load and swap volume pot for 1meg. Definitely start there before swapping for other pickups. It might be all you need.
😊You are making my day… by a strange coincidence, last week I decided to change the pots of my over 20 years semi guitar, one pot stopped working… and last night, yes really last night… after spending much time to solder and trying to fit the pots back into my guitar, I decided to stop and take a break before trying again :-) A ground wire broke while moving all the parts around inside the guitar so I will have to start everything all over again… I will wait a few days before I try again… cheers and congrats on your job…
This video came just in time. I was in the middle of a pickup swap for a hollow-body Ibanez jazz box. My very first time. I made a wiring loom from scratch, also my first time, and after seeing you test the setup by hitting the polepieces, i did exactly that. And it worked! That way my mind was at ease, because i assumed I had to wait for the guitar to be fully assembled to test it. Thanks!
I must agree that a full hollow body is probably easier to access it seems.
Hey Mick, Iain here. I was going to slip a set of those into my Eastman……….just decided it’s easier to convince Mrs V that I must purchase a Gibo VOS 335. Well done sir
Hi Mick, i hope this make you feels better: if you change pickups and pots in a 345 stereo, you have the extra jack, and 2 bigs and heavy bobbins to install inside the same guitar. I spend 6 or 7 hours in my 345.
Having done a few semi and full hollowbody pickup and loom swaps, I can TOTALLY feel your pain.
Hi Mick, I decided to change the pickups myself on my Hagstrom D2F to CreamT afterburners.
After looking at what was actually involved,I chickened out and got a professional to do it for me.
It is a really fiddly job and the man did a fine job for me. I would definitely have got into difficulty trying to do this myself.
Well done on doing a really good job that would have had me blowing my top myself..
Nice one Charles! Hope you’re happy with the result!
Hey Buddy, some flux and a small paintbrush will help tremendously in any de-soldering activities. Simply paint a bit of flux on the old joints/back of pots, and the old solder will melt in a split second, and transfer less heat, but also control any splatter.
Re-wiring 335s live in my nightmares…
I was screaming encouraging words at the screen, following the suspense and then you do an edit leaving out those moments of triumph as the control pots fall into place. Would really like to have seen those moments, but cheers for perseverance!
I can’t hold the camera and two pairs of tweezers! And screw nuts on and and and and and.
I have a 335 with the T Top pickups and I just love them. They are bright but not harsh. It can do country, rock with clear note's and when you reduce your amp treble knob down to 4, and use the neck pickup, that wonderful jazz tone is there. With both pickups, you get that BB King sound. I personally will only buy a guitar with pickups i already love. Unless you buy a cheaper guitar like a Ephiphone 335 and you put Seth Lover pickups to save money over a Gibson 335.
With that said the old pickups sound a little dull and the newer pickups are brighter and sound closer to my T top pickups.
Firstly, well done. Secondly, the neck pickup (and therefore of course the middle position) is the biggest contrast. The Lollar has tons more air and tons less wool and boom. Lovely.
Trick for desolding, add some fresh solder on top of the old to let the iron have an easier time getting the old solder to temp, idk exactly why it works that way, but it does.
You're a legend Mick, not an easy task! I'm sure there are many of us who have avoided it due to the limited number of quality video tutorials out there. Nothing worse than seeing an expert making it appear like a simple 30 minute task, when in fact the existing loom won't even fit through the f-hole without a tremendous struggle. This has given me the confidence to give this one a crack.
What a great episode! I was considering replacing the pots in my ES-339. Now, I am convinced that I will mess it up (probably not going to stop, though). And yes, I think many here can relate to that sense of anger and frustration when something that seems simple turns out to be such a pain. But, delighted that you went through with it and figured it out -- that guitar sounds gorgeous!
A big effort it was indeed…What I find peculiar in every pickup change, and this makes no exception, is that the fundamental character of the guitar is still recognizable to my ears
Indeed! That shouldn’t come as any surprise really. The only people who would disagree are those people who think the only thing that determines a guitar’s sound is the pickups. I find that peculiar! :0)
I use string tied to the Pots when pulling them out. Helps to not lose any washers in the cavity as well making it easier to pull the pots back thru. Then I just cut the string off the pot when I have the pot locked in place.
ROFL!! THIS is my FAVORITE EPISODE of TPS EVER!!!!! Having done exactly this many times on historic reissue 335s, I can totally relate to the frustration. But honestly the longest I ever took was maybe 2-3 hours. And it's a 45 minute job on a modern USA model with the huge routes.
Some tips. Start from a place of humility. It IS a hard job. You figured out the next tip.....gimmicky tubes and floss and stuff really doesn't work as well as playing the game Operation with small tools and your fingers. Lastly the FIRST time you have to repeat a step because you forgot a washer or put the wrong pot in the wrong hole or such....WALK AWAY! Not for 20 minutes but for hours or a day.
Finally don't feel bad that you couldn't demo the harness (not loom) alone. Unless the potentiometer or/and capacitor VALUES are significantly different there is zero difference in wire sound. Its a ridiculous religious myth amongst ignorant guitar players that didnt get enough science classes in school.
An .047 cap will sound different from a .015. But 2 .047 caps of differing types in a guitar don't sound different, at least to a human listener. Same with pots. If your came with 440kohms and you put in 550 ya it will be brighter and hotter. But if it isn't a good 10-20% change nobody will hear it.
Of course pot taper, wiring style, (50s vs modern) will change how it behaves at different settings, but all the same tones are there at some setting. But heck, you HAD to take out the harness anyway to change pickups so why not put fresh stuff in?
One suggestion. Since you have the stock pickups out intact, next time you want to try new pickups just CUT THE WIRES and splice in the new pickups. No shame in it as long as you restore the originals correctly.
Thank you for this episode! Lol.
I'm glad that we were spared the eight hours of footage of Mick crying into his dog's fur and regretting his life choices.
I can't tell you how many times I've been glad that my grandfather was a watchmaker. He left me so many ultra-fine tweezers and magnifying loups.
This reminds me of when I took an old used Gretsch Eletromatic and did a complete pickup/wiring harness, tuners and cosmetic overhaul to it. TV Jones harness and Brian Setzer Signature pickups were easily installed with the TV Jones installation kit but the catch was that the holes were too small for the controls to fit through. Out came a proper sized dowel rod with sandpaper wrapped around it. Took quite a long time to sand the holes wider to fit the controls. To TV Jones credit, they offered me a very good deal on the pickups and harness.
What I learned over the years is that whatever you put your blood, sweat, tears and (often) mental frustration into becomes your favorite thing(s) because you put a bit of yourself into it. This may answer the question presented here about pregnancy and birth and why women endure excruciating pain a couple, to multiple, times.
I could be wrong, time will tell, but I think this guitar will start to become a favorite of yours strictly based on the agony and time spent upgrading it to your specific wants and needs. The guitars I've modded, and I've modded quite a few, once completed are never considered for anything further than playing. I try to ensure what I want before modding them. I have one Strat that I've been putting off swapping the harness on because of time and (sometimes) financial restraints but this video is kinda pushing me to complete. Once completed it will be perfect. Those guitars will stay in my possession forever. The others I'm contemplating on ridding myself of as I have way too many guitars for such a small living space (apartment). Guitars are literally strewn throughout my apartment and the ones I always play are those that I put myself into. The others are really just 'there' for the most part. Lol.
Thanks for sharing Mick!
Stephen
I like this Stephen and I think you’re absolutely right about the bonding process. I had the same experience you’re having with a Casino and ended up having the widen the holes for the pots. I love that guitar now too! Cheers man, and thanks for the thoughts.
Good on you for knowing when to take a break and walk away. Frustration is no good to anyone. I’ve done my own wiring and pickup swaps over the years on my Strat Shaped Object (SSO) with all sorts of combinations - phase switches, coil taps, etc. But my last (final?) pickup swap I bought a solderless loom from Obsidian Wire and I so glad I did. Now my soldering iron gathers dust.
Mick: on first watch I felt immense, indescribable gratitude.
Days later, on rewatch, what I'm thankful for is something like reassurance. And maybe permission. Guitars have been my constant companions for over four decades, but it wasn't until a few years ago -- three? five? -- that your Strat journey reminded me: they're wood and wire and solder. It's going to be okay if you poke around under the hood.
Note: I'm NOT saying "If Mick can do it without mucking things up too bad..." I'm saying it was the visual, the auditory, the discussion, the experience of being there under the hood with you that opened these doors. They remain open, thanks very kindly -- in part owing to the reinforcement of videos like this one.
Thanks.
Thanks so much Kurtis - I love the sentiment, yeah man it will be fine! I wish you hours of discovery and falling in love with these things even more deeply than we ever thought possible!
I gutted my 2012 LP traditional as soon as I got it. Replaced everything, got rid of the coil taps, and popped in a set of standard wind Imperials from Lollar. Been my #1 ever since. Low winds are sounding nice in the 335, Mick! Nice work!
Nice one Mike!
Thanks for sticking with the install Mick. As I listened to the comparisons, by the 40 or so minute I preferred the new Lollars. But, as I've found. When one gets to the upper end of quality, sometimes both are as good, just in different places. Tough call, but the Lollars are best all around to my ear.
Back in 1975 I purchased an old ES 345 (stereo) that had broken solder joints for the wires connecting the varitone switch. I pretty much had to remove everything as you did, but with more complexity of the varitone. This was obviously decades before RUclips and I knew nothing about guitar repair. I had no lifelines. But I managed to get it all done despite my severe shortcomings.
Instead of plastic tubing to guide through the components to their holes, I recall using old guitar strings that I first fished through the destination holes to the F hole. I used electrical tape to help secure the strings to the screw columns. Bent coat hangers helped fish stuff through as tough angles.
It was time consuming and a bit frustrating, but I think I got it done in two 1.5 hour sessions. I was happy since I bought the broken guitar for $200 and made it perfect despite my abject lack of experience and ability.
Mick (and anyone else): Marvelous, fun and funny episode. If you want more air, chime and overall clarity without changing pickups look up the “Pinnacle Locking Aluminum Base, Titanium Saddles TOM Nashville bridge”. Price went up to ~$70 since I got mine in 2021, but the tonal difference from the standard Gibson Zinc (“pot metal”) is major, and it’s not as mid-aggressive as Stainless Steel. The stock pickups should be fine with it. I’d order a few spare of the locking brass nuts with it. I striped one pretty easy. You could seek out an Aluminum tailpiece as well for increased tuning stability and sustain.
I am actually finishing up a guitar with this config. I finally got it done except for stringing it up. I had to take a break after 3 evenings of the same frustrations so I pulled up your video randomly. This isn't the first time I've worked on a hollow or semi hollow body electric but re-installing the guts is always a mental trial. I am so appreciative of your honesty, most tubers try to make it look relatively easy, but if it were we'd all be repairmen. I'm glad you pushed through and got it done. The one I'm finishing up has the toggle switch on the top side of the upper bout horn. That's even a bit worse.🤣🤣
Mick... this was great. I really appreciate you showing your struggles.
I bought a 2001 ES-335 Dot about 9 months ago and decided to replace the 57 Classics and harness with a set of Duncan Antiquities and an emerson harness. I spent an entire Saturday, about 8 hours, fiddling with it and it ended up not working. It was the most frustrating guitar work I have ever done. I have replaced pickups on my guitars for the last 12 years and consider myself fairly proficient. I ended up just taking it to a local guitar luthier who has decades of experience and had him do it for me. He charged $70 for the work, but I gave him an even $80 because I know how hard that was to get done.
Now, I love this freaking guitar so much.
I remember swapping pickups and the loom in one of my semi-hollows. It took a good 7 hours and at the end of it, I told myself I'd save enough and have a professional deal with it for the sake of my mental health. Glad to see I'm not alone.