Ibanez AS73 Semi-Hollow Pickup Change

[strat56]

Has anyone changed pickups in this guitar? I bought some Duncans to put in it and then realized I can't get to the pots and switch to remove the old pickups and put in the new ones.

I'm guessing I need to remove the pots and switch from the guitar thru the F hole? Seems like maybe they'd come out that way but then how would I put them back? Is there some special tool to use to put them back so you push them up thru the holes and put the nuts and washers back on?

I went to StewMac and LMI and didn't see anything.

 

[harpinon]

Sorry to say that you cannot easily do it.
Why do you feel the need to swap? The stocks in that guitar are really pretty good.

 

[Bazaboy33]

You need to remove the pickups/mounting rings, attach string/fishing line/surgical tubing to the pots/switches/jack and pull everything out through the pickup rout, wire up the new pickups & fish everything back through. Take your time & go slowly. It is tedious, but not rocket science.

 

[slyzspyz]

Another option, which I believe I read on TGP once upon a time, is to simply cut the stock pickups' wires at a point you can reach them, then join them to the new pickups' wires. Saves having to unsolder/solder repeatedly or even touch the controls (let alone worry about getting them in and out of the f holes), if you can live with your old pickups having shortened wires.

 

[GeorgeSunset]

well, i know that the space under the pick-ups in a AS-83 are only big enough for the pick-up cable - so you have to go trough the f-holes.

 

[leftybill]

My son has one of these and I thought about doing the same. I would say if you were just going to switch out the pickups, it would be easier to do what slyzspyz suggested. I think the pots of these guitars would be worth switching out however.

 

[strat56]

Sorry to say that you cannot properly do it.
Why do you feel the need to swap? The stocks in that guitar are really pretty good.

I don't care for them, they seem muddy to me. Also I'm thinking about adding push pull pots on the tone controls for splitters for the Duncans, if I can figure out how to get them in there.

You need to remove the pickups/mounting rings, attach string/fishing line/surgical tubing to the pots/switches/jack and pull everything out through the pickup rout, wire up the new pickups & fish everything back through. Take your time & go slowly. It is tedious, but not rocket science.

That was my first thought but then I remembered it has a block of wood running down the middle and wasn't sure there would be room to do that with this guitar.

Another option, which I believe I read on TGP once upon a time, is to simply cut the stock pickups' wires at a point you can reach them, then join them to the new pickups' wires. Saves having to unsolder/solder repeatedly or even touch the controls (let alone worry about getting them in and out of the f holes), if you can live with your old pickups having shortened wires.

I'd like to change the pots to add coil splitting for the Duncans.

well, i know that the space under the pick-ups in a AS-83 are only big enough for the pick-up cable - so you have to go trough the f-holes.

That's what I was thinking but haven't pulled the pickups yet to check.

My son has one of these and I thought about doing the same. I would say if you were just going to switch out the pickups, it would be easier to do what slyzspyz suggested. I think the pots of these guitars would be worth switching out however.

My thoughts also.

I guess I'll remove the strings and unmount the pickups today and see what's up in there.

 

[Bazaboy33]

That was my first thought but then I remembered it has a block of wood running down the middle and wasn't sure there would be room to do that with this guitar.

I forgot about that tone block. Use the same procedure, but yep, go through the F-hole. Way more tedious...