Installing HD Super 90

[angelo]

Thanks in advance for any info.

I really like the bridge pickup on my Mel Tele, but after scoring a HD Super 90 for a great price, I have to give it a whirl.


I have installed pickups before and have no fear of the job. My only question is that they suggest running a ground wire to the bridge.

1) Non traditional tele bridge. So where to next?

2) The pickup just has the traditional Black and White wires. Are they suggesting I ADD an additional ground wire?

I hope to give it a go tonight.

Thanks

 

[Jim Collins]

The bridgeplate of a Tele (or the bridge of any guitar) must be grounded. Traditionally, a Tele's bridgeplate was grounded automatically, because the conductive screws used to mount the bridge pickup to the bridgeplate came in contact with the copper-coated plate that was underneath the pickup, and this copper-coated plate was grounded. Later on, when Fender introduced Tele bridge pickups that did not have the copper-coated plate underneath, the guitar's bridgeplate had to have its own ground wire. Frequently, this was accomplished by having a length of multi-strand wire. Strip about an inch of insulation from one end. Splay the individual strands out, and lay them on the guitar body, so that the bridgeplate contacts them when it is bolted onto the guitar. Solder the other end of this wire to the volume pot casing.

 

[angelo]

Thanks Jim. As usual, I am not fully aware of what you mean until I actually do the job. I'll print your response out for the doing.

Thanks again.

 

[angelo]

Thanks again Jim,


There was, in fact, a wire already run from the bridge to the pot. so I just went on there.


THanks for the heads up. It's a lot easier when I know what to look for.

 

[illinimax]

You're good to go Angelo given the wire grounding the bridge is already there. PM me if you need anything. -Bob

 

[angelo]

Oh yeah. I installed it last night and got a few chops on it. As advertised, it screams and does clean up well. unfortunately:


1) I only played it for 2 or 3 minutes at volume as it was late and the boys were in bed.

2) Of all things, the rubber tubing of the original pickup was not tall enough to set it where I want it (as it is body mounted in this guitar, the pickup was much lower than normal). I believe the rubber I got with it is taller, so I need to swap out.


I'll know a lot more about this after the weekend, but it is a promising start.