[IndyPilot]

Hey everyone! New guy here. I was hoping you all could point me in the right direction. I have an old 1989 Peavey Generation S1 Telecaster. It's been sitting neglected for a while but would like to bring it back to life.

http://imgur.com/k0ugyvE

(not my photo but the same guitar).

I've never been too happy with the active pickups in it so I'd like to swap them out but I'm totally lost on the options. I'm thinking of a stacked single and humbucker combo. I'd like to keep it around $200 total but have some wiggle room.

So, my questions are:

1. What is a good starting place for a stacked single/humbucker combo?
2. The lever switch is a 3-way. I'd like that to function as normal but the small toggle switch (which was for/active passive) I'd like to have setup to split the humbucker. Is that possible?
3. If I'm going through all of this, is it worth going ahead and swapping out the pots too?
4. Are there wiring diagrams out there that would help with this?
5. I'm fairly handy with a soldering iron and reading schematics, and don't mind messing up things if they are fixable. But is this more of a job for a qualified tech?

Other maybe useful info: This will be tuned to D standard with 11-52s. My favorite bands and sounds I like are Gojira, Mastodon, Devin Townsend, Opeth. My wife has a Hagstrom Fantomen that I really like the sound of. I have a Variax Shuriken SR250 that I mainly favor the Les Paul bridge sound.

Thanks!!

EDIT: Just to put it out there. I know I'll probably put more money into this guitar than it's worth. But, it has sentimental value.

 

[105]

1 for the pickups, I’d go used. Maybe a duncan distortion bridge and a hot rails neck.
2 yes
3 yes they’re about 10$ each
4 guitar electronics.com has you covered
5 you can do it!

 

[Lozek]

+1 On the Distortion, it's a great starting point for metal that will help you figure out the subtleties of the guitar and whether it would react better with something else.

 

[Mike]

I concur with the above, although a JB for the bridge and a STK3 or STK4 would be my call, especially if splitting, and wire it with a 500K volume and 250K tone. You can find both of those fairly easily - just make sure you get the STK without the Strat pickup style tab to fit the rout in your guitar.

None of this stuff is really hard. I've been changing pickups myself since I was 14, and there was no internet to look things up on then!

 

[IndyPilot]

Thanks for the great info everyone!

Looks like a Seymour Duncan TB-6 Duncan Distortion for the bridge is what I'll go with. For the neck, Hot Rails is a contender. Any opinions on Seymour Duncan SJBJ1B (https://www.amazon.com/Seymour-Dunc...child=1&keywords=SHR-1n&qid=1589378145&sr=8-5) for the neck?

Also, I figured if I'm doing something like this, I can just do a push/pull for the volume and tone and have coil splitting for the neck and bridge. The mini toggle switch would be left out of the loop (or I could just have it as an on/off).

EDIT: Actually, it looks like I may need a SH-6, not a TB-6.

 

[Mike]

I know Noodles liked the JB Jr in the neck of his Soloist (that Jacksonplayer now owns). I've never used one.

 

[jacksonplayer]

I know Noodles liked the JB Jr in the neck of his Soloist (that Jacksonplayer now owns). I've never used one.

I agree that it's very good.

 

[IndyPilot]

I agree that it's very good.

Awesome, thanks for the info. Looks like I'll be doing a Distortion and a JB Jr.

Now, trying to figure out the pots and accessories I need. I found a wiring diagram for exactly what I need. Just trying to figure out what all I need to order.

 

[BStobart]

Welcome to MG and good luck with the project!
For the pots, what do you need help with? Pickup switch should be reusable. You may also need a mono jack if switching to passive as (I think) actives use stereo jacks

 

[IndyPilot]

Welcome to MG and good luck with the project!
For the pots, what do you need help with? Pickup switch should be reusable. You may also need a mono jack if switching to passive as (I think) actives use stereo jacks

Well, it's really the audio vs. linear debate everyone has an opinion on. I guess it would be best for me to just list what I'm ordering and maybe someone can say "Yes" or "No". This is the diagram I'm going off of https://www.seymourduncan.com/images/wiring-diagrams/2H_3B_1VppSPLn_1TppSPLb.jpg. And, obviously, I'll need to measure everyone.

1. Neck Pickup: SJBJ-1 (https://www.amazon.com/Seymour-Dunc...1589477248&s=musical-instruments&sr=1-1-fkmr0)
2. Bridge Pickup: Duncan Distortion (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0002D05V...olid=1QN40SZPTOP3T&psc=1&ref_=lv_ov_lig_dp_it)
3. Volume/Tone Pots: CTS 500k Push/Pull (https://www.amazon.com/CTS-Shaft-Au...&qid=1589477387&sprefix=500k+,aps,179&sr=8-10). I need to make sure these fit
4. Tone Cap: .047uf (https://www.amazon.com/047uf-Orange...=047uf+capacitor+guitar&qid=1589477436&sr=8-2)
5. Wire Kit: https://guitarelectronics.com/guitar-bass-copper-foil-shielding-wire-kit/ (Probably good to have)
6. Blade Switch: Will reuse what I have
7: Jack: I'll have to check on that. I think mine may work.

 

[105]

Your list looks solid. For the push pull pots - I actually like the ones that don't have the PCB on them - the PCB is supposed to make them easier to solder, but I think it's worse. For the tone cap you don't need an orange drop, just about any .047 will get the job done (many will find this amusing coming from since I have $$$ expensive PiO caps in my guitars). However, if you're just buying one or two caps, then you're not going to find any film caps that are any cheaper (you have to buy in quantity to save).

The pots I prefer, YMMV:
https://www.amazon.com/Bourns-Audio...cts+500k+push+pull+pot&qid=1589506738&sr=8-10

 

[IndyPilot]

Your list looks solid. For the push pull pots - I actually like the ones that don't have the PCB on them - the PCB is supposed to make them easier to solder, but I think it's worse. For the tone cap you don't need an orange drop, just about any .047 will get the job done (many will find this amusing coming from since I have $$$ expensive PiO caps in my guitars). However, if you're just buying one or two caps, then you're not going to find any film caps that are any cheaper (you have to buy in quantity to save).

The pots I prefer, YMMV:
https://www.amazon.com/Bourns-Audio...cts+500k+push+pull+pot&qid=1589506738&sr=8-10

Awesome. Thanks for the info. Yeah, I actually watched a couple videos on someone soldering push/pull pots. One with the PCB and one without and it did seem as if the ones with the PCB were a little more of a hassle. It's really going to come down to what I can fit in the cavity (which I still need to measure). If I have to ditch the whole push/pull idea to split the coils, it's not a big deal. Just a wish list item since I'll in there wiring anyway.

As for the orange drop cap, just out of curiosity, do you mean the orange drops will work but I can find something cheaper (like a larger quantity of cheaper .047 caps)?

 

[105]

For the cap... yes. But honestly, you could save a dollar or two at most. Probably not worth it unless you're doing a LOT of guitars.

 

[IndyPilot]

For the cap... yes. But honestly, you could save a dollar or two at most. Probably not worth it unless you're doing a LOT of guitars.

Got it. Thanks!

And thanks everyone for the advice!!! Looks like I'll start ordering stuff in the next couple days. I'll be sure to post updates once I get things rolling.

Edit: I also gotta say you all have been super helpful. This is why I love the metal community. I tried a couple of different forums and it always turns into a pissing match.