Changing pickups on a Gibson w/ PCB
Posted: Fri Feb 24, 2023 11:18 am
It can be done, and you don't need to remove the pcb or add any quick connects.
I traced the wiring on the PCB in my 2013 LP Standard. Gibson use different coloured wires for each pickup which makes it more fun but if you wanted to pull the quick connects and add whatever you like here's how.
Reference photo (not mine):
BRIDGE PICKUP:
HOT - Middle lug of volume pot (bottom left in the pic)
GND+BARE - to any ground point. I used the back of the push/pull tone pot which has a bare back (bottom right pot)
TAP - to the lug bottom lug of the vol push/pull pot. This lug is the one that does not have the cap coming off it. Just melt the solder and poke your tap wires through the same lug then solder them in.
NECK PICKUP:
HOT - to the lug with the BLUE wire on the tone push/pull pot (top right pot in the pic above). It's the middle lug on the left side, below the black wire.
GND + BARE: as above, any ground point. Ground is ground.
TAP - As above. The lug without the cap.
I traced the wiring on the PCB in my 2013 LP Standard. Gibson use different coloured wires for each pickup which makes it more fun but if you wanted to pull the quick connects and add whatever you like here's how.
Reference photo (not mine):
BRIDGE PICKUP:
HOT - Middle lug of volume pot (bottom left in the pic)
GND+BARE - to any ground point. I used the back of the push/pull tone pot which has a bare back (bottom right pot)
TAP - to the lug bottom lug of the vol push/pull pot. This lug is the one that does not have the cap coming off it. Just melt the solder and poke your tap wires through the same lug then solder them in.
NECK PICKUP:
HOT - to the lug with the BLUE wire on the tone push/pull pot (top right pot in the pic above). It's the middle lug on the left side, below the black wire.
GND + BARE: as above, any ground point. Ground is ground.
TAP - As above. The lug without the cap.