An Ibanez seven-string came in to have its aftermarket Bare Knuckle bridge pickup replaced with the original DiMarzio, plus a setup. Pickup swapped and wired to the Ibanez diagram, nut filed even, truss rod, saddles and intonation set. Two hours.
- Instrument
- Ibanez 7-string
- Tech
- Dave Eastwood
- Customer complaint
- Setup and bridge pickup swap
- Diagnosis
- Aftermarket Bare Knuckle bridge pickup to be replaced with the factory DiMarzio; truss rod out; nut uneven; saddle height and intonation off
- Work performed
- Bridge pickup swapped and wired per the Ibanez diagram; truss rod set; nut filed even; saddle height and intonation set; pickup height set; every switch position checked
- Parts
- Bridge pickup: aftermarket Bare Knuckle out, factory DiMarzio in
- Bench time
- 2 hours
- Outcome
- Sounded great and balanced back on the factory electronics
What Came In
An Ibanez seven-string. The owner wanted the aftermarket Bare Knuckle bridge pickup pulled and the original DiMarzio put back in, plus a setup.
What We Found
Beyond the swap, the truss rod needed adjustment, the nut was uneven, and the saddle height and intonation were off.
What We Did
Swapped the bridge pickup and followed the Ibanez wiring diagram to return the guitar to factory spec. Set the truss rod, filed the nut even, set the saddle height and dialed in the intonation. Set the pickup height and confirmed the new pickup worked in every switch position. About two hours on the bench.
Parts Replaced
Bridge pickup: the aftermarket Bare Knuckle came out and the factory DiMarzio went back in.
Result
Sounded great and balanced, back on the factory electronics.
What does putting a guitar back to factory electronics involve?
More than swapping the pickup. The wiring has to follow the maker's diagram so every switch position does what it did from the factory, and that gets checked before the covers go back on. A pickup that sounds right in one position and wrong in another is a wiring job, not a pickup problem.
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- Fender American Jaguar: Bridge Too Low, Micro-Tilt Wrong, Quiet Bridge Pickup
Bring It In
Pickup swap in either direction, done to the diagram and checked in every position. Guitar repair at the Hideout.
Paul's Guitar Hideout is located at The Shirt Factory in Glens Falls, NY. Use the Cooper Street entrance and take the stairs up. If stairs are difficult or you're bringing in something you don't want to carry up, call or text us and we'll arrange access.
The Shirt Factory
71 Lawrence St., Suite 201B, 2nd Floor
Glens Falls, NY 12801
Wednesday–Sunday, 12–5 PM
(518) 217-8695 · info@paulsguitarhideout.com