Squier Strat Guitar Pickups Replacement

Written By: Ion

Comments: 0

Difficulty

Moderate

Steps

Time Required

50 minutes

Introduction

Electric guitars require pickups to convert the string vibrations into electrical signals. The electrical signals travel through the guitar cord to the amplifier and then to the speakers for the audience to hear. If your guitar, amplifier, and speakers are correctly connected, without faulty cords or wires, and your guitar still sounds off; you may need to replace the pickups on your guitar.

This guide demonstrates how to replace broken or faculty pickups to restore your guitar’s tone. This guide will work on any Squier Strat electric guitar that has the three single-coil pickup configuration. The pickups are located on the guitar body between the neck and the bridge. Though the guitar featured below has a right-handed orientation, the instructions are the same for guitars with a left-handed orientation; however, the pictures may mirror what you may see in person with a left-handed guitar.

The steps in this guide will require you to desolder and solder parts of the guitar. You will need a steady hand to avoid damage to the guitar and yourself.

Based on the Fender.com site, the following Fender pickup models may work as replacements for the guitar below: 0992113000, 0992208000, and 0992113000. Before purchasing new pickups, you may want to visit a guitar store or music shop for assistance in determining which specific pickups will work for your guitar.

Tools

Step 1

Unwind the strings by turning the tuning pegs.
Pull the strings out of the tuning peg holes.
Push the strings out through the back plate holes.
Use a string winder to speed up this process.

Step 2

Remove the 11 screws holding the pickguard to the body of the guitar.

Step 3

Lift up the pickup guard gently.
Flip the pickup guard to expose the wiring.
Place a towel underneath the pickup guard to protect your guitar's body.
Potential for device damage: Do not use excessive force when lifting the pickup guard.

Step 4

Take note of where each pickup is wired.
Make sure to keep track of the negative and positive wires. Black wires usually indicate negative wires.
Pickups are usually wired to the potentiometers and pickup selector switch.

Step 5

Desolder the pickups from the pickup selector switch using a quality soldering iron and soldering wick.
Desolder the pickups from the potentiometers.
Potential for device damage: Excessive heat from the soldering iron can damage components.