Changing pickups 2021 Less Paul Classic

[RobertS092812]

Can I simply swap stock pickups with Seymore Duncan JB/Jazz or is there more involved with it. A tech at the local shop said I’d have to replace everything???? Thanks

[NighthawkChris]

I’d find another tech/luthier. There would be no specific reason I could think of why a total replacement of all the other electronic parts is needed… it’s not a simple swap, though. Not necessarily hard though if one can solder and understand what the wires are and what they connect to.

[Eracer_Team]

If you have the pcb in the control area it’s trickier but not impossible to swap pickups 

just need to attach the quick connect to the Seymour wires

[Rabs]

Also it may depend on if the new SD pickups have options to coil split and if you want to use those you would at least need a new volume pot. So actually if thats what you intend to do it may be easier to replace the whole PCB board (if thats what it has) with standard pots and wiring.

[NighthawkChris]

Per a thread on The Gear Page, since 2019 there are PCBs used. Still shouldn’t have to replace everything… pickups are just coils wrapped around magnetic material - I.e wires. Not going to tech someone here but just answering the question, NO do NOT need to replace the guts of the electronics

Edited July 10 by NighthawkChris

[10PoundLester]

Maybe the tech was trying to do the OP a favor by getting rid of the totally unnecessary, cheap PCB and then point-to-point wiring four quality pots and the tone caps in the way it should be.

Edited July 11 by 10PoundLester

[Sgt. Pepper]

I put new pups in an SG I had with a PCB. Like anything, if you know what you are doing it’s easy. If you don’t, it’s not.

[Larsongs]

On 7/11/2024 at 3:10 PM, 10PoundLester said:

Maybe the tech was trying to do the OP a favor by getting rid of the totally unnecessary, cheap PCB and then point-to-point wiring four quality pots and the tone caps in the way it should be.

He very well could’ve meant this. If the Pickups are sub par the Pots, Caps, Wiring, Jack & 3 Way Switch may be too. There’s a reason why these cost less than a Les Paul Std.

The OP may be better off selling his Classic & opting for a Les Paul Std. which is more to his liking. He’ll never recoup the cost of the Mods & he still might not like the Guitar.