Pickup testing guitar

FelineGuitars · July 2016

We built a pair of guitars to test out pickups. One had an alder body and the other had an ash body.
These had quick change components that incorporated a cut down pickguard and side part to the body.

We built a standard pair of strats but with a difference - the top section on one side is a separate piece. The holes are where bolts from the back can hold onto the top pieces

Here you can see we made a few pieces of interchangable tops so we could have a couple of pickguards loaded to compare and contrast different pickup types

here is one of the lower bits on it's own

You can see that the top part just slides into place

We added some magnets into the top of the body part that will grab onto steel discs in the test pickguards

A fully loaded pickguard connects with aquick connector

Slide the pickguard and pickups into place .
The magnets will grab the pickguard and a single bolt will hold t all steady (although there are 3 that can be used.

All in place and ready to plug in and try out

Image: https://scontent-amt2-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/13445228_1088138057888148_3867322524575149533_n.jpg?oh=652b5ad140f5ebc0cc752ff5756470ad&oe=5832F1A6

Here we go - both tester guitars and the additional pickguards and side parts, as well as the router template to make more pickguards

Image: https://scontent-amt2-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/13465936_1088231494545471_440796508732803051_n.jpg?oh=b82bc083865a7407e94e0508475f8ab8&oe=57FB6D6F

guitarfishbay · July 2016

Seems like a good idea for what you're trying to achieve.

Roland · July 2016

What do your pickup suppliers think about this, or haven't you mentioned it to them

JookyChap · July 2016

That's a great idea Jonathan -b ut what if you want to test a HSH (for instance) or pair of P90s etc. Wouldn't a swimming pool have been a better idea?