Adding A Neck Pickup To A Single-pickup Guitar

[WarriorOfMetal]

i've got this single-pickup B.C. Rich Gunslinger, which sounds absolutely amazing for distorted rhythm stuff...but i'm not too crazy about it for leads and clean tones because i prefer a neck pickup for that, and i'd like it if i could have this guitar as a more useable #1 gig guitar....so i'm wondering, if i rout a cavity for a neck pickup and add a pickup switch (no new knobs or anything), how much (if at all) will it affect the tone of the bridge pickup with the guitar as it is now?

here's a pic:

[thegarehanman]

The addition of a neck pickup won't change the sound of the bridge pickup when the bridge pickup is selected alone. The addition of a neck pickup will give you a richer sound when both are selected. Think les paulish. It's not going to sound just like a(good) les paul though, especially with that maple neck. You might conside using a Seymour Duncan JB in the neck. A tone knob has the potential of giving you a wide range of tones as well. Just food for thought.

[WarriorOfMetal]

The addition of a neck pickup won't change the sound of the bridge pickup when the bridge pickup is selected alone.

right, i know that electronically speaking it shouldn't affect anything, i'm just trying to make sure that the resonance won't change drastically and change what i love about the tone of the guitar.

The addition of a neck pickup will give you a richer sound when both are selected. Think les paulish.

right, i know that...although that particular sound isn't something i use often at all

It's not going to sound just like a(good) les paul though, especially with that maple neck.

i don't expect (or particularly want) it to....i just want a smoother lead/clean tone

You might conside using a Seymour Duncan JB in the neck.

nope....i think i'd take the Joe Barden i have in the neck position on my Ibanez RG750....get the matching set ....and then put some different pickups in the Ibanez, or at least a different one in the neck.

A tone knob has the potential of giving you a wide range of tones as well. Just food for thought.

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a tone knob is something totally useless to me....i remove them from all of my guitars that have them. if i want less treble, i'll take it off at the amp. i don't want an extra knob that could accidentally get knocked and screw up my tone.

[thegarehanman]

Removing the wood isn't going to effect your tone noticeably; that factor was consideration when I answered the question originally.

Why do you ask questions you (think you) know the answer to?

[WarriorOfMetal]

Removing the wood isn't going to effect your tone noticeably; that factor was consideration when I answered the question originally.

Why do you ask questions you (think you) know the answer to?

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because i like to be reassured and make sure i'm not coming up with ridiculous ideas....i would really hate to kill what i love so much about the tone of this guitar and i want to be absolutely sure before i do anything/have anything done.

[thegarehanman]

Well than be reassured, if you route the cavity correctly and wire everything up well, you will have no problems and the tone of your bridge pickup should remain almost entirely unchanged.

[WarriorOfMetal]

someone on another board mentioned possible effects from the magnetic field of the new pickup....am i likely looking at a really noticeable effect here, or just something really minor?

[jonny p]

unless its a pickup with super strong magnets, it wont matter too much.

the biggest problem with putting a neck pup in some guitars, eg.a les paul jr,

is that it can cut into the neck tenon, weakening the joint.

but thats only with set necks. if its a bolt on, it should make balls all difference

[Jester700]

With a normal humbucker, the magnetic pull should be negligible. Adding a strat style pickup with Alnico5 polepieces might, but that's another thing.

[Mr.Churchyard]

With a normal humbucker, the magnetic pull should be negligible.  Adding a strat style pickup with Alnico5 polepieces might, but that's another thing.

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Wouldn't that just diminish the sustain instead of changing the tone? (I am asking)