HOW TO INSTALL A
REPLACEMENT PICKUP
Have you ever wanted to replace the pickups in one of your electrics, but were hesitant to
tackle the job? No worries! John LeVan—an ace guitar repairman in Nashville—takes you
step-by-step through the process. This project involves retrofitting a reissue Fender ’ 72
Telecaster Thinline with original ’ 72 Wide Range pickups designed by Seth Lover, but you
can apply the basic procedures to almost any solidbody guitar. LeVan shows you how the
pros swap pickups and how to avoid common mistakes. As with all pickup replacement
projects, this one delivers some surprises along the way, and it’s instructive to see how
LeVan deals with them. As a bonus, we include a sidebar with essential soldering tips.
BY JOHN LEVAN
PHOTOS BY ANDY ELLIS
