PRS 305 Pickup Mod
Disclaimer
Making this mod will invalidate warranty.
Background
Although I liked the sound of the original PRS pickups in my 305, they have hum problems at high gain. I do not want to have to use a noise gate, or have that authentic Hendrix buzz, so I decided to replace pickups with new Fender N3 pickups.
Unfortunately screw spacing of PRS pickups is a little non-standard and new Fender N3 pickups have a large wiring board. Also Fender pickups are a little taller than PRS ones due to stacked coils.
Summary of Mod
-
Check Fender pickups with Ohm meter, should have several KOhm between outer terminals. Each outer terminal to GND (middle) should be very high impedance; I bought 2 bad pickups from EBay before getting good ones
-
Remove original pickups, fill screw holes with plastic side-fret marker (small diameter plastic) or alternatively wooden toothpick.
-
Recommend: Put protective masking tape on guitar to avoid damaging finish, e.g. 3M Automotive
-
Drill new pickup holes in guitar body, these holes butt against plastic or toothpick filler
-
Hacksaw off Fender pickup wiring board that extends past pickup cover
-
Push out metal threaded inserts in Fender pickups, now there is nothing to hold cover in place so use Sellotape
-
Use a sharp knife to scrape etch resist from wiring board to create solder terminals, solder a short between big GND tab and right hand side pin (Black wire), solder Red wire to left terminal
-
Add a strip of thin foam tape to rear of pickup and Sellotape wires in place
-
Cut clear rubber pickup tubing to size, to replace PRS pickup springs (which I was not able to re-use) on underside of pickup
-
I used original long PRS screws and red rubber pickup tubing on top side, which I liked look of. Could probably just use shorter screws.
-
There was some fiddling with wiring path (cut out a little wood with Dremel tool) to get pickups sitting flat
-
There are probably other (better) ways to mount pickups, but this is just what I figured out at time.
-
[I also fitted a MIDI pickup, but that is another story]
Conclusion
Sounds like a strat, but feels like a PRS.
Some details with photos
PRS & Fender pickup comparison
Fender pickups with printed circuit board cut and new solder terminals made.
Pickup tubing top and bottom. Also note filled/re-drilled screw holes in guitar body.
Pickup with tape to hold cover and wiring in place.
Phew, new pickups in place.
