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Cannibalizing Pickups for CBG Use?

New member here, tons to learn. :)

I've been gathering boxes and parts in prep for my first ever build (Ive got 15 wood boxes, an antique gas can and a flat military ammo box in the queue). I've ordered some parts from CB Gitty,purchased some pickups on ebay, and I've also found several cheap low-end electric guitars at pawn shops ($15 each) that I will part out.

One of the guitars has three single coil pickups with the standard 5-way switch, dual tone knobs and single volume. Another has a double coil pickup with single tone and volume knobs. I'm no electrician, but I've been watching lots of videos lately. ;)

Can I use a single single-coil from the first guitar as a standalone coil for a cbg? (the plan is to wire it to a single tone and single volume knob. This way I get three pickups for the price of one guitar, I can pickup extra pots/jacks as needed). Or do I have to keep the pickup sets together? To me it makes sense that they are just parts, and that I should be able to treat them as individual parts and design like I want to. Is this the case?

Thanks!

Paul

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Permalink Reply by the anonymous pick on January 2, 2018 at 10:26am

yup . you can cut them up and get 3 . the only real difference in some pickup sets is they have a different rating designed for their position , but hardly even noticeable unless all in the same guitar .

hack away at it . get 3 for 1 .

* tip- position your pickup closer to the neck for a warmer deeper tone ,,, or towards the bridge for a brighter tone .

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Permalink Reply by Paul Craig on January 2, 2018 at 10:46am

Pick is right, you can separate them into 3 guitars if you want.

If you decide to use 2 in a guitar, use the middle pickup with either of the other 2 so you'll have hum-cancelling when using both.

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Permalink Reply by Grandpa on January 2, 2018 at 12:35pm

Sure 'nuff. A parts-boxer git,

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Permalink Reply by JL on January 3, 2018 at 12:26am

They are just parts, 3 gits worth.

Take a little cheap compass from a box of cracker jacks or similar and see which end, N or S, points at the top of the pickup. On the double coil each should be different, that's your hummbucker. If your single coil pickups show different magnetic poles pointing up you have the option of pairing them for a hummbucker as well.