Dilemma - new pickups or new axe? - Guitars101

Mishar McLeud · 03-01-2006, 08:16 AM

I've been thinking of changing pickups in my Peavey Raptor for quite a while (I bought it in Sept), and today I went to the music store to check if they could do it and how much it would cost. So the first question the guitar dude asked me was "what sound do you want to achieve"? Well my all-time hero is Zakk but I am more into tone of bands like Bullet For My Valentine and Thrice, so I said I'd better just jam some random stuff so he would hear himself. So after I played a couple of tunes he goes to the stand and takes RG320 from there. I also want to mention, I have this thing towards Ibanez guitars - no reason in particular, they just appeal to me that much!
Well, I definately sounded a lot better with RG320, even it had stock strings and factory covered pickups. Now this question I'm on about - to chage all pack of pickups (2 normal and one humbucker) would cost me about $400, the new guitar wouldn't be a lot more expencive in a comparison. But I can't say that I outgrown my Peavey and I really love this guitar. So now I'm pretty much lost, could you guys suggest anything on this?

El_jalepeno · 03-01-2006, 08:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mishar McLeud

I've been thinking of changing pickups in my Peavey Raptor for quite a while (I bought it in Sept), and today I went to the music store to check if they could do it and how much it would cost. So the first question the guitar dude asked me was "what sound do you want to achieve"? Well my all-time hero is Zakk but I am more into tone of bands like Bullet For My Valentine and Thrice, so I said I'd better just jam some random stuff so he would hear himself. So after I played a couple of tunes he goes to the stand and takes RG320 from there. I also want to mention, I have this thing towards Ibanez guitars - no reason in particular, they just appeal to me that much!
Well, I definately sounded a lot better with RG320, even it had stock strings and factory covered pickups. Now this question I'm on about - to chage all pack of pickups (2 normal and one humbucker) would cost me about $400, the new guitar wouldn't be a lot more expencive in a comparison. But I can't say that I outgrown my Peavey and I really love this guitar. So now I'm pretty much lost, could you guys suggest anything on this?

Holy shit! 400 clams for swapping pups! My ass hurts just thinking about it. I would get a second or third opinion on the pup swap unless you just got money to burn. Whatever the cost of the pups, then $50 for the installation should be more than adequate, and don't be afraid to ask for a discount or bring in a competitor's ad on the pups. Musician's Friend is usally cheaper so print out the page from their web site and ask them to meet it. If they say no, then order from wherever you get the better deal

D.i.n.o · 03-01-2006, 10:14 AM

$400 is ridiculous!

Sounds like the guy was trying to boost his commission by trying to sell you a new guitar too.

Let me guess ... Guitar Center?

**jimmerwoo** · 03-01-2006, 10:33 AM

Buy the pups you want and re-solder them yourself (cost prolly around $150). It really isn't that hard....check out the wiring diagrams at Seymour Duncan.com . I learnt this stuff in day and fitted the pickups the next day. Even if it goes wrong you can still take the new pups to a decent guitar shop and they can charge you for installation only, it would prolly be around the $50 that The Hot Pepper quoted.

**jimmerwoo** · 03-01-2006, 10:39 AM

Having said that....for $250 you could buy a brand new POD XT and have any sound you wanted. Your Raptor pickups wouldnt be a problem then.

GreenThing · 03-01-2006, 10:39 AM

Ok, suppose it is $400 to install new pickups, or $400 for a new guitar. Personally I would buy the guitar as I would still own the other one, which I could sell to fund the new one or keep and have 2 guitars.

Still, from your other replys it looks like you can do it cheaper. Although I don't understand dollars.

axe2grind · 03-01-2006, 10:40 AM

Well, if you can afford to get new pickups for the raptor, then instead I would get the Ibanez. Having a different axe to play is a lot more benefical in my book. You can always change the pickups later on for both guitars. One can be your shred guitar (Ibanez) and the raptor for maybe more mellower stuff.

wahwah · 03-01-2006, 11:42 AM

Was the guy wearing a mask and a stripey jumper? Sheesh...highway robbery!

I'm sure they're not the same as the Wolfgang pickups but you could have a new guitar for less than that with EVH designed pups in if you buy the Korean wolf? Best pickups I've ever heard and they are the same on American or Korean.

irongolem85 · 03-01-2006, 12:37 PM

what kind of pups were costing this $400?! list for sets of emg's is only like 250, thats humbuckers, but 2 singles and a hb shouldnt be 400...were they dipped in platinum?

Edenbridge · 03-01-2006, 03:54 PM

Talk about getting screwed over.....

Mishar McLeud · 03-02-2006, 08:07 AM

Wow, that's a lot of different oppinions here! Well what I understood is, I definately shouldn't get pickups in that store, seems like someone's trying to earn too much in his pocket :blink: . I'll check musiciansfriend.com then, but since I'm in the UK I'd be charged for additional bucks for shipment. Guess I'm better off saving up for another guitar after all, I could always sell my other one as it's been suggested and spend the cash for anything else.
Thanks for the replies! I'll try to stay calm around that dude next time I go to that shop

**eamon7** · 03-02-2006, 08:16 AM

i have to go along with getting a modeller before getting new pickups