Replacing the Pickups in Your Guitar

Step 12 Testing With Two Strings

This part can get pretty annoying if you don't have something right.

Put on two strings, say, the B string and the D string. Or G and A.
If you took off the 6 saddle things, you need to put those back on. The intonation isn't a big deal. Just put it on.

Thread the OLD strings through the body(if yours works like that). You only need two, and it's just to test it, so it's OK. The ends will be twisted, so getting it through body could be a challenge. Use a thin brass wire and pull the strings through.

Tighten them up, get them in tune(or close). Doesn't have to be perfect, it's just for a test.

Plug your guitar into that little practice amp you have and pluck the strings. Hear sound? No? Turn the volume on your guitar up. Same with tone. Now run both pots up and down while plucking to make sure they both still work like they should.
If your guitar has more than those two knobs, just deal with that like you should.

Change pickups and make sure the others still work.


Good? Congratulations. Restring the guitar. New strings please.
Wait! Do you remember step 3? Read that. Did you oil the fretboard? Clean it? Polish frets? You're doing all this work, so you might as well do some more while you're at it.