[Dendroaspis]

Decided to document the installation of a newly aquired, and much praised Lundgren M7. The outgoing EMG 707 is a very good sounding, balanced, and chuggy pickup, but there was still...something....lacking. Too even, little dynamics....something.

Here's my rather messy home bench. Most of my main tools are at work, but one doesn't need too many tools to accomplish this job.




The subject guitar: my '00 LACS D1.




The outgoing 707




The incoming M7






A measurement is taken of the pickup height for mounting reference later...this measures 5/16" bass side and 1/4" treble side. I will likely add a sixteenth to the new pickup.




The opened cavity reveals this slightly messily-wired, but spacious layout in the classic Gibson style 2 Vol/2tone/3-way toggle arrangement - which is unusual for an Ibanez RG. This also solves the mismatched active/passive pot value problem, because it's basically two different pickup signal paths from the toggle switch onward. So all we do is swap the bridge pots from 25k to 500k, and that's it. Each pickup has it own dedicated, correct pot values, which works out to be the perfect compromise.



String removed and ready to remove the pickup and pots




Before doing any soldering work, make sure to cover the back with a rag. Accidental finish pock mark burns are possible from burning rosin spatter and or dripping solder.




After disconnecting the bridge pickup and swich leads from it's volume and tone pots, take out the pots ...






Remove the 707




I have some high-density charcoal colored foam that happens to fit the cavity ends perfectly, both in width and depth.




I place the M7 on the foam and trace each end. This foam will later act as cavity filler because the new pickup is slightly shorter than the 707, leaving a small open cavity hole. Not a biggie, but asthetically meh...this makes it look cool, and also helps solidify the already solid setting even further. The pickup does not move. I hate wobbly pickups.






Bottom pickup support foam




The M7 baseplate mounting tabs were made flat from Lundgren, so they were too long to directly fit into the existing cavity. Oops. Routing a tab channel on this special guitar is, needless to say, out of the question. So after taking some depth measurements (referring to our original #) I bent the tabs into the usual "L" mounting arrangement. I also matched the mounting hole locations so no further holes would have to be drilled - and best of all this whole job is completely reversable with no ill-effects to both pickup and guitar alike.






Mounted in, and looking good...




Now we put in our cut-out foam end pieces, and using a blunt, thin object to stuff the foam into the end cavities.






After installing two new 500k vol/tone mini pots ready to go, opening the M7 four conductor cable reveals a colorful group: green and red for one coil, and blue and yellow for the other coil.




Series (full humbucking) wiring: green/braid to ground, yellow/red soldered together and taped, with the blue wire as the hot out.




I hate messy, rats-nest wiring. All wired up and ready to go!




Strings on....




ALL DONE! (whew.)



Now to take a few days to sonically evaluate this bad boy.....

[Drew]

I require A/B clips.

[D-EJ915]

Lol, the way the strings converge from the bridge pickup to the neck looks like a big difference but it's just bc the pickup is giant in comparison.

Nice wiring btw.

[WayneCustom7]

Nice, when I scrolled quickly it was almost like watching a vid!

[zimbloth]

I'm not trying to be rude, but couldn't you have just gotten pickup rings or something? The ones they make for people who have EMG 707s who want to revert back to passives? That foam stuff looks kinda cheesy. Once again I'm not trying to be disrespectul, I just can't get over how weird that looks. Then again tone > looks Can't wait to hear what you think of the pickup

[The Dark Wolf]

Wow. Does that look ugly as hell (707 neck with M7 bridge). What an odd choice. And those Lundgren pickups are ass ugly. Sure hope it sounds good.

Great wiring, though, and terrific picstory/tutorial/whatever! You always do such nice work, Dendro. The foam idea was brilliant!

I'm with Drew. Clips!

[Dendroaspis]

Hey guys, yeah, the foam is really just a quick thing I thought of at the last second while doing it because I just had some lying around. Besides it's still better than having the open holes. I do like solidity it gives though. I may look into those rings too....

I care more about how it sounds first and foremost, with looks being secondary...my picking hand is directly over it most of the time anyway.

[Rick]

Cool. Can't wait to hear what it sounds like!

[Metal Ken]

Originally Posted by zimbloth

I'm not trying to be rude, but couldn't you have just gotten pickup rings or something? The ones they make for people who have EMG 707s who want to revert back to passives? That foam stuff looks kinda cheesy. Once again I'm not trying to be disrespectul, I just can't get over how weird that looks. Then again tone > looks Can't wait to hear what you think of the pickup

If he decides he likes the EMG more, he can put that back in and not have pickup ring screw holes on the body ;D

[metalfiend666]

Cool picstory dude! What's the bobbin on the Lundgren made of?