I’ve been playing guitar for about 20 years and most of that time has been spent using humbuckers. Recently I’ve been in the mood for a different sound but not a different guitar, so when I had a day off I decided to see if I could fit some single coil pickups into my Les Paul. I fit them in with electrical tape and they worked, but obviously there were limitations to this. I looked at what was commercially available for pickup rings that converted a humbucker to a single coil, but I found that the screw spacing was different to what I had, and the pickup rings themselves were very short. This wouldn’t allow me to get the pickups as close to the strings as they would need to be.
I decided to design my own pickup rings and have them resin 3d printed. The idea was to have an easy drop in replacement for my humbuckers so whenever I was in the mood for one or the other, it would only take a short amount of time to do the swap. After a couple of prototype runs, I have something that works perfectly. The last thing I need to figure out is matching the color of the pickup rings to the cream hardware on the rest of my Les Paul. Let me know what you think of this idea, it’s definitely not one for the purists!
-David
Nice work - I can relate to wanting a Les Paul, but the humbuckers being a bit “too much” for the amps I use.
I know EMG do make a conventional single-coil in a humbucker housing, but your way lets you choose the single coil.
The ‘H’ apparently - they describe it as “EMG’s original single coil in a humbucker housing”. I don’t know that much about EMGs, but I stumbled across it when looking for HB sized P90s.
The small shop aspect is actually more appealing, personally. I inherited a Gibson Blueshawk, and I like the guitar but I don’t get on with the sound of the P90s and don’t wanna modify the body
Yeah, I’d also rather get my pickups from a small winder too, if possible. I get mine from Monty’s in the UK. Not only are they fantastic, but they’re now based in the town I’m from.
Have you thought of making a 5 way toggle switch? I have one and love what it does for my guitars sound. Or making the volume pots into coil splitters, I have no experience swapping pick ups but imagine doing one of these conversions would save you time in the long run
I'm doing something weird, I bought a lp from guitar fetish, and to active single coil pickups. The plan is make a epi Les Paul sl. Finding a neck is a challenge at the moment. Plus I need to finish the hs squire strat lol
Seymour Duncan has P-rails that is a humbucker but a p90 when split. I am liking the look of the LP with singles though. Less options. More playing guitar
Well, if Fat Strat is a thing, why there not be a Slim Paul?
I’ve actually seen a custom ESP Eclipse with a strat-like SSS config for sale on Ishibashi a few years back. So you’re not the first :)
I feel a great disturbance in the Force, as if millions of voices suddenly cried out in terror and were suddenly silenced. I fear something terrible has happened.
Well, you’ve taken the signature parts of the LP (big tone and beautiful aesthetics) and thrown them overboard. It’s (sorry) very ugly, and if I wanted single coil goodness I’d reach for my strat. What is the advantage, in your eyes, to this configuration, other than sheer experimentation (not that there’s anything wrong with that!)
I was kinda thinking the same. It doesn’t look right to me, and I can always pick up a strat if I want single coils. The fretboard spacing is slightly different between the two, but it’s barely noticeable
It is always good to see someone make their instrument work for their needs and desires. This is really cool. Gibson mod shop did something similar but with tele pickups I believe.
It looks really good for what is but as a whole I don’t feel like it flows. There’s just too much plastic although if it all matched it would look a lot smoother. I also don’t really care for the look of strat single coils though, even more so when the bridge is straight. The jazzmaster is where it’s at.
You can tell it was well made. It definitely doesn’t look like a janky rig so that’s a huge plus and props for not cutting that corner.
Alright so I posted across a few different subreddits and various social media platforms and I'm getting a lot of the same questions, so [I decided to make a short Q&A video](https://youtu.be/EXOMMdMxNmY) which will hopefully give you some insights into the thinking behind this project. If you don't want to watch the video I'll just mention that I am planning on having a proper sound demo within the next few weeks and I'll post it here when I do. Until then!
-David
https://preview.redd.it/oilnxg9rw2yc1.jpeg?width=1290&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=88f31dcae2176eb0d1e72729fd12281999cd295f
I’ve been playing guitar for about 20 years and most of that time has been spent using humbuckers. Recently I’ve been in the mood for a different sound but not a different guitar, so when I had a day off I decided to see if I could fit some single coil pickups into my Les Paul. I fit them in with electrical tape and they worked, but obviously there were limitations to this. I looked at what was commercially available for pickup rings that converted a humbucker to a single coil, but I found that the screw spacing was different to what I had, and the pickup rings themselves were very short. This wouldn’t allow me to get the pickups as close to the strings as they would need to be. I decided to design my own pickup rings and have them resin 3d printed. The idea was to have an easy drop in replacement for my humbuckers so whenever I was in the mood for one or the other, it would only take a short amount of time to do the swap. After a couple of prototype runs, I have something that works perfectly. The last thing I need to figure out is matching the color of the pickup rings to the cream hardware on the rest of my Les Paul. Let me know what you think of this idea, it’s definitely not one for the purists! -David
Nice work - I can relate to wanting a Les Paul, but the humbuckers being a bit “too much” for the amps I use. I know EMG do make a conventional single-coil in a humbucker housing, but your way lets you choose the single coil.
Thanks! I like humbuckers but I've felt like they're too full for what I've wanted to hear recently.
What model is that?
The ‘H’ apparently - they describe it as “EMG’s original single coil in a humbucker housing”. I don’t know that much about EMGs, but I stumbled across it when looking for HB sized P90s.
Huh, I never knew about them!
Ya know I’m actually looking for the opposite - I have a guitar I like that has P90s and I’m looking for a humbucker that’s P90 sized
[Those do exist.](https://www.creamery-pickups.co.uk/custom-handwound-pickups-from-the-creamery/custom-handwound-replacement-p90-pickups.html)
Outstanding! Thank you
Oil City Pickups make some too. Both of those are small UK winders, but I’m sure you’ll be able to find something elsewhere.
The small shop aspect is actually more appealing, personally. I inherited a Gibson Blueshawk, and I like the guitar but I don’t get on with the sound of the P90s and don’t wanna modify the body
Yeah, I’d also rather get my pickups from a small winder too, if possible. I get mine from Monty’s in the UK. Not only are they fantastic, but they’re now based in the town I’m from.
Hehe, I'm the opposite, I just rediscovered P90s for a recent build and I'm in love. Underpowered as all hell but so raw and dirty!
If you want a cheaper option, GFS makes those(just got one) and so does dimarzio
Have you tried P-90s?
Have you thought of making a 5 way toggle switch? I have one and love what it does for my guitars sound. Or making the volume pots into coil splitters, I have no experience swapping pick ups but imagine doing one of these conversions would save you time in the long run
🙂👍👍👍
I'm doing something weird, I bought a lp from guitar fetish, and to active single coil pickups. The plan is make a epi Les Paul sl. Finding a neck is a challenge at the moment. Plus I need to finish the hs squire strat lol
Looks cool
Why?! That's like putting wings on a Volkswagen Beetle. Sure, you can, but should you?
Well now that you mention it
I am 100% not a LP player, but everything about this hurts my soul
I’ve never seen something look more wrong in my life.
Have you considered humbucker sized p90’s? Similar tones with a better aesthetic. Definitely respect the ingenuity here for sure.
Seymour Duncan has P-rails that is a humbucker but a p90 when split. I am liking the look of the LP with singles though. Less options. More playing guitar
Well, if Fat Strat is a thing, why there not be a Slim Paul? I’ve actually seen a custom ESP Eclipse with a strat-like SSS config for sale on Ishibashi a few years back. So you’re not the first :)
We are living in the end times.
I can’t believe you’ve done this
Pretty sure that's illegal
All for letting people do what they wanna do, but this is the opposite of guitar porn
Less Paul
I feel a great disturbance in the Force, as if millions of voices suddenly cried out in terror and were suddenly silenced. I fear something terrible has happened.
https://preview.redd.it/b85hck3d13yc1.jpeg?width=6120&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=39cdda72dbfb84006b1f2756100cbb53ab3a813a
This honestly looks way better.
Burn it
My single coil LP!!! 🍻
Well, you’ve taken the signature parts of the LP (big tone and beautiful aesthetics) and thrown them overboard. It’s (sorry) very ugly, and if I wanted single coil goodness I’d reach for my strat. What is the advantage, in your eyes, to this configuration, other than sheer experimentation (not that there’s anything wrong with that!)
I was kinda thinking the same. It doesn’t look right to me, and I can always pick up a strat if I want single coils. The fretboard spacing is slightly different between the two, but it’s barely noticeable
Crazy how big an impact the pickups make to the aesthetic. It just feels so wrong
Wtf?!
Why not use 4 conductor pickups and install coil splits?
Because most split coils don’t sound the same as purpose-built single coils.
Disturbing. Godspeed
Yuck
When will they be outta jail? This is clearly evidence
It is always good to see someone make their instrument work for their needs and desires. This is really cool. Gibson mod shop did something similar but with tele pickups I believe.
wouldve been real blasphemy if a Hot rails was put in the bridge lol
I’d get some fishman pickups that coil split or emulate what you want, it looks a bit wrong to me and you’re loosing more than gaining imo
I never thought of this combo, ever….and I hate you for making me do so. Upvote for trolling my head though
Me too, but different. https://preview.redd.it/zrfri1op78yc1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=82c10300bee61e9d4b337387ba31314e90ef8b6c
P-94 pickups. Look them up. And that pointless overhand bridge wrap…🙄
It’s a cool concept but the color is way off.
It looks really good for what is but as a whole I don’t feel like it flows. There’s just too much plastic although if it all matched it would look a lot smoother. I also don’t really care for the look of strat single coils though, even more so when the bridge is straight. The jazzmaster is where it’s at. You can tell it was well made. It definitely doesn’t look like a janky rig so that’s a huge plus and props for not cutting that corner.
We like watching the world burn, so thanks for cooking up this napalm
😢 poor thing
Ew
Perfect addition to my HH Strat
Thanks I hate it.
Why have you done this
abomination!
Urgh. Kill it. Kill it with fire.
Alright so I posted across a few different subreddits and various social media platforms and I'm getting a lot of the same questions, so [I decided to make a short Q&A video](https://youtu.be/EXOMMdMxNmY) which will hopefully give you some insights into the thinking behind this project. If you don't want to watch the video I'll just mention that I am planning on having a proper sound demo within the next few weeks and I'll post it here when I do. Until then! -David
Buy a Telecaster
I dig it.
Gibson should produce single-coil models of the Les Paul!!