Replacement pickups for a Backlund guitar

TheFintastics

Joined: Jul 28, 2008
Posts: 459
Wichita Falls, Texas
United States

Posted on Jun 06 2022 11:31 PM

I bought a Backlund model 400 not too long ago thinking it had single coils but it comes with humbuckers.

I'd like to remove them and replace it with some great vintage sounding Jazzmaster pickups. Is that an easy job for a guitar tech? Also....which pickups would give it the best vintage tone?

—

_

Hi, I'm Gellert, guitarist for The Fintastics.

https://www.facebook.com/TheFintastics

Last edited: Jun 06, 2022 23:33:51

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Surf_Skater

Joined: Sep 06, 2012
Posts: 1288
Lawrenceville , GA
United States

Posted on Jun 07 2022 12:58 PM

I would see if Lollar or someone else could make a humbucker sized Jazzmaster pickup or go with a P90. I prefer any mods to be reversible to stock in case you decide to sell later.

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revmike

Joined: Feb 26, 2006
Posts: 3742
North Atlantic
Canada

Posted on Jun 07 2022 01:10 PM

I have a set of Lollar’s Novel 90s in an Eastwood Airline Map. It really improved the sound from the stock pick ups. The sound is more P90 ish, but are fantastic pick ups.

https://www.lollarguitars.com/humbucker-size

Rev

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Canadian Surf

http://www.urbansurfkings.com/

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SilverFlash

Joined: Jul 14, 2015
Posts: 472
Near Atlanta, GA
United States

Posted on Jun 07 2022 01:16 PM

Hi Gellert, If you're thinking about P90s, you might check out the GFS Surf 90 Alnico 2s. I think either the black or white would look good on that Blacklund (great looking guitar, BTW). They will fit any standard humbucker mounting slot.

—

-Tim
MyYouTubeChannel
My Classic Instrumental Surf Music Timeline
SSS Agent #777

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Black_Bee_Tunes

Joined: Feb 24, 2022
Posts: 8

Posted on Jun 07 2022 04:37 PM

As a luthier with 20+ years of experience, it depends on how much you're looking to spend and the skill/equipment your tech has.

Routing for Jazzmaster pickups could easily (depending on location) cost as much if not more than the pickups them selfs. Without doing paint work, it will need a pickup ring/pickguard to cover the edge of the newly routed pickup cavity.

Most shops should be able to do that. If you don't want a pickguard or pickup ring and want the stock black look your tech will need to do paint work to cover the edge and cavity, this will be substantially more expensive and not all shops can do it or match the color.

SilverFlash wrote:

Hi Gellert, If you're thinking about P90s, you might check out the GFS Surf 90 Alnico 2s. I think either the black or white would look good on that Blacklund (great looking guitar, BTW). They will fit any standard humbucker mounting slot.

This is also what I would recommend. It looks like a tight fit to get a Jazzmaster in the neck position with how close the body is to the pickup.

TV Jones also makes an array of humbucker sized single coil pickups, English Mount (no Jazzmaster ). https://tvjones.com/shop/guitar-pickups/t90/

Hope it helps

Last edited: Jun 07, 2022 17:20:09

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Bango_Rilla

Joined: Jan 06, 2019
Posts: 149
Bananas, TX
United States

Posted on Jun 07 2022 05:13 PM

Fun! Everybody is chiming in with humbucker shaped pickups - but you're not getting JM pickups in there without routing.

My not-JM pickup suggestion - I've been really happy with the Fralin Twangmaster - https://www.fralinpickups.com/product/twangmaster/

Since the body I stuck it into isn't a strat shape, it's not strat sounding, but very clear and work really well for surf.

Those Surf 90's seem interesting, they're calling them kinda Dynasonics (which I have Dynasonics on another guitar)- ultimately it's a single coil sound in a humbucker route.

Fralin's in the "Banana Shovel"

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Bango Rilla!

DiPintos, Fenders and Reverb (oh, my!)

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edwardsand

Joined: Jun 29, 2018
Posts: 660

Posted on Jun 07 2022 08:33 PM

I expect Jazzmaster pickups won't fit easily into a humbucker case. But like people are saying, there are options out there for things that will go into a humbucker route. I would call up and talk with some of the many awesome boutique pickup builders out there and see what they can do for you. Many do a single coil in humbucker size, and they would know the best option to get the sound you are after.

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insectsurfer

Joined: Mar 22, 2006
Posts: 363
Los Angeles
10 News Pins

Posted on Jun 09 2022 03:51 AM

I replaced the humbuckers in my Epiphone SG with P90s from a place in Hawaii, 'Vintage Vibe',love the sound! But I really wanted to compliment you on such a beautiful guitar, I've been eyeballing those Backlunds for several years but noticed that they don't usually come equipped with a tremolo bar !

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dannylectro

Joined: Aug 18, 2008
Posts: 360
Orange, CA
United States

Posted on Jun 10 2022 04:00 AM

www.vintagevibeguitars.com/windows/hum90_alnicowin.html)

Check these out. You can have them wound to Jazzmaster specs.

Last edited: Jun 10, 2022 04:02:31

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TheFintastics

Joined: Jul 28, 2008
Posts: 459
Wichita Falls, Texas
United States

Posted on Jun 12 2022 03:55 PM

I want to thank everyone for chiming in. I've emailed Dylan from YouTube about his slant 6 pickups after watching his video below. Those tones sound great to me. Hopefully he'll write back and I can fit some nice single coils inside my Backlund.

—

_

Hi, I'm Gellert, guitarist for The Fintastics.

https://www.facebook.com/TheFintastics

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TheFintastics Joined: Jul 28, 2008 Posts: 459 Wichita Falls, Texas	Posted on Jun 06 2022 11:31 PM I bought a Backlund model 400 not too long ago thinking it had single coils but it comes with humbuckers. I'd like to remove them and replace it with some great vintage sounding Jazzmaster pickups. Is that an easy job for a guitar tech? Also....which pickups would give it the best vintage tone? — _ Hi, I'm Gellert, guitarist for The Fintastics. https://www.facebook.com/TheFintastics Last edited: Jun 06, 2022 23:33:51 Top
Surf_Skater Joined: Sep 06, 2012 Posts: 1288 Lawrenceville , GA	Posted on Jun 07 2022 12:58 PM I would see if Lollar or someone else could make a humbucker sized Jazzmaster pickup or go with a P90. I prefer any mods to be reversible to stock in case you decide to sell later. Top
revmike Joined: Feb 26, 2006 Posts: 3742 North Atlantic	Posted on Jun 07 2022 01:10 PM I have a set of Lollar’s Novel 90s in an Eastwood Airline Map. It really improved the sound from the stock pick ups. The sound is more P90 ish, but are fantastic pick ups. https://www.lollarguitars.com/humbucker-size Rev — Canadian Surf http://www.urbansurfkings.com/ Top
SilverFlash Joined: Jul 14, 2015 Posts: 472 Near Atlanta, GA	Posted on Jun 07 2022 01:16 PM Hi Gellert, If you're thinking about P90s, you might check out the GFS Surf 90 Alnico 2s. I think either the black or white would look good on that Blacklund (great looking guitar, BTW). They will fit any standard humbucker mounting slot. — -Tim MyYouTubeChannel My Classic Instrumental Surf Music Timeline SSS Agent #777 Top
Black_Bee_Tunes Joined: Feb 24, 2022 Posts: 8	Posted on Jun 07 2022 04:37 PM As a luthier with 20+ years of experience, it depends on how much you're looking to spend and the skill/equipment your tech has. Routing for Jazzmaster pickups could easily (depending on location) cost as much if not more than the pickups them selfs. Without doing paint work, it will need a pickup ring/pickguard to cover the edge of the newly routed pickup cavity. Most shops should be able to do that. If you don't want a pickguard or pickup ring and want the stock black look your tech will need to do paint work to cover the edge and cavity, this will be substantially more expensive and not all shops can do it or match the color. SilverFlash wrote: Hi Gellert, If you're thinking about P90s, you might check out the GFS Surf 90 Alnico 2s. I think either the black or white would look good on that Blacklund (great looking guitar, BTW). They will fit any standard humbucker mounting slot. This is also what I would recommend. It looks like a tight fit to get a Jazzmaster in the neck position with how close the body is to the pickup. TV Jones also makes an array of humbucker sized single coil pickups, English Mount (no Jazzmaster ). https://tvjones.com/shop/guitar-pickups/t90/ Hope it helps Last edited: Jun 07, 2022 17:20:09 Top
Bango_Rilla Joined: Jan 06, 2019 Posts: 149 Bananas, TX	Posted on Jun 07 2022 05:13 PM Fun! Everybody is chiming in with humbucker shaped pickups - but you're not getting JM pickups in there without routing. My not-JM pickup suggestion - I've been really happy with the Fralin Twangmaster - https://www.fralinpickups.com/product/twangmaster/ Since the body I stuck it into isn't a strat shape, it's not strat sounding, but very clear and work really well for surf. Those Surf 90's seem interesting, they're calling them kinda Dynasonics (which I have Dynasonics on another guitar)- ultimately it's a single coil sound in a humbucker route. Fralin's in the "Banana Shovel" — Bango Rilla! DiPintos, Fenders and Reverb (oh, my!) The GO-GO Rillas Bandcamp \| Facebook \| Instagram \| YouTube \| TikTok \| Threads: thegogorillas Top
edwardsand Joined: Jun 29, 2018 Posts: 660	Posted on Jun 07 2022 08:33 PM I expect Jazzmaster pickups won't fit easily into a humbucker case. But like people are saying, there are options out there for things that will go into a humbucker route. I would call up and talk with some of the many awesome boutique pickup builders out there and see what they can do for you. Many do a single coil in humbucker size, and they would know the best option to get the sound you are after. Top
insectsurfer Joined: Mar 22, 2006 Posts: 363 Los Angeles	Posted on Jun 09 2022 03:51 AM I replaced the humbuckers in my Epiphone SG with P90s from a place in Hawaii, 'Vintage Vibe',love the sound! But I really wanted to compliment you on such a beautiful guitar, I've been eyeballing those Backlunds for several years but noticed that they don't usually come equipped with a tremolo bar ! Top
dannylectro Joined: Aug 18, 2008 Posts: 360 Orange, CA	Posted on Jun 10 2022 04:00 AM www.vintagevibeguitars.com/windows/hum90_alnicowin.html) Check these out. You can have them wound to Jazzmaster specs. Last edited: Jun 10, 2022 04:02:31 Top
TheFintastics Joined: Jul 28, 2008 Posts: 459 Wichita Falls, Texas	Posted on Jun 12 2022 03:55 PM I want to thank everyone for chiming in. I've emailed Dylan from YouTube about his slant 6 pickups after watching his video below. Those tones sound great to me. Hopefully he'll write back and I can fit some nice single coils inside my Backlund. — _ Hi, I'm Gellert, guitarist for The Fintastics. https://www.facebook.com/TheFintastics Top

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Replacement pickups for a Backlund guitar