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Duesenberg Starplayer TV pickup/wiring mod

JASIII

Active member
Joined
Sep 19, 2020
Messages
110
I got this Duesenberg Starplayer TV Goldtop new in 2018, it's my main gigging guitar and I enjoy it a lot. But I could never come to terms with the HB/P90 combo and the unusual wiring of the middle position. I've been using the bridge pickup almost exclusively, the P90 wasn't bad but I didn't like the sudden P90 hum when switching pickups. In a live setting with a band I found the middle position caused my sound to become muted and almost disappear in the mix. I finally got a Duesenberg neck HB to match the bridge HB, and had it rewired to a standard 2 pickup, 3 position switch arrangement. No coil splitting, phase reversing, or unusual caps. For me, it's a considerable improvement. The balance and tonal relationship between the two pickups is a lot more like a LP/335 now. Some may be inclined to ask "If you wanted a LP/335 vibe then why not get a LP/335?". Reasonable question, the answer is because I already owned this guitar and I like how it plays and the level of build quality. No need to start from scratch IMO.

Before and after shots
d2.jpgd1.jpg
 
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