Changing Daytona pickups.

[Krank]

I recently bought a Daytona from a member here. I love it, only negatives being that it's on the heavy side and I just can't use regular singlecoils here at home; way too much hum.

So I'm going to install a set of noiseless pickups (DiMarzio Virtual Vintage), and I'm considering if in the process I should replace all electronics for a CTS kit like in my old strat, which had a tone knob instead blend the neck and bridge pickups, giving the option of an unusual (for a strat) and quite nice additional tone option.

But it's going to be some work and I'm new to soldering, so I'm trying to weigh the pros and cons. Would you say there's anything to be gained in terms of quality of sound of the basic tones by replacing the electronics? I've had the guilty pleasure of browsing TGP for way too many hours, and many posters there are into such upgrades of supposedly inferior stock wiring - although this seems to usually pertain to Gibsons.

I dunno. Looking for any kind of input here, I suppose.

[BubbaVO]

I'm a big fan of it.

Although Hamer's wiring, at least in my experience, have always been pretty good to begin with. So I'm not sure how much is to be gained by swapping out pots (or switches) that are not scratchy/noisy. Some folks do hear a difference. And there's always types and values of capacitors to fool with. Then there's custom wiring options to explore - like putting a tone pot on the bridge.

Soldering is easy to do. You can practice soldering wires together. Practice soldering wires to pots. There's YouTube videos to show you what to do. Having a working knowledge of soldering does make owing the guitar a more enjoyable experience. However, it won't make you a luthier. : )

Good luck.

[bubs_42]

I put VV blues and heavy Blues in my Daytona and I love them. I can use my Humbucker guitars and switch to my Daytona and not be so out of balance. Go for it and do the wiring yourself, if you never try then you'll never know if you can do it. Good Luck!

[Hgb5000]

I put a set of Lollars in one of my Daytonas and added a blend pot with master volume and I really like the result.

[whiskeyzulu]

I have a couple of SS Daytonas and have swapped all the electronics & pups - it made a world of differnce in these Korean guitars. Soldering is EZ, take your time and practice on some used bits first - there are lots of tutorials here is a link http://www.epemag.wimborne.co.uk/solderfaq.htm

b/t/w here are some pics of one of my projects that may be helpful

http://whiskeyzulu.com/daytonaproject.htm