[DISCUSSION] Replacing pickups yourself

So I wanted new pickups for my bass. I went to a local independent shop that has worked on a couple of my guitars. They didn't have any J pickups in stock, though they had a few Ps. The guy said the easiest thing for me would be to source some pickups myself, then come back and they would be willing to do the installation. I went over to Guitar Center; they didn't have any bass pickups at all.

So I ordered a set online, and once it arrived I went back to the shop... and they said it would probably be a week and a half before they could get to it. I can't go that long without an instrument, sorry.

So I bought a soldering iron for like $15 and, gulp, did it myself. Wish I'd done this earlier! It was easy, and even kind of fun. I didn't burn myself or burn the house down.

For those out there who are scared of doing things like setup and wiring, I encourage you to try it. Opening the hood (so to speak) can enhance your relationship with your instrument.

(Heck, I even know a person who goes to the shop to have them replace broken strings! That is strange to me, but I know that to a lot of folks out there, my nervousness about getting in there and soldering wiring is strange.)