Pickup swapping on a Chandler?

[Mark van Allen]

I have a student who plays a Chandler 6 string and has been having hum and noise issues. She wants to replace the pickup with a humbucker. Any ideas on brand and any routing issues? Thanks.

[Stephen Cowell]

Well, since we're guessing as to which model, etc... I had to go look for pictures. What I see is an RH-2... is that the model? It has a Charlie Christian-looking pickup and lists for near $900.

The rout looks like it will take a P90/P100 soap-bar pickup... no way to tell without having the thing in my shop. I have a P100 in my SG Jr and love it... humbucking, with P90 growl. They are not cheap... looks like $120 for the pickup.

I would not rout that guitar at all... if it can be avoided. It's not one of the cheapies, more like one of the higher-dollar ones. You could contact Chandler; they look to be an upstanding outfit in the USA and they'd know everything there is to know about the guitar.

[Mark van Allen]

Thanks, Stephen, the P100 was exactly what I had suggested they look at. On the routing, I don't think it would be a big deal as the RH-2 models can be had in the $300 range. I used to have one, and it was a pretty good guitar. My suggestion would be to just use another bucker-equipped guitar, but she's a younger player and I think comfortable with that particular guitar.

[Jon Sawyer]

It's not a humbucker; but Jason Lollar built me a Chicago Steel 6 with a Charlie Christian top plate that matched the original pickup. It did require some minor routing, and Jason included a plastic ring similar to what humbuckers use, to cover the hole. It sounds great

[Laurence Pangaro]

It might be worth contacting Chandler about the humbucker used on the Studio 6 lap steel. I have a Studio 8, and I think it's a pretty good sounding pickup. You probably wouldn't need to route either.

ciao,
Laurence