1999 575 Output Jack Location, Pickups, and Electronics

[Shmockiebaby]

Hello again. Just bought a 1999 H575. Thanks to the folks who answered my earlier post on the woods. Now I am trying to figure out what is original, etc.

 

First, the output jack location. There are no holes in the rims, just a large (1 1/4" maybe) hole behind the tailpiece, thru the rim and the end block, with an acoustic style output jack. The hole looks clean and original. The output jack also serves as the strap button, and is set up more or less like an acoustic./electric. Since there are no other holes for an output jack, this must have been the original setup, right? There are also no other holes for a ground wire to the tailpiece, so I am assuming that the jack would have served as the string ground on the original tailpiece?

 

I have never seen anything like this on any guitar before. But this is my first Heritage. What is the output jack setup on other 575s out there? This one has a Bigsby with the oval cut out in the tailpiece, so the jack is loose in the Bigsby. I am going to fix it up with a couple of washers and cups from a straplock that will span the entire opening in the Bigsby, so that it fits snugly in the hole.

 

The pickups are nickel covered humbuckers. They have "PAF" stickers, but I'm confident that they are reproductions. The covers show age similar to the rest of the guitar. Does anyone know what pickups would have been installed in a 1999 575 originally? I suspect that these pickups are replacements, because the pickup rings were not curved on the bottom to fit the arch of the top. As a result, the pickup rings are now both split from being forced over the arch of the top.

 

Other than the above items, and an odd bridge, she's a beauty! Really!

 

Thanks, folks! I'll get some pics up when I get it back together!

[barrymclark]

Interesting.

 

The jack is original in at least type.

 

The Bigsby might be contributing to the jack not sitting in there real well. Seen that before in retrofits.

 

Got pictures of the underside of those pickups? Chances are, like you said, they are repros. It is all in what you are looking for sound wise though.

 

Originally it could have been anything pickup wise. HRW's even. Probably Schallers but who knows. You might be able to get the boys in K'zoo to help you here. Send them your serial and they might have record of how this thing went out.

 

I would say that the rings, like the pickups were after the fact and were probably done with about as much care as the Bigsby/Jack fit. Shame. But... hey. It isn't like I haven't screwed up a perfectly good guitar or two.

 

Definitely put up pictures of the bottom of the pickups for at least me. I am curious.

 

Can't wait for the pics of the whole shebang tho!

[FredZepp]

I believe that Elderly said that this one would need some re-wiring... and it sounds like you've got a handle on it.

 

The PAF stickers would make me believe that the pickups are replacements, I'm unaware of anything that Heritage would have put in that would have those .... anything really different they would likely have noted on the label.

 

It's a beauty no doubt and it really sounds like it wound up in the right hands....

[Steiner]

Welcome to the 575 world! it's a great one...

 

The 1/4" output jack and location is standard for Heritage hollow-bodies. One must specify to get it underneath on the lower bout.

 

I'm unsure about the pickups. I can tell you that you'll have an exquisite guitar when you finish; enjoy!

[Shmockiebaby]

Funny thing is, there was nothing wrong with the wiring. The problem was all about the output jack. It was just wobbling around loose in the oval hole in the Bigsby. As soon as I took it apart, I could see the logic of the output jack location - it also serves as the string ground, by attaching the jack to the tailpiece.

 

So I just used the cup and washer from a set of Schaller straplocks to mount the jack (these are the parts that would secure the straplock to the strap). I have lots of guitars with straplocks, so I usually have extra pieces.

 

I put the cup on the inside, where it fit the original hole in the tailblock perfectly. Then I used the washer on the outside. So I wound up with the long acoustic-style output jack holding together a sandwich of the schaller cup/bigsby/bigsby washer/strap button. I snugged it all up, lined up and installed the three screws to secure the Bigsby to the body, and then tightened up the output jack and installed the strap button.

 

Once that was firmly attached, it provided a solid electrical connection for a string ground, and that took care of the "wiring issues". A bit of a relief, and far easier than fishing pots thru f holes!

 

I'd post a pic, but I cannot get the photos to load on the forum, even smallest possible versions. I may need a tutorial here....