Pickup Routing and Direct-Mount Conversion in Manhattan
Want a humbucker in a Strat bridge, a P-90 in a Tele neck, or a third pickup in a two-pickup guitar? That's routing, and it has to be done with templates and a router, not a chisel and hope. We rout to the pickup's spec so it sits straight, at the right depth, with clean edges under the pickguard or ring.
Pickup routing
$80 to $150 per route. Single coil to humbucker under a pickguard is the simple end. Routing through a finished top for a ring-mounted humbucker, or adding a cavity where there was none, is the upper end because of finish and wiring channel work. We can also rout for Filter'Trons, mini humbuckers, P-90 soapbars and bass pickups.
Direct mount
$60 to $100. Mounting a humbucker straight to the body with wood screws instead of a ring or pickguard, the way PRS and many modern guitars do. We rout the cavity to depth, drill and tap for the mounting screws, and set the pickup height with springs or foam.
Control cavities and switches
Need room for a preamp, a battery box, a blend pot or a second toggle? Control cavity modification or expansion is $60 to $120. A specialty switch with a new hole is $80. Battery boxes and active systems are quoted after we see the guitar.
Then the install
Routing is usually followed by the pickup install ($100 first, $60 each additional) and often a new pickguard. We'll quote the whole job in one number before starting.
Prices
| Pickup RoutingPer route | $80 to $150 |
|---|---|
| Direct-mount Conversion | $60 to $100 |
| Control Cavity Modification or Expansion | $60 to $120 |
| Specialty SwitchIncludes drilling | $80 |
| Solid-body Pickup Install, First Pickup | $100 |
| Each Additional Pickup | $60 each |
| Copper Foil ShieldingShield the new cavity | $160 |
See the full repair and setup menu for everything else we do.
Routing is permanent, so we talk it through before cutting. Allow 1 to 2 weeks. Parts and pickguards are extra.
Get a free quote
Common questions
- How much does it cost to rout a guitar for a humbucker in NYC?
- $80 to $150 per route at Brothers Guitar Shop, depending on whether it's under a pickguard or through a finished top. The pickup install is $100 on top.
- Does routing hurt the value of my guitar?
- On a vintage or collectible guitar, yes, significantly, and we'll say so. On a player's guitar it's a normal modification.
- Can you rout a Telecaster for a humbucker in the neck?
- Yes, a neck humbucker route on a Tele is one of the most common jobs, usually with a new pickguard.
- What is direct mounting?
- Screwing the pickup straight to the body through the cavity floor rather than a ring or pickguard. Some players prefer the look and the slightly more coupled feel. $60 to $100.
- Can you add a battery box for active pickups?
- Yes. Battery boxes and active systems are quoted after inspection since the depth and placement vary by guitar.