Can a pickup be cleanly routed into a finished body? (pic)

[superhairycamel]

Hi i am looking at one of these bc rich gunslinger retro models, the yellow one, with the single slanted humbucker.

http://www.bcrich.com/images/lrg/gun..._retro_ylw.jpg

I play a red rg570 and find myself using the bridge pickup 95% of the time.

I was thinking though, that if i bought the gunslinger, it would be great to put a single coil in the neck position because i really like that sound, so here is my question, can it be done cleanly through the paint?

And before anyone asks, the reason i dont want to buy the gunslinger with the "single" in the neck position is because, its a single sized humbucker, i prefer the slanted hum at the bridge, Its red and i dont want to have only red guitars and its more expensive.

feel free to tell me if i am being silly or if you have any other suggestions.

[The Euphor]

Seeing as Warmoth offer pickup routing of your choice on finished bodies, I think it can be done. Don't ask me how and who.

[superhairycamel]

Hi, thanks for the quick reply, that is good news, i should probably ask a good luithier around my city (melbourne) if they could do it.

[waylay00]

It can be done, just make sure whoever does it knows what they are doing. Shouldn't be too difficult.

[littlephil]

You could do it yourself, just put masking tape over the finish so it wont crack around the edges. You could even do it with a pedestal drill if you have one, instead of routing it. There would be less chance of cracks in the finish.

[superhairycamel]

Originally Posted by littlephil

You could do it yourself, just put masking tape over the finish so it wont crack around the edges. You could even do it with a pedestal drill if you have one, instead of routing it. There would be less chance of cracks in the finish.

hi thanks for your reply, how do you mean a pedestall drill could be used, as in, drilling like 50 holes intill the whole shape is removed?

[littlephil]

Basically, yes.

[TAorama]

Originally Posted by littlephil

You could do it yourself, just put masking tape over the finish so it wont crack around the edges.

+1

And if you're routing, use a smaller, and very sharp/fresh bit and cut the outline first. Then paint the cavity with shielding paint and you won't hardly be able to tell it's not original.

[Jacob K]

If you are putting in a humbucker, you can also hide any minor flaws in the finish with a pickup ring.

[velocity]

why not a stacked humbucker?

[j.arledge]

yep as everyone else said it can be done and done cleanly.

[superhairycamel]

thanks heaps guys and have a great christmas