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SlimBob

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Joined
Jun 22, 2018
Messages
35
I'm looking for a 2018 Cutlass schematic - or wiring diagram - or anything that I can refer to that will guide me as I swap out the whole pickguard assembly. I wanna put the original away in a box and start using a conventional passive setup with no battery and a set of SSS stacked humbuckers. There are quite a few wires going to the jack and it could get a little confusing when it comes time to return it to original. Yes I'm replacing the jack too.

also - mine is a HSS roasted type - not sure if there is a difference in the color code or parts or pot values or whatever from year to year and HSS vs SSS vs HH etc.

THANKS!
 

DrKev

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There is no difference between the 2017 schematic that I have and the wiring in my 2018 RS. PM your email address and I'll fire you the PDF.

I would suggest buying a separate pickguard. That would make everything really easy. Other than the connections to the jack and the body/trem ground, you wouldn't have to unsolder a thing on the old guard, just lift it out. Build a whole new install on the new pickguard with your new pickups.
 

SlimBob

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Jun 22, 2018
Messages
35
There is no difference between the 2017 schematic that I have and the wiring in my 2018 RS. PM your email address and I'll fire you the PDF.

I would suggest buying a separate pickguard. That would make everything really easy. Other than the connections to the jack and the body/trem ground, you wouldn't have to unsolder a thing on the old guard, just lift it out. Build a whole new install on the new pickguard with your new pickups.

Yes I have a new pickguard and that's the plan. It's the jack with the multiple wires for battery switching that might get weird without a little guidance when I flipflop back to original so thank you very much I will pm with email.
 

SlimBob

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Jun 22, 2018
Messages
35
Success! and thank you for the schematic - I'm sure it will come in handy when I return it to stock again. Here's my Cutlass with passive pickups - so far the jack is working flawlessly and has not cut out on me at all.
 

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SlimBob

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Jun 22, 2018
Messages
35
Nice work! What pickups did you go for?

Fender Noiseless - they were marketed as Jeff Beck Hot Noiseless Humbuckers

They are every bit as quiet as the silent circuit that comes with the cutlass. They don't have the constant presence that the buffer had but they do sound good. They were in my Strat and I liked them but the whammy on that was weird to begin with - 1984 was an odd whammy - the strings loaded from the front - the whammy was kinda worn out and impossible to find parts for. It was a USA Standard but not nearly as good a build as this Cutlass. These EB-MM are really well made instruments. I'll give it a couple of months like this and decide if I wanna put it back to original.
 
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