New PICKUPS And WIRING In My BUDGET METAL GUITAR! (Affordable Upgrades)

My Jackson JS32 Rhoads V (that I bought used for just $220) is in for some new pickups and a full wiring harness! I went with a full setup from GFS and their Kwikplug system. Best of all, the new Power Rails pickups and the entire wiring harness comes in at well under $100. Sounds awesome.
Link for wiring harness here: www.guitarfetish.com/Kwikplug...
Link for pickups here: www.guitarfetish.com/KP--GFS-...
Link for guitar here: amzn.to/3hmKGvd
Fender GTX100 Amp: amzn.to/3jwAEdx
Original guitar review here: • METAL GUITAR BARGAIN -...
My instructional programs and NEW MERCH: sellfy.com/maxcarlisle
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Rubric: -5 points for Danzig references. -5 points for not reading the description. -5 points for not watching far enough into the video to answer your own question. -5 points for misquoting me in your comment. 20 points possible. Everyone starts with an A!

[@mikegleeson8733]

Thanks Max, just bought a JS32 White Kelly for $250, per your recommendation. Popped in an old set Seymour Duncan JBs and now it plays like a dream. Always wanted a shredder guitar/explorer style body (white like 80s Hetfield) and you inspired me to pull the trigger. Thanks man, keep up the great content

[@MrFatPallasCat]

I've got a gloss black Js32 Kelly serial number 666. Is your fretboard rosewood or amarathe like the latest js32's

[@mikegleeson8733]

@@MrFatPallasCat I think it might be amaranth even though the listing said rosewood. Either way, I polished it up and it feels and looks great.

[@MrFatPallasCat]

@@mikegleeson8733 nice, either way it's good. There's been sort of ban on rosewood recently so it's gotten more expensive we'll see less of it in newer models. Amaranth will be a pinkish purpleish hue which is sexy.

[@MrFatPallasCat]

@@mikegleeson8733 on a scale of 1 to 10 how much is a JB swap worth it compared to stock Jacksons? . Contemplating it myself.

[@mikegleeson8733]

@@MrFatPallasCat I would say an 8 for me. Like Max said, the Jackson pickups don’t have much character and are a tad bit noisy and microphonic. For me, the JB swap was totally worth it, way more clear and stable, especially on the neck with that nice jazz pickup. I use a Friedman BE OD on either a Twin Reverb or a Marshall JCM800 and it absolutely slays. But those Dragonfire pickups that Max has been talking about are actually really great and affordable, I just happen to have a set of JBs, so I went with those.

[@don_ald1]

It's about time someone simplified the whole pickup installing process Hopefully it'll become the standard

[@BOBANDVEG]

Learn to solder.....not just for pickups

[@don_ald1]

@@BOBANDVEG what makes you think I don't know how?

[@don_ald1]

Do you want me to solder all my aux cords too?

[@DiscoScottie]

@@don_ald1 - LOL... you can solder my aux cords anytime. I totally agree with you. With so many choices out there, changing pickups should be as simple as trying a different brand of strings.

[@don_ald1]

@@DiscoScottie it's ridiculous how much they charge for a 3' cord.

[@mattcap2010]

Hey Max, love the simplicity of the pickup wiring and install. Also, the aesthetics fit that guitar really well with the solid bars across the pickups. Great little budget project.

[@GuitarMAXMusic]

Hey, thanks!

[@davelanciani-dimaensionx]

I really like my Power Rails. They're installed in 2009 Schecter Omen-6. Loud pickups, but the cleans are surprisingly clean and full. Great for metal.

[@rindred]

I'm going to be honest here... I can't believe how good it sounded clean. To me, that's the real mark of a good-sounding pickup. If it sounds good with no effects, then it should sound amazing with them.

[@lostreb]

I know there are those that will disagree, but how pickups (as well as guitars) sound clean is of primary importance to me. I totally agree with your last sentence.

[@andy_182]

Ummmm eq is what makes clean LOL

[@camilo1455]

Wish more reviewers knew that. Maybe they'll read these comments.

[@jasonhoudyschell666]

Excellent Max, I love it! Thank you for bringing these pick ups to my attention.

[@hawleybrowder4083]

I am a fan of GFS. I bought some humbuckers from their clearance section; $25 for a a pair. I put them in a LP style kit with a Jimmy Page harness from 920 D. That guitar wails!! These pickups are incredible.

[@troychrisman2035]

Thank you for explaining the work needed to install the pre-soldered wiring. Awesome info!

[@Living_EDventures]

I've done this to five of my six guitars. I also changed pots and upgraded some hardware to brass and titanium. Left my Kramer Snake Sabo stock so far.

[@ENZO-xu4sn]

My JS32T arrives Thursday (I actually had it on my list for months and bought it the day before your video XD) and this guy is already suggesting great upgrades. Love the content man!

[@nicolamontoro]

I love GFS stuff, it’s all I use on my project guitars

[@I.am_Groot]

I need to give them some business. I looked at them a few years back before the current upswing in budget aftermarket gear but at that time the used market had what I needed. Now that I am looking at some more in depth projects its time to check GFS out. Curious have you gotten any of their locking tuners?

[@BrandonEht]

@@I.am_Groot I've never used their locking tuners, but their Gotoh style tuners are fantastic. I'm sure their locking tuners are equally as good. I just upgraded the Floyd on my Jackson with one of their "heavy duty" ones. It's comparable in quality to an OFR, for $80. Great company to get hardware from

[@edwinstovall3334]

@@I.am_Groot I have never tried any GFS lockers, but I would recommend Wilkinson EZ-LOK tuners. They should be durable because they are no more complicated than regular tuners. They just have an extra hole in the shaft, at right angles to the "normal" hole. This makes tying a locking knot much easier, and locking knots work on ALL tuners. You get pretty much all the benefits of locking tuners at a lower cost and with much more simple use!😎❤️️🎸‼️

[@wiseguy9202]

@@BrandonEht I like the 80's Japanese Takeuchi made Floyd Rose bridge copy. Those were high quality yet most people unknowingly swapped them out for a 'better' locking bridge. So there's plenty on the market. Couple decades later and the OEM Takeuchi bridges are making a come back because most people found them to be on par or better than their FR counterpart.

[@JoshuaHuntsWorld]

Always love seeing a new guitar max video! Been curious about this company. Thanks for reviewing.

[@jorgegodoy1590]

Thank you for talking all these nice pickups. For all the shred in a budget people like me.

[@markursitti5305]

Max great video showcasing the Guitar Fetish products! I’ve installed the Quick Plug harnesses on several Les Paul style guitars with the coil tap feature as well as changing out pick ups including Power Rails, there Eddie Van Halen style pick up and the Fat Pat I love the tone of all of them!

[@TheEricsnet1]

Good choice of pickups. The crunchy rails are very good as well.

[@COMICSCOFFEEMETAL]

Sounds great and I really really dig the look of the bigger rails.

[@GuitarMAXMusic]

Thanks!

[@ronnmims7696]

These are freaking amazing. Thanks for the heads up!

[@rifleonline]

Looks and sounds great! I have been using gfs pickups in RIFLE guitars for many years. Great quality and value!

[@stevengoodman3498]

Great playing and great sound on this beast! Thanks Max for all you do! Keep rockin.

[@GuitarMAXMusic]

Rock on! And thank you!

[@namelessghoul1572]

This guitar is my favorite out of all the videos you’ve done so far!

[@riahlicht5995]

Your upgrade is awesome , love the video ! Thank you , Max for the info on GFS !

[@GuitarMAXMusic]

Glad you liked it!

[@paistefever]

Great mods, Max! EMGs also have solderless plug and play wiring for passive or active pickups. I was so relived when I switched to plug and play wiring, I absolutely hate soldering! hahaha

[@blackfender100]

I have a GFS power rail in my hand made flying V it ROCKS .

[@theswordofkings7549]

Lot of the budget accessories are coming with great quality.

[@mdwayne741]

OMG....that does sound awesome. GFS baby!

[@justincurranguitarstudio9618]

Awesome video as always man! Thanks for the inspiration!

[@theundaunted5481]

Wow. Seems like a great set up for me, the new guy to the game.

[@guyfromnj]

Max tore that intro up. 🤟🏻

[@triledink]

My first electric guitar I bought for myself was a js32 rhoads, no trem. It still feels amazing, playing e flat tuning and slayer and early cannibal corpse all day. but it has grounding issues which is louder than any other guitar I have ever seen.

[@JCRJr3]

Wow, this was a great video. I had literally just sold my JS32 hardtail Rhoads, and now after watching this, I am filled with regret....might be time to grab one with a floyd.

[@vaibhavkaza]

go for it!

[@scotthoward6265]

I’m a couple weeks along in enjoying the GFS QuikPlug set up as well; ‘Brown’ HBs and push-pull tone knob for coil tap; my PRS SE custom 24 is so versatile now. You recent install video sent me down that path and I thank you. One hiccup; GFS has had the 2-hum coil tap harness on back order for months; I stumbled into one In eBay...good luck!

[@MorrisChannel4]

I just now noticed that heavy metal poster in the background! Hell yeah awesome

[@nickrose7592]

Good stuff man.

[@damonwolf7222]

I put an old 1980s set of Ibanez V5 giant blade-buckers just like those GFS Power Rails in the Jackson RRXT I used to have. 🤘

[@rowanmurphy5239]

This was the video that inspired me to buy a JS32. I went with the King V. Love it. But I need to upgrade the bridge and pickups.

[@LosRockson]

When I saw your Tshirt I remembered the Valeton GP100 review where you said you were gonna drop all the funny shenanigans in your reviews because of critics, and then went to make a review with a puppet roadie. Loved it. The quality of the product and your review alone made me get the CP100. Thank you!

[@catzdollz9810]

Like that whole,set up! Including that cool strap.

[@GuitarMAXMusic]

Thanks!

[@garyheighway7635]

After your first video I picked one up one eBay and dropped in a set of Iron Gear ( Tesla Shark ) pickups. Popped in a bone nut and I plane on new tuners down the road.

[@jareljones5194]

Hey max cool video nice guitar btw

[@glennkoch5173]

Nice work on your Rhoads V! I just bought a barely used JS32T Warrior for $125. It is stock except for a low action setup but I'm sure I'll get the bug to experiment and upgrade. Mine is a hardtail and it stays in tune real well. So far, seems like pickups, electronics, and strap pegs/placement are the only things down the road for me.

[@Beulzabob]

Thank you Max. Bought from GFS before. Great cheap stuff. I want to go from the actives in my Schecter to these rails. Should be almost the same parts.

[@zoomzoom3950]

Great info. I've wanted a Rhoads for many years, but I wanted one similar to the original Concorde, and I found a new Jackson X Series CDX22 Concorde in Snow White. It has a Fender Strat trem bridge, 22 frets, like RR's original prototype #1; it's also a mahogany body, one-piece through maple neck, back of neck painted the body color, laurel fretboard. Unlike the JS series, this has a 3-way blade switch. I'll see how the stock pickups work, but thanks to you I found the Guitar Fetish pre-soldered, drop-in kwikplug 2 HB coil tap wiring harness, which will give me additional tonal options, and uses a 3-way blade switch like some Ibanez and Jacksons. I'm looking at the KP GFS Power rails in white, and will keep the black pickup rings. The price for the wiring harness and 2 pickups is about the same as one DiMarzio / Seymour Duncan pickup. Cheers!

[@oceanavekid]

That dive bomb in the intro 👌

[@michaelmcnicholl608]

Sounds great! I just wanted to comment to help you out with the YT algorithms. Keep the videos coming please. I really enjoy your channel.

[@GuitarMAXMusic]

Much appreciated!

[@lostreb]

I just recently learned about that myself. Great Comment!!!

[@seanflannery777]

Digging that P-bass behind you!

[@Gene_Cali]

Beefy Upgrade! Thanks for this Video Max. Your info has saved me hard earned cash, and opened my eyes to learning about working on my guitars and amps. ^5s P.S. Your shredding kicks butt!! Always Musical, always with intent(feeling).

[@TheKey304]

I dig the look it gives the guitar. Something so simple lol. I agree with others so far, that this kind of pickup installation becomes the norm. 🔥🗝️🎸🗝️🎸🗝️🎸🔥

[@anzesuligoj9122]

looks aesome, I love it

[@batmany2k]

i will be doing that to mine thanks Maxx

[@soykanmuri7277]

All right that intro sounded better than anything I've ever herd on a RR immaculate.

[@randymiles904]

Yep. Max can make a broom sound amazing, but I'm still sold on the GFS system and pickups. I'm gonna load my Korean les Paul with one of their setups. Thanks Max!

[@tankdarla637]

inexpensive Jacksons are DOPE, I am keeping the 2 I have, they hang with my expensive guitars no problem, I love them!

[@pixelnazgul]

Line pole pieces go well with non-dot freatboard markings.

[@DathSwian]

Those are killer pickups. I have a non-quick plug set in one of my guitars.

[@christiancordaway2181]

Reminds me of the Old Schaller fat rail humbuckers

[@Rico_B]

Max, great video- will you have one for the upgrade / wiring kit? Would like to see that video too. Thanks!

[@Crypticmaskguitar]

Looks so much like the old Ibanez PR1600 Rhoads-Style V that I used to own!

[@DM-pg4iv]

Sounds good

[@carlhunt1113]

I use GFS most of the time also.

[@Razrback]

Damn max awesome shred fkn awesome

[@jacobswafford1151]

"Guitar fetish..... The company..." literally make the same pauses any time I am talking about them in public LOL

[@GuitarMAXMusic]

Gotta do it.

[@JesseLeeKing]

The new pickups look cool af in it too

[@GuitarMAXMusic]

Yeah!

[@eguitarplayer6689]

The pickups look nice. Clean playing sounded "jazz-like". I would get custom paint on the body- maybe a multicultural theme, or zombies.

[@currituck]

I love the look of rail pickups. I believe most have ceramic magnets and that is cool. I always loved the BL L500XL, SD Dimebucker and Dimarzio X2N. Dylan Talk Tone will make one as well.

[@matthewbolduc2714]

Just put the great X2N in the neck of a telecaster that has an SD hot rails bridge pickup. Well balanced.

[@ianyoung8392]

I would love to hear a head to head with these pickups and a set of Dimarzio D-Activator X's.

[@ericbgordon1575]

One thing which could activate my own interest in models such as this Rhoads V would be if I woke up one day and knew how to not only swap put the pickups like you have, Max, but also install stacked vol/tone controls a la Danelectro. For some reason that might just be traceable to lack of maturity, I just think that body shape cries out for individual volume controls.

[@zakkcovers18]

I have the same humbucker .works good for metal 👌🤟 16k

[@che2335]

One suggestion during the demo instead of displaying clean on the screen which we can hear how about a neck or bridge or both pickups caption.

[@jonathanrowan4802]

I have a Jackson X series soloist. Absolutely love it.

[@camilo1455]

Have a '99 Dinky, sweet guitar.

[@jonathanrowan4802]

@@camilo1455 I was looking at the Dinky’s when I got mine. I pretty much had to flip a coin both excellent guitars. The necks are built for speed. Can’t go wrong with either one

[@rc_hoov7374]

Timely info, I think my buddy will order this exact setup. I will have to install it for him, but that means I get to play it first. :)

[@johngraymusic]

One of best guitars was a JS32 tobacco bust. 24 frts, jackson pickups which worked, flyod rose, (not a fan) and a killer neck!

[@kalisilot6010]

EMG makes a solderless system kind of like that before a bit more money I didn't know about that brand thank you for bringing that to the table I am definitely going to try that on one of my lower end guitars love the channel keep up the good work bro

[@GuitarMAXMusic]

Yes, the EMG plugs can still be installed backwards / upside down though, because they are flat plugs, unlike these, also these plugs hols in better / tighter. I like this system better.

[@lostreb]

I have no idea if the timing of this upgrade video by Max has anything to do with what I'm about to say or not, but, it just so happens that Guitar Fetish is having a 4th of July Sale. If you are interested in anything from Guitar Fetish? Now might be the time. (Before anyone asks, I have nothing to do with Guitar Fetish and am only passing on this information as a courtesy.) Great Video, Max!!! Thank you for more info on the Kwikplug system. (Note: To see the sale discounts, click on one of his Guitar Fetish links and then go to the home page.)

[@wadessouthernsounds3631]

Max I’ve got an Epiphone goth lp, have been looking for a while for upgrades. I want it to melt faces. Never thought about GF, thank you sir.

[@xlr8r2010]

Good luck trying to get a set of these GFS pickups...I've been on the waiting list for months. I'm going to buy a set of Dragonfire Power Rails....not waiting for Guitar Fetish, to get their shit together anymore.

[@tankdarla637]

I cant remember who reviewed several of the guitar fetish humbuckers but I really liked the vintage extra hots because they cleaned up well I also liked the vintage alnico 2s, actually they were all good

[@KeatonWalsh]

So I bought one of these kwikplug wiring harnesses for my Jackson King V JS32, and I was just curious about one thing. How were you able to connect the input jack to the pots? The input jack wire it came with was WAY too short.

[@sagarbiswas4594]

It sounds like an unleashed beast now...

[@Addahasan]

Dear, kindly do review the OriPure pickups, would love to hear from you.

[@Lordbaccus]

I would like to have see the DIY build!!! just how easy was it???

[@jefferybradford5936]

Sounds worlds above what it did originally. I’m curious if that set up will work in my budget Sterling stingray

[@docorange6]

Hey max great video. How do these power rails stack up to dragonfire crusaders or screamers? Also, would love to see a video on installing the gfs kwikplug adapter on third party pickups. Thanks!

[@sergmo4979]

I have this guitar and loved the idea with the harness and pick ups swap. So i purchased it ! But when I came to the output jack. The wire couldn't reach the pots. How did you get this to work ? I bought exactly what you linked on here.

[@markwegweiser4385]

Very cool video Max! Just what the doctor ordered for us budget Rockers. Will this upgrade setup work on an Ibanez RG 120?

[@metal1mark73]

EMG best humbuckers ever!!!!!

[@KaddysJamKave]

I'll have to look more into this "wiring harness" stuff... I friggin hate soldering. Those humbuckers look like Ibanez V5's that's in my Ibanez Pr1660 Randy Rhoads V. Exact replica of this guitar from the 80's.

[@andymartinhimself]

I live in Canada so I had to pay shipping but other than that… it’s a steal.

[@andymartinhimself]

I’m putting Power Rails on my Jackson JS 21

[@teddoucet7323]

Give the GFS crunchy rails a try, i have them in 2 guitars and they sound great.

[@paulstepien2376]

I have a jackson with 1 volume 2 tone knobs what wire harness should i use? Great video

[@scottbagwell9144]

Great vid.

[@GuitarMAXMusic]

Thanks!

[@scottbagwell9144]

@@GuitarMAXMusic so I bought a Firefly FFLPS (blue/green) for my buddy's birthday from your recommendation. I have always bought the named brand guitars (ESP, BC RIch gunslinger, Shecter, Ibanez) but was really on the fence for this purchase from Firefly. Really hope it's a good purchase especially as a present.

[@shanewright9735]

Did you modify the wiring harness from GFS? I'm only seeing the standard State/Tele/LP/SG/PB Bass harnesses. Nothing 1 volume/1 Tone/3 way switch on there. Looking to upgrade my Rhoads V the same way. I can solder, but prewired sounds nice!

[@tony_n316]

I just replaced the pickups in my Jackson JS34Q with some inexpensive rails from Amazon and they're absolutely amazing, I was shocked how muddy the stock Jackson pickups actually were. Also, I took a chance and for 73.00 on Amazon I upgraded the Floyd with stainless screws (3 nut, 6 saddle, 6 long locking for 13.00), Set of titanium saddle blocks 30.00 and the FR Big Brass Block 30.00. If you don't care about a fatter block, then I strongly recommend getting the stainless screws and the titanium blocks. It took my tuning stability from "meh" to absolutely impossible to knock the guitar out of tune.

[@washaconte3956]

Does the titanium saddle works properly? Do they come with titanium little cubes that press the strings? My FR special just sinked the string on the cube and the saddle after years of use, now they get loose after a few whammy and bends :/

[@tony_n316]

@@washaconte3956 I didn’t replace the saddles, just the little square saddle blocks. The titanium blocks allowed me to tighten them down a little more and they hold the strings in much better. Of course, I also replaced my screws with stainless at the same time, so I don’t have a point of reference for how the new blocks work with softer screws. EDIT: To answer your question, they worked perfectly. My bridge is the standard black “Jackson by Floyd Rose”. The same bridge you see in Max’s video.

[@I.am_Groot]

That is awesome. The gap in performance from high end pickups to budget ones is closing quickly

[@washaconte3956]

@@tony_n316 thanks for the reply! Damn that sound awesome!

[@jamessenuta293]

I'm very familiar with guitar fetish and GFS pickups I've used them many times although I've never used quick plug setups I prefer to solder, the good thing is guitar fetish has many styles of pickups and pickgaurds and other guitar components, there prices are fair and the quality is exceptional your not going to find anything better for the money....have a great day Max 😎🙃😜

[@chadleychadlington3513]

I have the Roads JS32. I'm thinking of putting the Musatine Thrash Factor Humbucker. Do you know how? schematics etc

[@JesseLeeKing]

I like his more expensive intermediate to professional modern guitar collection, he has like every guitar I want except the charvels I want which I love my charvel.

[@warlock403]

Guitarmax... How did you go about the output jack? I know the Rhoads/star needs the long wire to the output.... was the regular GFS one long enough?

[@stonefree1911]

I have a JS 32 and really like it. The pickups are ok, but how much of an improvement are those power rails over the Jackson pickups? I've used other guitar fetish pickups (crunchy and fat PAT's)in a few Firefly guitars and like them ok, but they don't seem too much hotter or fuller than the stock Jacksons. I thought I read the Jackson pickup were made by Dimarzio?

[@edwinstovall3334]

Max, if you're going to upgrade the vibrato parts, I recommend Guitar Fetish for this, too. They have some brass and steel units that I think work really well. I have a couple of Ibanezes with those installed and I think you'll have an easier time of it than I did. Jackson seems to use parts that are more standard than those of Ibanez, so you probably don't have to do any wood removal. Those Floyd's WILL make your axe heavy, though, so be warned. Thanks for the video!

[@xlr8r2010]

The JS32 has a Takeuchi tremolo unit....they are actually pretty decent tremolos.

[@edwinstovall3334]

@@xlr8r2010 That's one of the fun parts of guitar modding: Deciding what gets upgraded and what doesn't, and why.😎❤️️🎸‼️

[@xlr8r2010]

@@edwinstovall3334 I know..I have the same JS32 Rhoads, that Max is using in the video. I upgraded the bridge pickup with a Seymour Duncan Distortion TB-6. The neck, is fantastic...plays like butter.

[@CoyoteDuran1]

*What? A Sir Guitarsalot t-shirt?! Where can we purchase such a fine and noble garment?* *EDIT: Ah, I see where. I freaked out and didn't wait until the end of the video. At least I'm not losing any points!*

[@GuitarMAXMusic]

+5 points!

[@CoyoteDuran1]

@@GuitarMAXMusic, *Wow! Thank you, kind sir!* 😆