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I own a 72 celebrity 3, and it came with and has the smooth cover type pickups. I am having a grounding issue with them, and am going to take it to the shop this weekend and this got me to thinking.... So here's my question: What if I was to install a pair of EFElliott single coils? They have the exposed pole screws. What if I was to install EFElliott's Mosrite humbuckers.?? He uses NOS mosrite parts to make these and by all appearances they are Mosrite pickups. Am i committing a mosrite faux pas by even thinking about doing this? Right now, my Celebrity is 100% original as far as I can tell, and I am reluctant to make any changes to it. I just am not really satisfied with its pickups and wondered if there was an improvement to be had that didn't include some kind of bright green seymore duncan deal that just would look wrong.
If humbuckers were optional in 1972 does that make it ok to install them? What if I installed a single coil at the neck and a humbucker at the bridge.????? This guitar is for playing first in my eyes although I wouldn't mind if it held its value.

I've read good reviews of these elliott pickups? Is there a tone difference between the single coil and humbucker (other than the lack of 60hz hum, of course)????

By the way, I emailed Ed about his pickups, and he responded very quickly, and as he's a member of this forum maybe you (Ed) have an opinion on this.

Thanks for your help.

John Wiley
Sacramento

John,
Ed's pickups are excellent. You can find reviews of his pickups as well as those from other makers using the search function here on the site. Swapping pickups that require no permanent modifications isn't a problem. Keep the original pickups in case you ever decide to sell. Celebrities aren't the most sought after guitar in the world so a guitar that has all original parts but a few solder joints have been redone isn't going to be an issue.
Good luck,
Mel

Hey John,
I build the pickups both ways, single coil smooth tops for Celebrity 3s and Ventures Mark Vs
And adjustable for the rest.

Ed

I have a set of Ed's smooth-top pickups in my Ventures II ("Mark V" Type) and they get the early B-52's tone I was after.

Austin

As Mel says...

...and in the final verdict, it's your guitar to mod or not, as you will. Best of fortune.