questionable pickup configuration in strat copy

[Anna]

I picked up an American made strat copy a couple weeks ago for dirt cheap. It has 3 single coil Seymour Duncans in it that I'm not a fan of. What I want to do is replace all three with three humbucking EMG 89 (http://www.emginc.com/displayproducts.asp?section=Guitar&categoryid=6&catalogid=6) pickups, but I'm not sure if this configuration is possible because of the push/pull controls and the fact that each pickup is actually 2 single coils (can you put 6 single coils in a guitar?) Also, the guitar itself (not just the pickguard) is cut specifically for 3 single coils, so can I just cut one long cavity to accommodate the humbuckers, or will that be detrimental somehow?

Hope I can find the answer here, I'd like to order the parts and wire this thing as soon as possible.

Thanks muchly,
-Anna, Cleveland OH.

[godzilla]

Hello Anna,
I was always taught that anything is possible. Although what you want to do may involve some routing of the guitar cavity. I also read somewhere that someone makes a humbucker that is the same size as a single coil, but I don't remember whereI read it.

www.guitarelectronics.com/category/wiringresources/

I just got home from work and knew of this website. If I find anything else in my travels on the net I will let you know.

Mark

[godzilla]

www.gtrheaven.com/pickups/sdsinghum.htm

Mark

[rcuda]

this is absolutely doable. I just sold my old strat that i'd installed EMG89s in. Of course I only had 2, but it's the same concept. Things to keep in mind though:
1) you will need to use 25k pots. Active pickups are a completely different animal than passive ones. Other than that however the wiring should be about the same.
2) Keep in mind that in addition to those three beefy humbuckers, you'll need to find a place on the guitar to stuff a 9v battery.
3) You may or may not have to route out the pickup cavity to acommodate the humbuckers. Most (not all mind you) strats and strat copies have the triple single or hum-single-single pickup cavity. Check E-bay or www.pickguards.com for the triple humbucker pickguard you'll need.

Also, the newer EMG pickups have 4 wire leads allowing for coil taps/out of phase wiring options. were you planning on doing any of these? If so you will need some specialty wiring done.
check out www.guitarelectronics.com for wiring schematics.

Good luck!