So thanks to the awesome advice from the folks here I ordered my custom bridge and little 59 neck for my strat. Can't wait to put them in but this is my first time ever working on my guitar. I've been watching tons of videos on youtube and I do have someone that has done it before giving me a hand but basically I want to know if anyone hear has any good advice, anything they wish they had done when changing pickups, any words of wisdom, or even any good stories of working on your own gear that I could learn from (what to do or NOT to do). Thanks guys!
any advice for 1st time changing pickups?
- Thread starter twebb0716
- Start date
Woodcutter
New member
Re: any advice for 1st time changing pickups?
Don't cut the leads from the pickup short. It's a pain if you ever put it in another guitar and need longer leads.
Don't cut the leads from the pickup short. It's a pain if you ever put it in another guitar and need longer leads.
darthphineas
New member
Re: any advice for 1st time changing pickups?
single malt scotch. oh.. no, wait... a well-lit workspace, some needle-nose pliers, keep the wiring diagram within view/reach, take your time, and don't be afraid to call SD tech support if it's not working out.
single malt scotch. oh.. no, wait... a well-lit workspace, some needle-nose pliers, keep the wiring diagram within view/reach, take your time, and don't be afraid to call SD tech support if it's not working out.
Mad Raxz
New member
Re: any advice for 1st time changing pickups?
Watch out for little hairs of your pickup wires hanging out, just a tiny spike of thin wire protruding from the back of your pot (the grounding wire) will cause extreme noise.
The flux from your soldering iron does not conduct electricity very well (it is a lame conductor) , so make sure the cable has a good grip before you solder. Think of it more as glue than solder.
Watch out for little hairs of your pickup wires hanging out, just a tiny spike of thin wire protruding from the back of your pot (the grounding wire) will cause extreme noise.
The flux from your soldering iron does not conduct electricity very well (it is a lame conductor) , so make sure the cable has a good grip before you solder. Think of it more as glue than solder.
Re: any advice for 1st time changing pickups?
~ 40 watt iron, i got a Weller off of Amazon for $20.
~ 60/40 Solder, your local Radio Shack can help you there.
~ Go out and buy a $20 pawn shop guitar and take it apart and put it back together and make sure it works still.
~ Practice soldering, practice soldering, practice soldering!
~ Get a good Meter if you dont already and check your wire connections before soldering to make sure you have good contact. I see good used Fluke meters in my local pawn shops for starting around $30. Mine will beep if I have good connectivity, its a nice feature to have.
I have modded 5-6 guitars so far and all have been $50-$100 guitars. I check eBay probably 20 times a day and pounce on cheap used Buy-it-Now pups that i want to try because I'm not going to put $200 in pickups in a $50 guitar.
With doing this I am creating a collection of fun and unique guitars. I did something I never thought I would do, I traded off my Fender Deluxe Strat because I built 2 Squiers that imo sound and play better then it did. Plus when I get ready to build my dream partscaster I will have a better chance to get the sound I want the first time around.
~ 40 watt iron, i got a Weller off of Amazon for $20.
~ 60/40 Solder, your local Radio Shack can help you there.
~ Go out and buy a $20 pawn shop guitar and take it apart and put it back together and make sure it works still.
~ Practice soldering, practice soldering, practice soldering!
~ Get a good Meter if you dont already and check your wire connections before soldering to make sure you have good contact. I see good used Fluke meters in my local pawn shops for starting around $30. Mine will beep if I have good connectivity, its a nice feature to have.
I have modded 5-6 guitars so far and all have been $50-$100 guitars. I check eBay probably 20 times a day and pounce on cheap used Buy-it-Now pups that i want to try because I'm not going to put $200 in pickups in a $50 guitar.
With doing this I am creating a collection of fun and unique guitars. I did something I never thought I would do, I traded off my Fender Deluxe Strat because I built 2 Squiers that imo sound and play better then it did. Plus when I get ready to build my dream partscaster I will have a better chance to get the sound I want the first time around.
Aceman
I am your doctor of love!
Re: any advice for 1st time changing pickups?
I use Single Malt. I find it steady's my hand. I like Oban, but really, and any Single Malt will work.
I use Single Malt. I find it steady's my hand. I like Oban, but really, and any Single Malt will work.
uOpt
Something Cool
Re: any advice for 1st time changing pickups?
If this is a Les Paul or similar, make a cardboard shield protecting the sides of the cavity, so that you don't burn it when touching the wood or paint with the iron.
It's also a good idea to cover the whole surface in case you drop the iron. Dropping it is easier than you think when the cable becomes entangled with something.
If this is a Les Paul or similar, make a cardboard shield protecting the sides of the cavity, so that you don't burn it when touching the wood or paint with the iron.
It's also a good idea to cover the whole surface in case you drop the iron. Dropping it is easier than you think when the cable becomes entangled with something.
Re: any advice for 1st time changing pickups?
Depends on the quality of components. I was using a 35W iron and I've ruined about 3 of those cheap toggle/box style switches.
But hey, it melts the solder really fast.
Depends on the quality of components. I was using a 35W iron and I've ruined about 3 of those cheap toggle/box style switches.
But hey, it melts the solder really fast.
atreidesheir
New member
Re: any advice for 1st time changing pickups?
Great advice.
Practice soldering some scrap wire or something before getting into a loved instrument. Cold soldering joints are easy when you are a beginner. I made some messes my first couple of tries.
Do not keep adding solder if the results look bad. It just gets worse.
Keep your tip tinned and wiped clean on your wet sponge. Took me a while to learn how important that was.
And use a fan, those fumes are hardcore.
Great advice.
Practice soldering some scrap wire or something before getting into a loved instrument. Cold soldering joints are easy when you are a beginner. I made some messes my first couple of tries.
Do not keep adding solder if the results look bad. It just gets worse.
Keep your tip tinned and wiped clean on your wet sponge. Took me a while to learn how important that was.
And use a fan, those fumes are hardcore.
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