Do I have everything I need to install my new SD pickups myself?

[unleashthejay]

Hello, I’m wiring two Seymour Duncan pickups into my guitar and I was wondering if I have everything I need. It will be two humbuckers on a Strat (Alnico II Pro in the neck and the Custom Custom in the bridge):

1. Wires and orange drops: https://www.stewmac.com/kits-and-pr...source=google&utm_medium=shopping&utm_campaig n=2022-08-gp&gclid=CjwKCAjwmJeYBhAwEiwAXlg0AZNjOjcDIDhIZARP9 btH-1ei8A1OGxHMqmobnGhd68zYOHTef3DmJxoCgKEQAvD_BwE
2. CTS 500k pots: https://www.stewmac.com/electronics/components-and-parts/potentiometers/cts-control-pots/
3. Megaswitch (I want to use it as a 3 way switch): https://www.stewmac.com/electronics/components-and-parts/switches/megaswitch/
4. Output jack: https://www.sweetwater.com/store/de...tt1bn-pure-tone-mono-output-jack-black-nickel

(I have the two humbuckers of course and soldering iron) Thank you

 

[ThreeChordWonder]

Make sure your soldering iron is about 80 watts or you may have trouble soldering ground wires to pot casings. Many many threads on how to solder to pot casings but the best tip of all is to have a high wattage iron.

I've taken to soldering "tails" to the ends of the individual humbucker wies where they come out of the plastic outer sheath. That stops you needing to strip back the sheets if the original wire ends aren't long enough. It also means you'll be soldering more robust wires to the pots and switches, and if you have to cut back for a re-do you're cutting back "sacrificial" wire not the humbucker wire. Get some small diameter heat shrink to go on each splice individually, and, if you like, some slightly bigger heat shrink to go over the bundled ends where they exit the sheath.

 

[GuitarDoc]

Your switch is a 5-way. If you use it as a 3-way switch you will either have 2 positions that will do nothing, or 2 positions that will be redundant.

 

[hamerfan]

Do you use lead-free solder?

 

[ThreeChordWonder]

63 tin / 37 lead (eutectic) rosin core. 60/40 is okay, but I avoid lead free and "silver" solders at all costs.

The eutectic alloy composition, by the way, is the composition with the lowest melting point. It is also the composition at which the alloy goes from solid to liquid or liquid back to solid without any pasty phase in between.

 

[unleashthejay]

Do you use lead-free solder?

I didn't even consider what type of solder I will use so thanks for calling this out.

 

[unleashthejay]

63 tin / 37 lead (eutectic) rosin core. 60/40 is okay, but I avoid lead free and "silver" solders at all costs.

The eutectic alloy composition, by the way, is the composition with the lowest melting point. It is also the composition at which the alloy goes from solid to liquid or liquid back to solid without any pasty phase in between.

Thanks for this, this would have been the last thing I would have known. I'm glad I posted.

 

[eclecticsynergy]

Yah, AFAIK all Megaswitches are 5-position. But you can get one that will give the traditional three, plus two extra options.
The model E wired as shown in in "2 humbucker combo 3" will give you those three, plus split coils in positions 2 and 4.

+1 on 63/37 solder for easier soldering.
Also: best to use a chisel tip on your soldering iron for this sort of work.

 

[ThreeChordWonder]

Switch options:

1. Use a regular 3-way and just get bridge, bridge plus neck, neck, all full humbucker.

2. As option 1 but add push-pushes (like push-pulls but much easier to manipulate with Strat shaped knobs).*

3. Use a five-way superswitch to get auto coil splits in P2 and P4, and, if you like, P3 as well.

4. Use a 4-way switch to get bridge, bridge plus neck, neck, all full humbucker, all in parallel, plus both pickups, full humbucker, in series.

5. As option 4, but add push-pushes for coil splits.*

* You can use one push-push to coil split both pickups at the same time or use two to split each pickup individually. You can add a second / third to phase flip one pickup should you want to. I've built one, and am finishing a second, Flying V with two independent volumes and a single tone, using push-pulls to coil split each pickup individually and to phase flip the bridge pickup, split or not.

 

[playas]

BTW SD have a free wiring 101 guide if you´re interested:
https://www.seymourduncan.com/resources/pickup/installation

 

[Mincer]

Don't forget the Pickup Installation Course...its free!

 

[unleashthejay]

Thanks everyone especially for the guides and resources!