First time pup install....CAN I pull this off?

[deltarider99]

Just got my Duncan Custom in the mail, and I was thinking, before I sent it away to the guitar store to be installed in the Toro, can I actually do this myself? Never attempted to install a pickup before, but I figure, since everything else is wired up, it would just really be one wire, right?

What do you guys think?

 

[Jeff_H]

Re: First time pup install....CAN I pull this off?

It really is not that difficult, and there are schematics on the main page that really help you out. It's actually 3 solder points you have to make:

Green and bare wire's go together, and to ground...usually the back of your volume pot.

Red and white get soldered together and taped off.

Black goes to the hot terminal on your volume pot.

Again, it really is easy. Tell us what kind of a guitar it's going into, 3 way switch, 5 way switch, ect...and we'll point you to the right schematic and walk you through it.

Once you do it, you'll wonder what all the fuss was about, and you'll feel a lot more confident/comfortable about swapping pickups. I will warn you though, with this knowledge switching pickups will become addictive.

You've been warned.

 

[I_M_Ken]

Re: First time pup install....CAN I pull this off?

also just make sure u know how to use a soldering iron and make proper clean solder joints.

have fun and good luck. hope the installation is a success and remember to record some clips when its in!

 

[El Dorado]

Re: First time pup install....CAN I pull this off?

Definitely try it yourself. My first job was a complete rewire with all components and I didn't have any problems. What kind of soldering iron do you have? I highly recommend a 40w Weller. I had a 30w radioshack at first, and the weller makes the job a lot easier. Lightly scuff up the pot with some sand paper when you are attaching the ground wire. That's the toughest part, but it's not too bad.

 

[danhans]

Re: First time pup install....CAN I pull this off?

Definitely try it yourself. My first job was a complete rewire with all components and I didn't have any problems. What kind of soldering iron do you have? I highly recommend a 40w Weller. I had a 30w radioshack at first, and the weller makes the job a lot easier. Lightly scuff up the pot with some sand paper when you are attaching the ground wire. That's the toughest part, but it's not too bad.

i've been soldering electronic circuit for almost three years and my advice for clean and neat soldering is make sure the solder iron tip is sharp..
for wire to wire or wire to pot soldering i'd also prefer 40w iron because it makes the solder lead melt faster but for circuit 30w is the best because 40w iron can damage the board..unless u're an expert..

 

[danhans]

Re: First time pup install....CAN I pull this off?

if this is your first time, do some practice untill u confident with ur skill..

 

[Mephis]

Re: First time pup install....CAN I pull this off?

Best advice you can be given is... Don't let the pot get too hot!

When you're grounding to it be extra careful not to put any more heat on it then you absolutely have to! I learned this lesson the hard way...

If you want the job to go really easy, use a light amout of soldering flux on everything.

 

[Binnerscot]

Re: First time pup install....CAN I pull this off?

Maybe just a short list of basic tools will help...

#1 and #2 Phillips screw drivers
A small Cresent wrench (if you need to remove a pot)
An assortment of small hex/allen wrenchs (to remove knobs, etc)
An assortment of small regular and Phillips screw drivers, (like jewelers drivers)
Soldering iron
Rosin core solder
Flux (paste)
Needle nose pliers (helps to hold items in tight places)
An inexpensive wire stripper/cutter for small guages

That is about all I ever use for any and every guitar I have ever worked on to include sustainiac installs.