This post is mainly for the first time DIYs,(To you old pros,feel free to jump right in with all 4 feet).For a virgin DIY, tearing into the guts of a guitar can be hairy
and rarely is the outcome right the first time(back to the drawing board).
There are a number of posts on this forum and elsewhere about how to solder this or replace that(some good advice,some bad)most of these posts leave the new guy scratching his coconut wondering what the hell is this poster talking about?Even so the newbe THINKS he knows and dives right into the guitar,end result? complete disaster(newbe now blames the poster and as such the poster is a complete azzhole).
First on the list is Confidence,if you don't have confidence in what you are about to do to your first love(guitar or ax)take it to your local guitar guru.
Second,Buy a couple of good guitar repair books(READ COVER TO COVER).
Third,(debatable??)NEVER,EVER work on the electronics while installed in the guitar(ie LPs,hollowbodies and some SGs)Poking around in a guitar cavity with a hot Iron spells T R O U B L E.
Fourth,Invest in a OHM meter(Learn how to use it,without a meter you will be royally fornicated).
Heres a plan-Buy a cheap beater guitar(ie,DirtyDik,JoeBlow)and practice removing and installing the guts,refine your soldering skills on the pots and pickups,Of course it goes without saying you have to have the RIGHT TOOLS
to do the job(A 1/2" drive ratchet and socket to remove pot nuts is NOT the right tool, also your dad's 4000KW Monkey Ward's soldering gun is NOT the right tool.
So to you new DIYs,Have at it,I feel confident after posting this that I'll end up being a complete azzhole somewhere down the line.
and rarely is the outcome right the first time(back to the drawing board).
There are a number of posts on this forum and elsewhere about how to solder this or replace that(some good advice,some bad)most of these posts leave the new guy scratching his coconut wondering what the hell is this poster talking about?Even so the newbe THINKS he knows and dives right into the guitar,end result? complete disaster(newbe now blames the poster and as such the poster is a complete azzhole).
First on the list is Confidence,if you don't have confidence in what you are about to do to your first love(guitar or ax)take it to your local guitar guru.
Second,Buy a couple of good guitar repair books(READ COVER TO COVER).
Third,(debatable??)NEVER,EVER work on the electronics while installed in the guitar(ie LPs,hollowbodies and some SGs)Poking around in a guitar cavity with a hot Iron spells T R O U B L E.
Fourth,Invest in a OHM meter(Learn how to use it,without a meter you will be royally fornicated).
Heres a plan-Buy a cheap beater guitar(ie,DirtyDik,JoeBlow)and practice removing and installing the guts,refine your soldering skills on the pots and pickups,Of course it goes without saying you have to have the RIGHT TOOLS
to do the job(A 1/2" drive ratchet and socket to remove pot nuts is NOT the right tool, also your dad's 4000KW Monkey Ward's soldering gun is NOT the right tool.
So to you new DIYs,Have at it,I feel confident after posting this that I'll end up being a complete azzhole somewhere down the line.