Installing Blackouts...

[Krakatoa24]

I have a PRS SE Custom and just bought some blackout pickups, I have soldered before, but not pickups.

Is this a fairly simple process, or should i just suck it up and take it in somewhere...

If so where should I go.. and no i don't want to go to Guitar Center. :firing:

I have the diagrams, seems simple enough... i just don't want to F*** anything up!

Thanks

-Snatch

 

[krankguitarist]

Re: Installing Blackouts...

If you're feeling adventurous, go ahead and try it out. Just make sure to follow the diagrams...don't get all creative with the wiring .

In the end it's really not all to difficult. It is a little time consuming, and if you don't do it correctly the first time it can be kind of a pain to troubleshoot.

Knowing your way around a guitar's electronics is a good skill for any player, really. Much cheaper in the long run than payin somebody else to put in pickups.

 

[Krakatoa24]

Re: Installing Blackouts...

Yea you are probably right, in the long run it would be better to know the guitar inside and out!

Doin it!

Thanks

 

[mustaine-who?]

Re: Installing Blackouts...

Install is not that bad. The most frustrating part for me was getting the ground wires to sodder to the back of the pots...but there are some posts on how to make that easier on here if you search. The easiest way to do it is to measure, cut your wires, and sodder what you can while the pots are out of the guitar. Makes it soooo much easier than installing the pots and then trying to sodder everything in a small confined space. But make sure you measure everything and go a little long just to make sure...

 

[memphiskat]

Re: Installing Blackouts...

Like he said, soldering to the back of the pots is the trickiest part. Scratch the pot housing with some sandpaper or the solder won't stick. Drove me crazy until I learned this trick ;-)

 

[Jeff5]

Re: Installing Blackouts...

I've installed multiple pups over the years and its really not that hard. I'll second the advice that everyone else gave you, but also add that I usually like to pre-heat the wire. Seems to make things easier. And be careful not to over heat or over solder. Just use enough of each to get the job done. I melted a pot once by over heating it! =). There are some excellent tutorials here, lots of guys with a lot of expertise, I'd check them out as well. Good luck!

 

[BloodRose]

Re: Installing Blackouts...

I'll add this. Do your best to move(carefully) all other wires to the side. Its easy to be so focused on where the tip of your iron is, you can accidently bump other wires with the side of the iron and melt the sheaths. I have changed a ton of pups and I still have this happen from time to time if I hurry and dont prep ahead.

Also, great advise on the sand paper! I have ruined brand new pots by over heating them trying to get solder to stick.

One last piece of advice.. Dont be intimidated and remember, except for cutting a wire too short(or melting one) , almost everything else is reversible.

Let us know how you do and how the PRS sounds with blackouts!!
May the force be with you.....

 

[Diocletian]

Re: Installing Blackouts...

Install is not that bad. The most frustrating part for me was getting the ground wires to sodder to the back of the pots...but there are some posts on how to make that easier on here if you search. The easiest way to do it is to measure, cut your wires, and sodder what you can while the pots are out of the guitar. Makes it soooo much easier than installing the pots and then trying to sodder everything in a small confined space. But make sure you measure everything and go a little long just to make sure...

I never had any problems soldering wires to the back of the pots. Frank Falbo posted a tip saying you should give the pots a bit of a scraping with a file or sandpaper or something before starting, or the solder would have trouble sticking. I'm glad I read that tip as mine worked fine.

I'm rubbish at soldering, but fitting the blackouts was hassle free, so I'd recommend anyone gives it a go.