Look at this image and please tell me...

[Sly_D]

This is a shot of the wires of my Epiphone Dot. As you can see, the two pickups are using white plastic connectors.

This is not the usual Epiphone factory settings, unless they changed them since my first Dot. I have to admit that it's very convenient when you want to change pickups, which is a not easy with semi-hollow bodies. Yet if I break one of them while changing pickups, I don't even know where to find another one.

Now, would you keep these or throw them away? Is this a potential source of noise or tone loss? Is it better to stay with the traditional wire and lead connections?

Thanks in advance!

 

[ratherdashing]

Re: Look at this image and please tell me...

That should work the same as a standard wire. I've also seen them for speaker hook-ups.

 

[FretFire]

Re: Look at this image and please tell me...

I'd imagine they use those to make swapping pickups in a semi-hollow a bit easier. That process can be a pain.

 

[ErikH]

Re: Look at this image and please tell me...

Those are stock. My Epi LP Standard has those connectors too. Although they're a nifty idea for easy pickup swapping, contacts tarnish, tarnish leads to bad connection, bad connection leads to crappy/no sound, no sound makes Sly unhappy. What's the serial number on your DOT? Where was it made?

I'd trash 'em. I plan on removing them from my LP when I start replacing the pickups, first I need to get one of them (SH-11 CC Zebra).

 

[Sly_D]

Re: Look at this image and please tell me...

Just by trying to lift one of the tiny metal tab of one of the connectors, it broke! :evil: Not a very good start. Although this was just a tab to secure the connection. I can always tape it. It definitely looks like a factory setting, considering that the wholes for the wires have been made square (I can't see how someone could have made these wholes after the fact.)

I'm also convinced that this is a source of problems down the road. I may decide to deal with the problems as they arise.

My Dot was made at the Saein Plant in Korea in April 2005.

I still have time to think of what I'll do... thanks guys.

 

[That90'sGuy]

Re: Look at this image and please tell me...

Those tabs are used to connect two wires together. When I was remodeling my kitchen and installed a recessed light, I noticed those same sort of tabs. You pretty much strip some wire, shove the ends up there until it locks tight and you get a solid connection.

You can break the tabs and it won't make a bit of difference. With small electronics like with guitars, you can get away with tying off wires with black electrical tape. On bigger electrical sources like houses, we have to use "nuts" (please, no giggling ), to keep everything connected.

Wiring with a hollowbody isn't easy. I recommend doing all of the wiring outside of the guitar and "fishtailing" it through the holes. It takes some practice, but after a while, it can be done relatively painlessly.

 

[ErikH]

Re: Look at this image and please tell me...

My LP was made in the Epi China plant last year and has plastic connectors in it. That's why I was curious.

Rather than wait for the problems to arise later, I'd take care of them now. You can always leave the existing wires in place, chop of the connectors and solder the pickup leads to those. That way you still have some extra slack for moving them around and maintenance work. Those connectors are just crimp connectors so the holes being square is just for the male/female ends to connect.

 

[Sly_D]

Re: Look at this image and please tell me...

Yeah, ErikH. That's exactly what I was thinking. Simply get rid of the connectors. I could use the convenience of having the wires at hand and still avoid fishtailing the whole thing (thanks for the tip, the_Chris, that'll be my second option for now).

By the way Erik, which wires are which with Epi pickups? My bridge PU has a red lead with inner red and black wires. My neck PU has a blue lead with inner white and black wires. Which is the hot? In Gibson pickups, the black goes to ground. Is it the same?

I'll keep the plug for one reason now. I got two StewMac Golden Age pickups very cheap on eBay. Several people told me they were great. I'll try them with the connetcors. If I don't like em, I'll sell em and buy 2 SDs. Then I'll get rid of the connectors for the final set up.

Cheers to all guys!

 

[ErikH]

Re: Look at this image and please tell me...

By the way Erik, which wires are which with Epi pickups? My bridge PU has a red lead with inner red and black wires. My neck PU has a blue lead with inner white and black wires. Which is the hot? In Gibson pickups, the black goes to ground. Is it the same?

I think the black on both is ground, then it's either red or white for the hot. You can verify that by opening up the control cavity and seeing where the wires from the connector to the pots lead to but it looks like black/red from the neck connector to the pots, same as the pickup. I can't see in the pic if the bridge wires to the pots are also black/red or white/black.

 

[Sly_D]

Re: Look at this image and please tell me...

Thanks, I'll check that... there's no control cavity on a Dot, so I can't see where the wire goes... unless I unscrew the pots, which I may do down the road to be sure.