To cut or not to cut, that is the question...

[Clint 55]

Yes sir. I am done with soldering above precious instruments. I can solder anything when it comes to most automotive electronics, but my hands get all shaky when I am working above one of my $2000-plus guitars. Not because I cannot buy another one, but because that specific one is so sentimental to me.

I dripped some hot solder on the finish of one of my guitars back in 2015, that left a permanent mark. I now have a few of my old wiring jobs that require some minor cleanup to get a truly noise-free operation. I am so tired of spending time on wiring. To me, with my limited amount of free time, every minute I spend on wiring is another minute I could have spent playing. I am lucky to get about 3 hours of guitar and/or bass in per day as it is right now. If I go back to doing some of my own wiring, it can take me 30 minutes or more leaving me with less time to practice. I just wanna play when I have guitar free time available.

You can mask off ur guitar you know lol. But yeah no, the first time I attempted wiring, I had no idea how the eff I would actually accomplish anything. Since I have mild genetic shakes. I was only changing 1 pup too lol. 4 connections total. I think it took me like 2 hours. You play 3 hours a day? You must be a pro. I started bringing my guitar to work to practice on my lunch. I'm back into it and getting serious about practicing every day. I was cookin on the tune Over the Rainbow today.

 

[dave74]

I leave as much as possible on news, but if I need to trim a couple inches to start fresh or get rid of bad areas that someone has melted the coatings on, no big deal.
I always place a folded cloth on the guitar's back right next to the cavity and solder most stuff right there. I take a piece of quilted paper towel and fold it up to place under the wiring inside the cavity also. After I'm done it pulls out easily. Last time I had one tiny little drip on the towel and none on the cloth. I'm getting much cleaner with the solder and neater with my wires over time.

 

[Artie]

Yes sir. I am done with soldering above precious instruments. I can solder anything when it comes to most automotive electronics, but my hands get all shaky when I am working above one of my $2000-plus guitars. Not because I cannot buy another one, but because that specific one is so sentimental to me.

I dripped some hot solder on the finish of one of my guitars back in 2015, that left a permanent mark. I now have a few of my old wiring jobs that require some minor cleanup to get a truly noise-free operation. I am so tired of spending time on wiring. To me, with my limited amount of free time, every minute I spend on wiring is another minute I could have spent playing. I am lucky to get about 3 hours of guitar and/or bass in per day as it is right now. If I go back to doing some of my own wiring, it can take me 30 minutes or more leaving me with less time to practice. I just wanna play when I have guitar free time available.

Get a Sil-Pad. (Various brand names.) Works great, and relatively cheap. Lay it over the guitar with a hole cut where the cavity is.

https://www.amazon.com/GRIDMANN-Pro-Silicone-Baking-Mat/dp/B06XX5LYCC/ref=psdc_3736921_t1_B077XTPWZ5

 

[BloodRose]

I also don't cut. Only if the pickup was previously used and I need to clean up the wire of excess solder or if the wires appear brittle, In that case I'll snip off enough to get a good connection. That way, I don't have to extend if I move them, Or, if I decide to sell them, there is plenty of lead. (Though I rarely sell pickups.) It's a pita for me to extend them and I then worry about the connections. When I do extend, I used to use electrical tape round the connections, but have started using shrink connectors for more security and a cleaner look. Sadly, Ive always been overkill with solder and or have messy solder points. Its really bad these days since I've developed some shakes..Scares me as my GMA had Parkinsons.
I also try to cover up the area with a rag too as I once touched the edge of the cavity with the side of the iron and made alil burn mark. Speaking of the shakes.... Im prepping some guitars to sell and I have one that was nearly MINT, I was trying to pull a trem spring from claw to block and the pliers slipped and I scratched the back. Dang near cried...

 

[Snake Aces]

You can mask off ur guitar you know lol. But yeah no, the first time I attempted wiring, I had no idea how the eff I would actually accomplish anything. Since I have mild genetic shakes. I was only changing 1 pup too lol. 4 connections total. I think it took me like 2 hours. You play 3 hours a day? You must be a pro. I started bringing my guitar to work to practice on my lunch. I'm back into it and getting serious about practicing every day. I was cookin on the tune Over the Rainbow today.

Yeah, I know I can mask it off. Back then, in 2015, I was living in Greece. I did not have access to a lot of tools or resources that are more easily available to us here. All I had was what I had and I was a bit impatient about wanting to get my guitar ready. Moments like these, and there have been plenty in the 20 years I have been doing my own wiring, are not moments I miss anymore.

The very first time I attempted wiring by myself, it took me forever too. Now I am more efficient, but my hands shake and my brow sweats like a mo-fo when I work on my guitars with my butane soldering iron. I hate wired soldering irons so much. So I switched to butane years ago.

Other than that, I have never considered myself a pro player, that is why I have to practice so much. Then I find myself wishing I knew how to push myself more as a player while practicing. 3 hours a day is nothing. I wish I could practice for 7 or 8 hours a day like I used to be able to. I am a self-taught player. I am a hack. Making a commitment to practicing every single day enables me to at least be good enough to write music and play in some pretty great bands over the years.

With me, my ambition far outweighs my talent. However, for whatever reason, bands I am in are able to experience some pretty special moments because I am very good at making the plans come together behind the scenes. However, I only wish I was a pro when it comes to playing. I am a professional writer but as a musician, I will probably always feel like a hack. That is okay though, when I play music, I do it because it is what I want to do. I have played with people who have an insane amount of talent over the years, I have learned it is all about doing anything I can do to add to the talent around me.

 

[Snake Aces]

Get a Sil-Pad. (Various brand names.) Works great, and relatively cheap. Lay it over the guitar with a hole cut where the cavity is.

https://www.amazon.com/GRIDMANN-Pro-Silicone-Baking-Mat/dp/B06XX5LYCC/ref=psdc_3736921_t1_B077XTPWZ5

This is really nice. I really should order one of these in case I ever do need to do some work in an emergency.

 

[Ronnie_Snow]

I should rephrase what I said. Tidy is good. But the cable doesn't need to be cut shorter to make it tidy in guitars.

 

[Mincer]

Sometimes the excess can be coiled in the pickup cavity so the electronics cavity doesn't look so messy.

 

[dystrust]

Sometimes the excess can be coiled in the pickup cavity so the electronics cavity doesn't look so messy.

This is my preferred method. If the cavity is generous enough, I like to wind the extra around the pickup mounting legs.

 

[Mincer]

This is my preferred method. If the cavity is generous enough, I like to wind the extra around the pickup mounting legs.

I do this too, instead of just making a big bundle under the pickup.

 

[Snake Aces]

I took a look at all the guitars I wired years ago, they all have the full length jammed in the cavities. So, I guess that is what my vote should say since I do not plan on wiring them myself anymore.

 

[misterwhizzy]

I just had to rerun leads all the way to the coils of an MJ-wound Custom because an overzealous tech decided it needed to be trimmed down to fit after stretching. I don't know what he was doing in the control cavity when I wanted fretwork done, but c'est la vie, I suppose. Please don't cut the leads. Just don't.

P.S. Heat-shrink tubing is a beautiful thing.

 

[Gtrjunior]

^ You choose to drop off for wiring? I love wiring, do it all the time, and could never pay and wait for it.

I never trim. I leave the slack in case the lead gets damaged over time and I have to trim it. It's not too much hassle to fit everything without tying it off or anything.

I agree. I think wiring a guitar is a ton of fun!

 

[Artie]

Can I throw something else into the mix? How about you guys using Triple Shots? If you don't cut, doesn't that mean that all the pup wire has to be crammed into the pickup cavity? I'm not sure myself, 'cause I haven't used them yet.

 

[PFDarkside]

Can I throw something else into the mix? How about you guys using Triple Shots? If you don't cut, doesn't that mean that all the pup wire has to be crammed into the pickup cavity? I'm not sure myself, 'cause I haven't used them yet.

Fantastic question!

 

[Mr. 80's]

I never trim them down, just not good practice IMHO. I bundle and tie wrap the excess in the control cavity.

 

[dystrust]

Can I throw something else into the mix? How about you guys using Triple Shots? If you don't cut, doesn't that mean that all the pup wire has to be crammed into the pickup cavity? I'm not sure myself, 'cause I haven't used them yet.

My Triple Shots are installed in an SG, and the cavities are large enough to wind the extra around the pickup mounting legs.

 

[Top-L]

It's an expanded meaning of a term that comes from the world of modern video games. As others have said, it does essentially mean "other" or "not already accounted for." But that doesn't explain why it would be called the "rob" option, does it? And the answer to that, is in modern video games where you are playing a supposedly real human character interfacing with other "real" human characters, you frequently attempt to conduct transactions with other characters where you want to obtain a desired item (i.e. food, weapons, etc.). Legal and moral codes indicate that "obviously" the only 2 choices for you to obtain said desired item is to A) purchase it or B) barter for it. The designers of modern video games have designed in a 3rd less-obvious, illegal "other" option that you can attempt should you think to try it: you can try to "rob" the other character of said desired item. Charming, isn't it?

How else are kids going to learn how to think outside the box?

 

[Artie]

My Triple Shots are installed in an SG, and the cavities are large enough to wind the extra around the pickup mounting legs.

Sweet. I'm just getting ready to install some P-Rails into an LP.

 

[Top-L]

Yes sir. I am done with soldering above precious instruments. I can solder anything when it comes to most automotive electronics, but my hands get all shaky when I am working above one of my $2000-plus guitars. Not because I cannot buy another one, but because that specific one is so sentimental to me.

I dripped some hot solder on the finish of one of my guitars back in 2015, that left a permanent mark. I now have a few of my old wiring jobs that require some minor cleanup to get a truly noise-free operation. I am so tired of spending time on wiring. To me, with my limited amount of free time, every minute I spend on wiring is another minute I could have spent playing. I am lucky to get about 3 hours of guitar and/or bass in per day as it is right now. If I go back to doing some of my own wiring, it can take me 30 minutes or more leaving me with less time to practice. I just wanna play when I have guitar free time available.

Have to weigh the time driving to the tech and back..twice vs how much time the job takes yourself.

Marks from steaming hot solder blobs can be sanded and buffed out of clear coats. Usually.

I just tape a piece of paper on the right side of the cavity in case there is a drip. But that so rarely happens. Tin the parts, never carry a blob of solder on the iron tip.