Working on guitar (Hacks) What do you do to make life easier?
- Thread starter 80's_Metal
- Start date
beaubrummels
Well-known member
Re: Working on guitar (Hacks) What do you do to make life easier?
Maybe I don’t get it, but the hemostat idea never worked for me. When I try to turn the screw into the pickup baseplate, the clip twists with it and hits something and flys off, leaving the spring to fly off also and drive the screw back out of the baseplate. My best effort has always been to hold the spring with two fingers while a third guides the screw into the initial turns of the baseplate for one or two twists, using my thumb to cover the coils so my screwdriver doesn’t stray into the coils. (The last point is mainly for SD pickups where they only supply flat head screws. (Why oh why? Some traditions should die.))
What I use
Maybe I don’t get it, but the hemostat idea never worked for me. When I try to turn the screw into the pickup baseplate, the clip twists with it and hits something and flys off, leaving the spring to fly off also and drive the screw back out of the baseplate. My best effort has always been to hold the spring with two fingers while a third guides the screw into the initial turns of the baseplate for one or two twists, using my thumb to cover the coils so my screwdriver doesn’t stray into the coils. (The last point is mainly for SD pickups where they only supply flat head screws. (Why oh why? Some traditions should die.))
Jacew
New member
Re: Working on guitar (Hacks) What do you do to make life easier?
Being a strat guy I didn't thought of that... Usually just put it all together on table and slap the pickguard on guitar... Then open it half dozen times tweaking the wiring...
Being a strat guy I didn't thought of that... Usually just put it all together on table and slap the pickguard on guitar... Then open it half dozen times tweaking the wiring...
Re: Working on guitar (Hacks) What do you do to make life easier?
When used for the purpose for which you are implying, the clips work better that hemostats. When you just want to grip and hold wires in place the hemostats work way better. Every job has its most appropriate tool.
When used for the purpose for which you are implying, the clips work better that hemostats. When you just want to grip and hold wires in place the hemostats work way better. Every job has its most appropriate tool.
mistermikev
New member
Re: Working on guitar (Hacks) What do you do to make life easier?
I like to then hook this up to my test harness and find out what I did wrong. I hate getting it in the guitar to realize that phase isn't right. I freq combine differing brands so if you don't do that - probably not a problem.
If I'm doing something complicated I always draw it out and get it organized before I start.
it's one thing to wire up a simple strat w/o messy wires... it's another thing when it's a super switch plus several push pulls and a preamp.
always heat the part and push the solder into it... never put solder on the iron and then touch the part.
now you know what I know.
I like to start from scratch and when I do that I always mount everything on cardboard, use sandpaper to scuff up connection areas, and sure - use a really long thin needle nose.
I like to then hook this up to my test harness and find out what I did wrong. I hate getting it in the guitar to realize that phase isn't right. I freq combine differing brands so if you don't do that - probably not a problem.
If I'm doing something complicated I always draw it out and get it organized before I start.
it's one thing to wire up a simple strat w/o messy wires... it's another thing when it's a super switch plus several push pulls and a preamp.
always heat the part and push the solder into it... never put solder on the iron and then touch the part.
now you know what I know.
Re: Working on guitar (Hacks) What do you do to make life easier?
I get that. When my patients self-diagnose, they are almost always wrong.
I get that. When my patients self-diagnose, they are almost always wrong.
Re: Working on guitar (Hacks) What do you do to make life easier?
That is a great idea. It also works great for holding a pickup cover in place and tight to the pup while soldering it on.
That is a great idea. It also works great for holding a pickup cover in place and tight to the pup while soldering it on.
Chris Pile
Well-known member
Re: Working on guitar (Hacks) What do you do to make life easier?
Have you never heard of StewMac? They call them "Humbucker Helpers"....
https://www.stewmac.com/Luthier_Too...lectronics_and_Pickups/Humbucker_Helpers.html
Have you never heard of StewMac? They call them "Humbucker Helpers"....
https://www.stewmac.com/Luthier_Too...lectronics_and_Pickups/Humbucker_Helpers.html
Empty Pockets
BadHairDayologist
Re: Working on guitar (Hacks) What do you do to make life easier?
I bought a couple aluminium guitars from Electrical Guitar Company which basically require no maintenance besides occasionally changing the strings.
I bought a couple aluminium guitars from Electrical Guitar Company which basically require no maintenance besides occasionally changing the strings.
beaubrummels
Well-known member
Re: Working on guitar (Hacks) What do you do to make life easier?
Wait a minute, the screw goes through the clip? How do you get the helper clip off once it’s threaded? Only one end is open to slide it off.
Wait a minute, the screw goes through the clip? How do you get the helper clip off once it’s threaded? Only one end is open to slide it off.
NegativeEase
New member
Re: Working on guitar (Hacks) What do you do to make life easier?
Which ones did you get? I love his work, I'm going to go by his new relocated machine shop in Birmingham this year.
Which ones did you get? I love his work, I'm going to go by his new relocated machine shop in Birmingham this year.
Ayrton
New member
Re: Working on guitar (Hacks) What do you do to make life easier?
The hole at the top fits over the screw head. Slips right off. Alligator clips work just as well and cost pennies.
The hole at the top fits over the screw head. Slips right off. Alligator clips work just as well and cost pennies.
GuitarStv
Sock Market Trader
Re: Working on guitar (Hacks) What do you do to make life easier?
Are the necks aluminum? And if so, how does fretting work?
Are the necks aluminum? And if so, how does fretting work?
IMENATOR
Well-known member
Re: Working on guitar (Hacks) What do you do to make life easier?
If you have a guitar with a Floyd Rose then you don't need to remove the strings, just take the bridge out and all the strings, do your stuff on the guitar and place the bridge back with all strings. I save time and money doing this. Also for soldering, look at this guy using a simple piece of wood and a couple of rubber bands, it really makes my life easier.
If you have a guitar with a Floyd Rose then you don't need to remove the strings, just take the bridge out and all the strings, do your stuff on the guitar and place the bridge back with all strings. I save time and money doing this. Also for soldering, look at this guy using a simple piece of wood and a couple of rubber bands, it really makes my life easier.
Ayrton
New member
Re: Working on guitar (Hacks) What do you do to make life easier?
This is how I always work on OFR guitars (unless the strings need changing). Like running the strings in backward so you don't have to cut off the ball ends (have sharp pokes). My very first guitar was a Kramer with an OFR, so I learned very early how to work on them.
This is how I always work on OFR guitars (unless the strings need changing). Like running the strings in backward so you don't have to cut off the ball ends (have sharp pokes). My very first guitar was a Kramer with an OFR, so I learned very early how to work on them.
Ayrton
New member
Re: Working on guitar (Hacks) What do you do to make life easier?
I wonder how that would happen? I can't say in 30+ years of doing it this way I have ever seen that. The tension is in the wrap, so not really enough pressure to cut into the metal.
I wonder how that would happen? I can't say in 30+ years of doing it this way I have ever seen that. The tension is in the wrap, so not really enough pressure to cut into the metal.
