Tips on Changing Pickups?

[ashlock]

I have spent a half hour trying to search the site (the jemsite search freezes and the google search leaves out some pages that I know I have seen), so screw it, I will just ask:

I am doing my 1st pup replacement this week. *I remember someone mentioning the tools I will need. *I have done a little soldering work and know that I should tin the wires and apply heat not to the wires or the solder but to the part. *

Good so far, but someone mentioned a desoldering braid and something else that I should get from Radio Shack. * I have used a solder-sucker before, but not a desoldering braid, does that just give you more flux? *Should I also use some de-fluxer (that nasty spray 1-1-1-trichloroethane junk)?


Are there any other tips I should know about? Or even better, a step by step guide?

thanks for your help


(Edited by ashlock at 5:45 pm on April 19, 2001)

[Josh Blagg]

Personally, I use a solder sucker and a 40 watt soldering iron, and very thin rosin-core solder. *I never use flux on these projects, as it has ruined several guitar wiring things I have done. *Just make sure you have good connections and that you know the circuit really well.

[ryan]

Use rosin-core solder for all electronics projects.

The flux is in the core - you don't need flux paste.

I would be wary of using a 40W iron on guitar electronics. *Your 5-way and your pots could easily get toasted if you get them too hot.

Also, you don't need any desoldering stuff fer yer guitar work, unless you had a moron work on it previously. *Heat up the old connections and pull the wires off. *They will take most of the solder with them. *Any left will not be in the way.

[Josh Blagg]

The secret to the 40 watt iron is not holding to the components too long. *I like it a lot better than the 15 watter I have, as it gets better results. *Also, I disagree with your comment on the desoldering tools. *I have seen or done a lot of projects where a small bit of excess solder goes somewhere you dont want it. *Sometimes it cannot be avoided if you are working in a really right control cavity. *Also, don't be like a lot of people and *wrap* the wires around the metal connectors. *It is totally unnecessary and will be a pain in the neck to unwrap.

[Vaibanez]

I use flux paste for a better flow. It also prevents the solder from sticking to the iron and makes much better connections on the pots. Just a little dab is all I use.

J>

[rickboot]

For pickup replacement, I rarely remove the existing solder. *You can probably get by without a solder sucker or desoldering braid. However, braid is fairly cheap so you might as well pick some up. You may find it easier to use than a solder sucker. You just press the braid on the solder and place the iron on the braid. It will suck the existing solder into the braid.

I agree with Jimm that flux can make for cleaner and shinier solder connections, however, once again, for pickup replacement I usually don't bother. I must be getting lazy...

BTW, I recommend a 25-40 watt iron for most guitar work. *The higher wattage is useful for soldering ground wires on the pots and trem claw. Smaller irons take too long to make these connections and may overheat the part.

Rick

PS: A quick search on Google turned up a few sites, which seem to have reasonable advice if you need more:

www.kingbass.com/soldering101.html
www.epemag.wimborne.co.uk/solderpix.htm

[Pablo]

What you will need for soldering guitar PUPS.

25 watt soldering iron (Smaller ones are a hassle)
A clean bench to work at.
An old towel to rest your guitar on to prevent marks (If it's a rear mounted cavity that is)
A pair of tweezers to hold the wires (Or you WILL burn your fingers(
Solder braid (Instead of a suction gun)
Wire strippers
Insulating tape
a pair of sissors (To cut the tin foil on Dimarzios) and a small pair of snips for excess lenghts.
Solder wire with flux is less hassle than seperate no clean flux and no clean solder

If you don't clean the pots of old solder (Depending on the amount) you WILL have to keep the iron on longer to melt the old solder damaging your PUP wire insulator in the process. also the possibility of dry joints etc will occur

TIP
If your soldering a scratchplate type RG get a connector for the jack socket so that you can easily disconnect/reconnect the wires (saves a bit of hassle).