soldering pickups

[bin4christ]

hi guys, i just cut off the middle pickup of a strat(in a bid to experiment) with a pair of scissors. i'm trying to put it back on now. how do i solder the pickup to the wire? will placing the tip of the soldering iron between the wires of the pickup and metal point on the pickguard do? and will a normal soldering iron suffice?

 

[PatheinRaindropMoe]

yes, a normal 20 watt soldering iron is sufficient enough and you can get it at home fix or even normal neighbourhood hardware store. Just need to let it warm up enough, it be good to go

the rest of the question is a bit unclear in the phrasing, anyway, i guess the connection point is where you cut off, there be the point to solder back.

 

[bin4christ]

pathein, what i meant was, how to actually use the solder to join back the two metal parts. i tried this: put the frayed wires of the pickup cable on the metal tip of the pup switch n then placed the soldering tip on them. but i cant seem to join them together. i believe the solder has been heated up enough as i could feel the heat in the pup cables. n my pickguard melted when coming into contact with the solder.

 

[rikki]

this may help you....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0YURmPr03Nk

 

[PatheinRaindropMoe]

i see, usually for me when come to area where the lead dont flow nicely and melt in peace, i will use a penknife to scratch the surface before soldering. Even on the selector switch, the small area can be scratched using the tip of penknife, just be careful. Make the surface of contact rough and the solder lead shud flow.

to make it easier, you can solder a layer of lead on the selector switch first, before connecting the pickup wire. When you wanna attach the wire, just twist the end to make it neat and tidy, get the soldering iron with the tip at the edge of the selector switch point, the lead shud melt and you can insert the pickup wire end into it. The whole duration shud not take up too much of seconds.

another area which i make it rough is the back of the pot when you need to connect the ground.

and if still cannot, check the lead that you are using, the best wud be those with rosin core, 60/40 type. Imho, this one can be gotten easily and work best. Without using those solder flux.

 

[optisailor2002]

hmm actually i got a suggestion. just get a new guitar

 

[bin4christ]

pathein, i'm stumped. but i'll get the hang of it i'm sure. btw, what does lead refer to? wire?

optisailor: trying to be funny ah? lol. i'm saving up for the new guitar, but not because i screwed the strat (i dont give a darn if the mid pup gets screwed), but because a pal is letting it go cheap (SGD 2XX for a jackson!)

 

[bin4christ]

ok, lemme ask one more thing, what are the equipment i need? right now i've only got a solder. is there anything i lack?

 

[almondx]

Solder + soldering iron/tip is all you need. I'm pretty new at soldering myself so I can't help you much. Go youtube and refer to the soldering videos they are really helpful.

 

[bin4christ]

ok, i juz realized i need a solder. basically solder= metal alloy which is melted to join two metal surfaces right? any advice on the material of the solder required?

 

[sleepykitty]

You'll also need a desoldering sucker, in case you solder something wrongly.

 

[edder]

there aren't many to choose from unless if you're REALLY into it.

get a regular small coil from those DIY shops will do.

if you are anticipating to do a lot of soldering then pop over simlim tower and there are TONS of shops selling solder in all different sizes. .

Lead free, leaded, low smoke, hi flux etc etc etc

 

[almondx]

Eh don't go with the acid core one. It eats your electonics for lunch over time. Usually a 60/40 is the standard for electronics soldering.

 

[edder]

acid core ones are for plumbing lah....

 

[almondx]

Ya that's my point. Sometimes they never label so must choose carefully.