software

Ok, I bought a soldering iron tonite because I'm tired of Paying $30 to get a couple pickups installed. 30 watt iron, and I bought some solder with it.

My question is: What else do I need to buy before I install my new Gibson '57 Classic and Fender Tex Mex single coil into my Fender Strat?

I think I'm gonna get some of that fabric stuff that you use to remove solder, but I know there's gotta be something else I'll need.

Sorry if this has already been discussed on the forum, but I appreciate your help.

Thanks - Kac
Here's a Pic of the guitar:P.S. I'll most likely be asking for a schematic for wiring the Gibson Humbucker and Fender Single Coil into my guitar (push/push pot for pick-up selection)... Just 1 volume knob (push/push pot) and no tone knobs, so if anyone could help me with that too, it would save me from starting a new thread.
Rock On!

A couple things that I consider to be important:

If you didn't get a stand, get one. If it doesn't have the little sponge, get that too. Keep it wet. quot;Shockquot; the tip with it often.

Also, if you have a Radio Shack nearby, get one of those little tubs of flux. Usually they're about the size of a chewing tobacco container. Dip the end of the soldering iron it from time to time, and wipe it off on the sponge. This process will make your soldering neater and cleaner.

A solder sucker is usually a nice addition too. Relatively cheap. Good for getting off big blobs of solder.

Some Flux and a desodering braid.
EDIT: Artie beat me to it

consider a pair of forceps, curved or straight ... helps when you need an extra hand

the schematic is easy .. one pickup's hot wire to one side of the push/push .. other pickup's hot wire to the other side of the push / push .. center of the push/push to the volume .. volume to the output jack

good luck
t4d

T4D beat me to this one, but here's a (quick amp; dirty) pic anyway:That uses SD color codes, but you get the idea.

Thank you very much guys, I'll pick up the extra stuff at radio shack tomorrow and keep practicing my soldering untill the new pups all get here.

Rock On

Take it back and get a 40watt iron. I think they do a better job.

Also, everyone elses suggestions, I will suggest also.

btw - since you're going to use that switching style, here's one more thing you can do.

Run the red/white combo from the humbucker to the middle of the other side of the switch, then run that to ground. Move the bridge hot to the center, and you'll have:

1. Bridge
2. Neck with bridge splitJust a thought.

Dont let the solder drip off the iron onto the wires as if it were glue. Heat the wire and the joint and let it melt the solder as you apply it. You can start the melting process with the tip of the iron but don't blob it on. You will have a week cold solder joint.If you are soldering onto the pot case you might want a bigger iron as the metal case of the pot will suck the heat away from your iron and take a longer time.


Originally Posted by ArtieToobtw - since you're going to use that switching style, here's one more thing you can do.

Run the red/white combo from the humbucker to the middle of the other side of the switch, then run that to ground. Move the bridge hot to the center, and you'll have:

1. Bridge
2. Neck with bridge splitJust a thought.

My Gibson '57 Classic is a single conductor pick-up which means I can't split it like that, but it makes it easy to find the hot wire. it says I need to ground the casing of the wire... How do I do that?
-Kac

take the silver braid off the wire and solder it to the ground of the other pickup. Then run that to ground (usually on the back of the pot, but you cant do that here, so I got no idea)

Has the guitar been routed for the Fat Option? If not, maybe a set of mini chisels
Horror. I have a nice heavy base-station, with a few crocodile (alligator if you must) clips on poles with clamps contraption. Like having a few extra pairs of heat-proof fingers. You can get one to hold this and one to hold that, then adjust their positions and then you just do the joining. Very handy. Be sure to sand, or agitate the backs of new pots befor soldering. (then tin) then solder. Results MUST be nice and shiny, not dull.

I agree that soldering on your own is rewarding and saves you some cash in the process.

It took me a while to get it down but this is what I found I need.

A 40 watt radio shack iron does a great job.
I use their little canister of tip tinner/cleaner before and while in the middle of the job. Keep the tip clean with a damp sponge/scotch brite pad and keep using the tip tinner/cleaner. This works wonders for me and is cheap.

I also have an extra tip ready for replacement.

60/40 rosin core solder is perfect.

An inexpensive desoldering bulb and a paper clip to clean out excess solder that can clog the bulb stem.

A container of desoldering braid. You may have to use your judgement as to when is best to use the bulb and when to use the braid. I found I needed at least a 40 watt iron to use the braid.

Try to tin the soldering tip with fresh solder before the job and also the tip of the wire - basically just apply a small amount of solder to the hot tip; clean the tip with the sponge after tinning. Touch the tip to the wire and run some solder on this as well.

This is what I do to make the connection. For a lug of a pot, I place the tinned wire in the lug...then hold the tip of the iron against the wire and lug and touch it with the solder.......the solder shold run right onto the the joint and make the connection.

For a pot, I hold the wire to the pot back with the iron tip and then add the solder, it should flow right on assuming the pot and wire are both hot enough and preferrably have reached the same temperature. Removed the wire, then the pot. Don't take too long or you could burn out the pot. I would have this problem with lower wattage irons because it took too long to heat the parts. Also, a clean tip is very important.

Make sure to give a few seconds for the parts get hot before applying the solder. try to be quick and efficient. Plan out what you are going to do and maybe make a diagram. Take your time, but try to be quick with the actually soldering and efficient.