Finished My First Guitar Rewiring Last Night

[leray1]

I put new pups, pots, switch and wiring in a Squier Strat.

I was a complete noob at soldering and electronics before I started (still am), but it was something I always wanted to do. I can't lie, though, it was a bitch and it's ugly, but everything works as it should.

Now I want to practice enough to get good and put together a guitar for myself (this one is for the wife's nephew). What is the best way to practice without actually working on a guitar? Kits, maybe?

[CitizenCain]

Welcome to the wild world of modding

For practice, are asking about practicing your soldering technique? It's hard to practice modding a guitar without actually working on one. If you just want to polish your soldering skills, grab a handful of resistors and start tacking them together.

Practice taking them apart, too. It's a skill you'll need to cultivate

[leray1]

Originally Posted by CitizenCain

Welcome to the wild world of modding

For practice, are asking about practicing your soldering technique? It's hard to practice modding a guitar without actually working on one. If you just want to polish your soldering skills, grab a handful of resistors and start tacking them together.

Practice taking them apart, too. It's a skill you'll need to cultivate

Will it help rid me of my wish for a third hand?

Of course, I'm always on the lookout for a cheap guitar to mess with, too.

[CitizenCain]

Originally Posted by leray1

Will it help rid me of my wish for a third hand?

Unfortunately, no

[kwaping]

Originally Posted by leray1

Will it help rid me of my wish for a third hand?

http://goo.gl/jPqAk

You're welcome.

[hank57]

Guitars are cramped quarters. Amps are bigger but not always roomier and pedals can a challenge when they are in the their enclosure. Have you gotten a solder sucker or desoldering stuff? Good to clean up a little of the old solder before putting on new solder. When soldering small resistors it is important to do it quick so the resistor doesn't get damaged from the heat so putting an alligator clip between the resistor and where you are soldering it helps as a heat sink. BYOC is a fun thing because you get pedals to play.

[leray1]

Originally Posted by kwaping

http://goo.gl/jPqAk

You're welcome.

Yeh, thanks. I was using vise grips and a vise, essentially the same thing just more cumbersome.

[leray1]

Originally Posted by hank57

Guitars are cramped quarters. Amps are bigger but not always roomier and pedals can a challenge when they are in the their enclosure. Have you gotten a solder sucker or desoldering stuff? Good to clean up a little of the old solder before putting on new solder. When soldering small resistors it is important to do it quick so the resistor doesn't get damaged from the heat so putting an alligator clip between the resistor and where you are soldering it helps as a heat sink. BYOC is a fun thing because you get pedals to play.

I've got wick and used it with moderate success. I will eventually look into improving my amp...one day...

[RussB]

Originally Posted by leray1

I put new pups, pots, switch and wiring in a Squier Strat.

I was a complete noob at soldering and electronics before I started (still am), but it was something I always wanted to do. I can't lie, though, it was a bitch and it's ugly, but everything works as it should.

Now I want to practice enough to get good and put together a guitar for myself (this one is for the wife's nephew). What is the best way to practice without actually working on a guitar? Kits, maybe?

Ugly soldering will likely fail due to cold solder joints and weak connections. Keep re-working that Squier until the work is clean & tidy. Look at pics of clean work, and set goals to achieve those results. That's how I learned.

[Hulakatt]

Originally Posted by kwaping

http://goo.gl/jPqAk

You're welcome.

I use these all the time, they're a lifesaver!

Seriously, cheap guitars are great practice, just take them apart and put them back together again.

Pedal kits are a step up in complexity and require more delicate soldering.

Tube amps are a step up from that and require mor patience, mostly for running all the wires and keeping track of everything.

[kwaping]

Also, be careful with amps - they can be deadly!!

[pigman]

Originally Posted by hank57

Guitars are cramped quarters.

Instead of soldering directly within the cavity, I trace the pot and switch holes by placing a piece of paper over the guitar top and rubbing a pencil over it. I then transfer the hole pattern to a thin piece of cardboard. I then cut an "X" where each hole should be and stick the pots and switches through the cardboard, then solder all the connections. The circuit is then transferred into the cavity, the pickups and jack are soldered, and it's all set.

[simplecomplexity]

congrats! always need to start somewhere!

here's to more rewiring!