bguzaldo
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Post by bguzaldo on May 2, 2009 11:02:05 GMT -5
I was changing pickups on one of my guitars, I was trying to put a mini humbucker on a strat and I got it all wired up and working great, but after I would solder the pickup and the capacitator to the input lug it would work perfectly for about 10 seconds and then cut out for no reason, I didn't touch it or anything, then I'd resolder the two and the same thing would happen. I'm using just basic solder I found at ACE hardware and I'm wondering if that's the problem here.
Any thought will be appreciated
thanks, -Barrett
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Post by sumgai on May 2, 2009 11:11:12 GMT -5
Barrett, Welcome to the NutzHouse. My gut feeling is that by "hardware store basic solder", you probably mean the stuff you found in the plumbing isle, not in the electrical section. Unless your solder is specifically labeled for electrical use, then it's probably got acid in it, and that's just eating your components, slowly but surely. Not to mention that it doesn't conduct electricity very well either. If it is the kind made for electrical work, then take a picture (or several) and post it/them for us to evaluate. HTH sumgai
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bguzaldo
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Post by bguzaldo on May 2, 2009 13:25:30 GMT -5
Its just alphametals lead free rosin core solder. I dont have a digital camera sorry. but it is solder wire not paste. I found after more fidgeting with it, the signal only comes in when i press really hard on the input lug with the pickup wire on it...
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Post by newey on May 2, 2009 14:23:34 GMT -5
I don't know what connection you are referring to, but if manipulating that connection makes a difference, that's your problem. You indicated that this was on a Strat, and that you were adding a mini-HB. In a Strat, the pickup is wired to the 5-way switch (or to ground, perhaps, if it's the other pickup wire). Are we talking about the pickup's connection to the 5-way switch? You also mention a capacitor being involved, which, again, mystifies me. This is why a photo would be helpful. It could be either a bad solder joint at that lug, or a bad component- i.e., whatever component is attached to the other end of that "input lug". Try removing that connection and cleaning off any extra solder, then resoldering it. If that solves the problem, the solder joint was bad. If not, the component may be bad, probably where that lug attaches inside of it. While better for the environment and your health, the lead free solder has a higher melting point and requires a hotter (higher-powered) iron. My cheap little Radio Shack iron will barely melt the stuff. This could be your problem.
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Post by ChrisK on May 2, 2009 21:21:26 GMT -5
I have never yet used lead-free solder as I have sufficient stock of the real stuff.
I'm not sure what happens when one uses lead-free solder on components and terminals that are tinned with tin-lead solder.
There is considerable concern about lead-free solder and the growth of tendrils (tin-whiskers) that cause eventual shorts.
Also, as newey mentions, the increased temperature required for lead-free solder means that the components being soldered will incur much more heat damage than in the past.
Also, maybe one of the existing components is defective.
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bguzaldo
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Post by bguzaldo on May 2, 2009 23:55:10 GMT -5
I don't know what connection you are referring to, but if manipulating that connection makes a difference, that's your problem. You indicated that this was on a Strat, and that you were adding a mini-HB. In a Strat, the pickup is wired to the 5-way switch (or to ground, perhaps, if it's the other pickup wire). Are we talking about the pickup's connection to the 5-way switch? You also mention a capacitor being involved, which, again, mystifies me. This is why a photo would be helpful. It could be either a bad solder joint at that lug, or a bad component- i.e., whatever component is attached to the other end of that "input lug". Try removing that connection and cleaning off any extra solder, then resoldering it. If that solves the problem, the solder joint was bad. If not, the component may be bad, probably where that lug attaches inside of it. While better for the environment and your health, the lead free solder has a higher melting point and requires a hotter (higher-powered) iron. My cheap little Radio Shack iron will barely melt the stuff. This could be your problem. Sorry if I've been unclear, I'm not a guitar tech guy, I've never done this sort of thing before, I'm just helping a friend of mine put in a new pickup. I don't even play guitar! But I enjoy this type of stuff. So what the deal is, is that I took out all the old pickups from the strat [2 single coils and a humbucker] I disconnected the 5 way switcher and now I've just taken out the tone pot so disregard what I said about the capacitor. So I'm trying to just connect the Mini-HB to the volume pot. That's all that is functioning in the pickguard, 1 volume pot and 1 Mini-HB [and the output obviously]. The Mini-HB has just one wire coming out of it which I soldered to the third prong of the volume pot. And that's where I have to press hard to get the signal to come through. Sorry if I'm an unmanagable n00b, but any help has been and will continue to be greatly appreciated. Thanks a bunch, -Barrett
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Post by ashcatlt on May 3, 2009 0:16:39 GMT -5
There have to be (at least) two wires coming out of the pickup.
Perhaps there's one wire inside a braided wire shield, but that braided shield wire is a second conductor. It needs to eventually reach the sleeve lug of the output jack. It might stop by one of the outside lugs of the volume pot, or the pot case along the way, but... This also needs to avoid all contact with the other wire from the pickup, as well as anything that's connected to the tip lug on the jack.
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Post by newey on May 3, 2009 0:19:20 GMT -5
OK, now I follow you. Is there perhaps a braided shield around the one wire of this pickup?
If you've tried resoldering that connection, I'd turn my attention to the pot.
If you have a multimeter, you can check the Vol pot for correct functioning. If you don't, you could swap it out for the tone pot you removed already, after first completely removing the capacitor from the pot. Of course, the tone pot could be bad also, which is one of the many reasons why a meter is handy to have.
EDIT: Ash has leapfrogged me again! And he's right, as usual.
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bguzaldo
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Post by bguzaldo on May 3, 2009 22:43:09 GMT -5
There have to be (at least) two wires coming out of the pickup. Perhaps there's one wire inside a braided wire shield, but that braided shield wire is a second conductor. It needs to eventually reach the sleeve lug of the output jack. It might stop by one of the outside lugs of the volume pot, or the pot case along the way, but... This also needs to avoid all contact with the other wire from the pickup, as well as anything that's connected to the tip lug on the jack. Well, there's one cable coming from the pickup, its a metal mesh casing, then underneath that there is a black rope like casing, then there's the metal wire. That's about it. Thanks for all the help so far, I really appreciate it, -Barrett
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bguzaldo
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Post by bguzaldo on May 3, 2009 22:46:35 GMT -5
OK, now I follow you. Is there perhaps a braided shield around the one wire of this pickup? If you've tried resoldering that connection, I'd turn my attention to the pot. YES! But what does this all mean!?!
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Post by wolf on May 3, 2009 22:54:46 GMT -5
Maybe it's time for a drawing: Well, perhaps it doesn't help that much but it's a start.
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Post by newey on May 3, 2009 23:07:27 GMT -5
BGZ-
Wolf's got your back. Just wire it up that way and you'll be fine.
As Ashcatlt and I both surmised, you have a two conductor pickup with a braided shield for the ground. The braided shield connects to the ground as shown on wolf's diagram. You can use the back of the volume pot as the grounding point- the shield, the output jack "negative", and the grounded lug of the volume pot can all meet there.
Your + wire from the pickup attaches to the right-handed lug of the volume pot (as viewed from the back, lugs pointed up). The center lug of the volume pot attaches to the + of the output jack.
Based on the description you provided, it is also possible that the vol pot is bad. You should check it with a meter if you have one before you wire this up.
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bguzaldo
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Post by bguzaldo on May 4, 2009 21:03:43 GMT -5
BGZ- Wolf's got your back. Just wire it up that way and you'll be fine. As Ashcatlt and I both surmised, you have a two conductor pickup with a braided shield for the ground. The braided shield connects to the ground as shown on wolf's diagram. You can use the back of the volume pot as the grounding point- the shield, the output jack "negative", and the grounded lug of the volume pot can all meet there. Your + wire from the pickup attaches to the right-handed lug of the volume pot (as viewed from the back, lugs pointed up). The center lug of the volume pot attaches to the + of the output jack. Based on the description you provided, it is also possible that the vol pot is bad. You should check it with a meter if you have one before you wire this up. ....what would I do without you guys....just went and rewired it. FLAWLESS!! Thanks for the diagram Wolf! and I can't thank you enough for all your help newey! You guys truely rock. I appreciate the help so much, -Barrett
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Post by newey on May 4, 2009 22:23:45 GMT -5
Glad it worked out for you, and your friend. This raises the question of what, exactly, you have built for your friend. I'm imagining an EVH-style strat, but with a mini-HB instead of the usual overwound shredder pickup? I can't help much around here, but if we're talking one pickup and a Vol. pot, you're in my vicinity . . . But it's really wolf you should thank. A picture is worth a thousand, and he had the picture. Anyway, we know you now have the bug, and you'll be back!
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bguzaldo
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Post by bguzaldo on May 5, 2009 8:54:43 GMT -5
Glad it worked out for you, and your friend. This raises the question of what, exactly, you have built for your friend. I'm imagining an EVH-style strat, but with a mini-HB instead of the usual overwound shredder pickup? I can't help much around here, but if we're talking one pickup and a Vol. pot, you're in my vicinity . . . But it's really wolf you should thank. A picture is worth a thousand, and he had the picture. Hahah the guitar was infact gutted of everything but the volume pot and the Mini-HB. Anyway, we know you now have the bug, and you'll be back! I think it's safe to say
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