Been making guitars for 2 years and still had no idea that solder is attracted to the heat source. I just thought it was generally messy. This will save me a LOT of time and headache. Thank you so much!
I don't know how many people this guy has helped. But I haven't even started to solder or desolder and I already know this guy is a boss, he knows how to do professional work. I was looking to upgrade my pickups and pickguard, and now I know what to do correctly without doing anything bad. I know which tools, rosin solder, flux, strippers, Soldering IRon I need in order to complete this task.. This guys the best!!!
I have never soldered before, which made me apprehensive about working inside my guitar. Your tutorial on the subject is the best I've seen and now I'm confident I can do the job. Thanks for posting.
Sir, that is a GREAT tutorial, and I feel extremely confident in my new ventures into soldering!! Thank you so much for a great, fully detailed, walkthrough of soldering, specifically in guitars! Thank you sooo much!!
Excellent advice and great technique. I built my own '68 plexi clone without ever having touched a soldering iron in my life. Everything you demonstrate is vital to a successful build, no matter what you're connecting. Take your time and do it right, on every connection. Extra attention to detail on every solder connection is FAR better spent time than troubleshooting when you're trying to find the bad connection. One thing I would strongly recommend to anyone doing more than a few occasional connections is an adjustable wattage soldering station. Definitely worth the small extra investment. Heats up quickly and gives you lots of flexibility to get the right temp for the right sized surface. Also when soldering potentiometers, make sure you have them all the way off (counter-clockwise) before heating them up. And I also agree, the copper braid is so much easier and effective than the bulb "solder suckers".
the most strait forward guitar repair/mod vid i've seen. thanks for the great video. you have no idea how over saturated youtube is with crap guitar repair/mod tutorials
Man, about a year or two ago I replaced my volume potentiometer and did a bum job soldiering it because my technique was bad, which in turn made me feel like my guitar sounded lousy. thanks to this video I can now re-soldier my connections with a more educated eye. thanks for the vid.
This is perhaps the best video I've ever seen on RUclips. Damn good job. So thorough, clear, organized, and rich in examples. Leaves nothing wanting. Thanks.
Thanks very much for the kind words. It means a lot to me. Stay tuned for more stuff. I know I've been saying this but I have about 5 more things half done.
Thank you so much for taking the time to explain this! I have a guitar project in which I need to change every single component because it just doesn't sound right even though it should. This is what internet is all about. Experienced people sharing their wisdom to those who seek it!
One thing I would recommend is buying a cheap Weller soldering station like the WLC100. They're less than $40 on amazon and worth every penny. They heat up fast, have adjustable temp, and a holder for the iron anda wet sponge for cleaning the tip.
Best tutorial on proper soldering technique I've seen on RUclips, I solder all my own guitars and I'm not very good at it, this really, really helps. I like a really neat and clean connection and now I know how to do it. The technique of letting the solder flow towards the heat instead of just melting solder on the connections and creating cold solders was really helpful. Thanks a LOT for posting this!
Amazing video, was freaking out about having to re-solder an input jack, practiced on an older guitar and was able to fix everything in the newer one, thanks so much! Great video really clear, concise, and informative.
This is the nicest comment section I've seen on youtube. It's quiet. almost... too quiet Great video, man. I've been looking was to wire up a guitar for a project I'm planning on building. Thanks for showing us how it's done!
You can work on my guitars anytime. Excellent video. I learned more about soldering in the little time I spent watching this then I would have ever imagined possible. Thanks for taking the time to share your knowledge in such a pleasant manner.
I'm about to change pickups and rewire my guitar for the first time, this video has been so informative about a subject I have no knowledge off. Thanks again.
You sir are an awesome teacher. Ive been so afraid of the whole soldering process and you made me see that with simple proper technique it is fairly easy with a little time and patience. Thanks for this vid!
I was hesitant about fixing my RX650 Ibanez. But after watching this great tutorial I can't wait to get it up and running again. Thanks soo much for taking the time to share these techniques with us, much appreciated :)
Good question! If you use the correct wattage soldering iron ( as I showed in the video) you should be able to get the body of the POT hot enough to get the solder to flow properly. There really isn't anything very sensitive inside the POT (electronic components like transistors.) I guess you could melt the insides if you used too much heat (like if you used a propane torch soldering gun). If you're paranoid get some old components and practice on them. Your confidence will develop in no time.
Soldered my first pick up in my guitar today and wouldn't have been able to do it with out this video! ... extremely helpful, best on RUclips ... my guitar looks like it was done by a pro...Thanks!
This has to have been one of the best video's i have watched in a very long time. I'v been soldering various things for a good number of years now, things with my car, stereo's etc, and of course my guitars. And only after watching this, do i realise where i have been going wrong. Thanks for every word of advice in this video. Helped me out so much. Thanks again and keep up the quality work.
You can use just about anything. I use anything between 26 and 22 AWG. But I only use stranded wire. Not solid or what they call "bell wire". The solid wire breaks more easily and tends to fight you when you're trying to get things to stay in place while you're soldering. Most pickups come with stranded connection wires.
I have only used a soldering iron a handful of times. It's always been tricky for me because I've never seen how to do it properly. Thank you very much for this video!
Your best advice, I think, was the last bit... Practice soldering on old pieces of electronics and wiring prior to mucking about in your guitar's expensive innards. Love the video Webmasterman!
Brother I have to tell you this is one of the best instructional video's I've seen on soldering! Excellent tips and very clear instruction, also the tip about the shrink tubing made me slap my head wondering why i never thought about this. Thank you very much!!!
Sir, I thank you so much for taking the time to share you very valuable experience with those of us whop never ever really learned how to solder. I am 58 and have been playing for many years... I always shyed away from solder,ng and recently bought a solder gun and rolled up my sleeves to take a shot at it. Your video was VERY HELPFUL to teach the basics. GOD BLESS YOU thank you sooooo much!
I was just about to commence replacing a pot for the first time when I found your video. You saved me from making a big mess of it! You're my tech guru now!
Judging by some of these comments, I think not only have they been handling too much lead, I think they've been eating old paint chips containing lead. They're just trying to impress someone with their "knowledge" but they're just showing their lack of it. Some people read something somewhere and get it all twisted and suddenly they're an expert. Great video by the way.
I wish I had seen this video before attempting to rewire my guitar last night. What a mess. Oh well, now thanks to you I fully understand what I did wrong. It's just a matter of understanding soldering technique. Thanks for this video!
You can certainly add a little wire to the existing wire by soldering it. If the wire is currently soldered to a POT it's easier than de-soldering and replacing it there. Then use the shrink wrap tubing over your connection to make sure it's insulated. And yes, I always try to remove old piled-up solder whenever I'm making a change or repair. Good luck!
I used to be one of those luthiers like the one who soldered the pot from the strat you showed as a bad example... not anymore now that I've watched this great video! Thank you!!!
thanks so much i have been upgrading and moding my guitar for years but i was self taught when it came to soldering and boy was i bad now i understand a little more why my work did not give me the results i had expected your lesson on how to solder has been highly informative i was doing everything wrong it seems thank you so much for sharing your knowledge with the rest of us i really respect the people who take the time to share their knowledge and ask for nothing in return to me that is a real musician thanks again. Tom
webmasterman it only takes a minute to thank someone for sharing their knowledge with you and that all it takes to inspire them to share more and it should be give and take if you learned from someone then give back by sharing something you know great talking to you brother keep on jammin. Tom
This is really great. I'm getting a 80s Kramer Pacer (with no electronics) for graduation in a couple of weeks and this will really help out with the wiring of of that. I'm also going to shield another guitar I have.
Thank you. I know next to nothing about soldering, but I've soldered a couple of things in the past and did not know that the material that should bonded with should be properly heated. I figured it made sense, but didn't think it was a big deal as long as the solder "stuck" pretty well. And, that the solder shouldn't be directly applied to the gun. I really appreciate the detailed info.
Thank you! One of the best demonstrations AND explanations on soldering on the Net. Hopefully I can now put the info to good use. Might not make me a better guitar player... but it will certainly help with my other "Retirement" projects.
thank you so much for this video! am a rookie when it comes to soldering and did a guitar project Today, my first, and having seen your video, I now realize I made all the mistakes you point out in your video.... learning as I go, I can now try it again the right way. tnx!!
Wow, I tried to read several different instructions on how to properly solder and couldn't understand anything. As soon as I watched your video, I was struck with sudden clarity. Thank you!
Awesome, those are CLEAN solder joints, rarely do people, even pros, do nice jobs like this. I would love to send you a guitar body to pickup load. Thanks
This video is PERFECT! I'm in the final stages of building an RAS Les Paul kit, and the soldering work on the pots is really shabby; some wires have broken off already. I'll practice for a little bit, then try the real deal. And you're right: literally EVERYTHING you show was within 10 ft. of each other at Radio Shack. Cheers!
I am re furbishing my very first bass guitar, It was incredibly cheap and its broken down now but it did have a surprisingly punchy tone. I pulled all the electronics out as well, planning to put some brand new fender pickups in it. Just bought my soldering iron kit. This video showed me all I needed to know! cheers!
Great video sir. I knew most of this stuff but enjoyed watching. I really like your idea about putting heat shrink tubing over the holes on the pot. Im going to try that.
About to tackle a Jackson RRV with dual humbuckers. Will be taking the original humbuckers out and replacing them with a Railhammer Anvil for the bridge and a Railhammer Chisel for the neck. 500k tone and volume pots and a better 3 way switch. I have used solder before, but that was for two license plate lamps on a pickup. Thanks to this video, I feel more comfortable using a soldering iron as well as taking on this project.
Great video. Thanks for taking the time to post. I had made some mistakes soldering a sound hole pickup to an end pin jack. I was doing it all wrong it seems. Followed your technique and the pickup is nice and clear with no buzz. I think my earth wasn't good enough 1st time around. This is why I love RUclips! Thanks.
I was going to take my guitar into a store for pickup replacement but having watched this and picked up the relevent schematic Im going to kit myself out and fit my new bare knuckles into my old Ibanez. Hopefully I can do a decent job and end up with some soldering tools for the sort of price I would have paid for someone else to do a job, cheers nice instruction vid.
Hum can originate from many sources. It can be from a cheap effects pedalbaord power supply, a bad ground in the guitar, or perhaps from single coil pickups like the standard ones used in strats (not "noiseless" pickups). It can also come from flourescent lights in proximity to your equipment. I suggest checking the ground in the guitar from the bridge to the pots and make sure there are no cold solder connections. Try removing components (pedals, etc.) til you find the source. Good luck.
Thanks, man. Just started working with a project bass, and these tips were dandy. I love the utube, and the knowledge it brings. Kudos Majoris, and may all yer solder run to the heat. :) That tip is the best thing about this vid! No doubt, yer step by steps made a impact on me, but describing soldering in that way nailed it. and I, as a newbie, highly recomend a craft vice. 100% difference in doing what you do. Hey, thanks. Rock on!
Of course. The real reason I use the shrink wrap tubing is that over time it doesn't come off. Electrical tape and those sorts of products when stretched around the connection eventually shrink back and leave a sticky mess. Especially if your guitar is left in the car where it gets hot inside the case, etc. The tape gets soft. But you can use tape for sure.
sooo helpful! i wasn't able to solder the potentiometers and was wondering how it was done, thank you for making me feel stupid for showing how easy it is haha i never thought of heating up the bottom of the potentiometers first. thanks a ton!
wow, definitely the best video I've seen on teaching how to professionally solder when working on guitars. Yes, there are other quality videos but this is presented in a way that instills confidence and knowledge. Thank you very much.
Steve, your video is very helpful and instructive! Thanks for your efforts to teach the proper soldering techniques. This is the best soldering info I have ever seen and I am now confident that any soldering I do will be so much more effective and properly done! Great job, thank you for sharing your knowledge! ........Pete
Fantastic! The attention to detail was extremely appreciated. I can tell that you're "one of those guys" that takes immense pride in the work that you do - and that's a rarity these days it seems. If a job is worth doing, it's worth doing well. That's a work ethic you've illustrated in the soldering lesson while simultaneously applying it in the creation of this video. Subbed!
Great video! Answered the biggest question I have always had issue with; I was always concerned about burning the components inside the pots, and would not allow them to get hot, making it difficult to wire the grounds to the pot. You held the soldering iron directly to the pot! So I guess that was never a concern for me all this time. Thanks for clearing that up for me!!! I plan to go back and clean up all my guitars that I have worked on, and remove any excess solder, and get the silver solder you were mentioning. I have lead solder, and it's time to change!!! Thanks for the great tips!!!
Randy Frost I hope I didn't make you think you can't use 60/40 lead solder. You can. Even the silver solder has lead in it. I just prefer the silver solder in a very fine gauge. Thanks for the comment.
Not at all! I still have my lead solder, but I like the idea of the silver solder, and just bought some today. My local RadioShack didn't have the Wick though. I'll have to order that online. Awesome tips, I greatly appreciate the video. I went back today and removed all the wiring I had started yesterday, and plan to do it all the right way! I have Tele that I plan to clean up as well. I didn't do the wiring on that one, but whoever did, obviously didn't do their research. I also bought one of those little table top clamp tools you have with the magnifier. That clamp in handy already! Thanks again!
If on near the Myrtle Beach area and have work needed you can't or don't feel comfortable doing I highly recommend Jeff Mosby. He is around 50 an extremely laid back but professional. He is actually Paul Reed Smiths go to guy for custom inlays! He has done fret jobs for me and if not busy (rare) installed entire JEM Pickup/5 way systems! Which if anyone knows of a youtube video showing this please let me know. And sustainiac w\bridge bucker install is what I REALLY NEED! The more detailed the better! Across the street from Mosby is Matt Garcia. He makes custom handwired amps and was approach by PRS as well to head up his amp dept. But Matt is happy where he is but for a tidy sum will make an amp of your choice! And they are georgeous!
Thank you SO much! This helped a lot! I bought my guitar used, cheap, but clearly something was up with the wiring. The guy pulled the old switcharoo on me, but that was obvious, even though he played dumb. My new pickups are coming in the mail shortly, and I'm prepared to see cold solder joints all over the place. I'll probably spend more time with the de-soldering braid than soldering new joints. Excellent video. Subbed.
I like to clean all the old bad stuff off and re-solder with clean, un-corroded solder. It ensures the connection will be good, you have to heat the POT to re-solder it using the old solder anyway, and best of all you'll feel better about the job you did. And, finally, I know you're able to do it.
Very informative video. After watching this, I thought "Eh, I guess I'll look at my guitar and see what's goin on in there." And, sure enough, the soldering is less than exceptional. I'll be picking up supplies tomorrow to try my hand at this. Thanks!
It can help with the soldering process if the wire is "tinned". But in cases where you may be working in confined spaces it can actually make it more difficult to wrap the wire around what you're going to solder it to because of the added stiffness.
Thanks for the excellent vid…. your a great teacher and not everyone, no matter how well intentioned, is. I always worry that the heat needed to ground a wire to the back of the pot will damage the pot somehow. Thanks again….
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Been making guitars for 2 years and still had no idea that solder is attracted to the heat source. I just thought it was generally messy. This will save me a LOT of time and headache. Thank you so much!
I don't know how many people this guy has helped. But I haven't even started to solder or desolder and I already know this guy is a boss, he knows how to do professional work. I was looking to upgrade my pickups and pickguard, and now I know what to do correctly without doing anything bad. I know which tools, rosin solder, flux, strippers, Soldering IRon I need in order to complete this task.. This guys the best!!!
I have never soldered before, which made me apprehensive about working inside my guitar. Your tutorial on the subject is the best I've seen and now I'm confident I can do the job. Thanks for posting.
Sir, that is a GREAT tutorial, and I feel extremely confident in my new ventures into soldering!! Thank you so much for a great, fully detailed, walkthrough of soldering, specifically in guitars! Thank you sooo much!!
My pleasure.
Excellent advice and great technique. I built my own '68 plexi clone without ever having touched a soldering iron in my life. Everything you demonstrate is vital to a successful build, no matter what you're connecting. Take your time and do it right, on every connection. Extra attention to detail on every solder connection is FAR better spent time than troubleshooting when you're trying to find the bad connection. One thing I would strongly recommend to anyone doing more than a few occasional connections is an adjustable wattage soldering station. Definitely worth the small extra investment. Heats up quickly and gives you lots of flexibility to get the right temp for the right sized surface. Also when soldering potentiometers, make sure you have them all the way off (counter-clockwise) before heating them up. And I also agree, the copper braid is so much easier and effective than the bulb "solder suckers".
the most strait forward guitar repair/mod vid i've seen. thanks for the great video. you have no idea how over saturated youtube is with crap guitar repair/mod tutorials
Man, about a year or two ago I replaced my volume potentiometer and did a bum job soldiering it because my technique was bad, which in turn made me feel like my guitar sounded lousy. thanks to this video I can now re-soldier my connections with a more educated eye. thanks for the vid.
This is perhaps the best video I've ever seen on RUclips. Damn good job. So thorough, clear, organized, and rich in examples. Leaves nothing wanting. Thanks.
Thanks very much for the kind words. It means a lot to me. Stay tuned for more stuff. I know I've been saying this but I have about 5 more things half done.
Thank you so much for taking the time to explain this! I have a guitar project in which I need to change every single component because it just doesn't sound right even though it should.
This is what internet is all about. Experienced people sharing their wisdom to those who seek it!
This video changed my life
Sahdurr.
Thank you for this free and enlightening soldering lesson, sir. This great deed will be rewarded someday.
One thing I would recommend is buying a cheap Weller soldering station like the WLC100. They're less than $40 on amazon and worth every penny. They heat up fast, have adjustable temp, and a holder for the iron anda wet sponge for cleaning the tip.
Best tutorial on proper soldering technique I've seen on RUclips, I solder all my own guitars and I'm not very good at it, this really, really helps. I like a really neat and clean connection and now I know how to do it. The technique of letting the solder flow towards the heat instead of just melting solder on the connections and creating cold solders was really helpful. Thanks a LOT for posting this!
That running towards the heat thing is pretty cool, isn't it?
The best instructional video on soldering. I finally found the secret of professional soldering. Thanks a millions. God bless.
Just wanted to let you know it's appreciated how you actually respond to all the questions everyone asks!
Amazing video, was freaking out about having to re-solder an input jack, practiced on an older guitar and was able to fix everything in the newer one, thanks so much! Great video really clear, concise, and informative.
This is the nicest comment section I've seen on youtube. It's quiet. almost... too quiet
Great video, man. I've been looking was to wire up a guitar for a project I'm planning on building. Thanks for showing us how it's done!
+Ze'ev Yehuda Yes. Also interesting is that even the guy named "FUCK YOU" was very polite and pleasant. It's a crazy world.
Baruch HaShem! 🖖🏼🖖🏼
You can work on my guitars anytime. Excellent video. I learned more about soldering in the little time I spent watching this then I would have ever imagined possible. Thanks for taking the time to share your knowledge in such a pleasant manner.
I'm about to change pickups and rewire my guitar for the first time, this video has been so informative about a subject I have no knowledge off. Thanks again.
You sir are an awesome teacher. Ive been so afraid of the whole soldering process and you made me see that with simple proper technique it is fairly easy with a little time and patience. Thanks for this vid!
Nothing to be afraid of, right? By the way, you can also use these same concepts for other hobbies such as stained glass.
I was hesitant about fixing my RX650 Ibanez. But after watching this great tutorial I can't wait to get it up and running again. Thanks soo much for taking the time to share these techniques with us, much appreciated :)
Good question! If you use the correct wattage soldering iron ( as I showed in the video) you should be able to get the body of the POT hot enough to get the solder to flow properly. There really isn't anything very sensitive inside the POT (electronic components like transistors.) I guess you could melt the insides if you used too much heat (like if you used a propane torch soldering gun). If you're paranoid get some old components and practice on them. Your confidence will develop in no time.
Soldered my first pick up in my guitar today and wouldn't have been able to do it with out this video! ... extremely helpful, best on RUclips ... my guitar looks like it was done by a pro...Thanks!
This has to have been one of the best video's i have watched in a very long time. I'v been soldering various things for a good number of years now, things with my car, stereo's etc, and of course my guitars. And only after watching this, do i realise where i have been going wrong. Thanks for every word of advice in this video. Helped me out so much. Thanks again and keep up the quality work.
You can use just about anything. I use anything between 26 and 22 AWG. But I only use stranded wire. Not solid or what they call "bell wire". The solid wire breaks more easily and tends to fight you when you're trying to get things to stay in place while you're soldering. Most pickups come with stranded connection wires.
I have only used a soldering iron a handful of times. It's always been tricky for me because I've never seen how to do it properly. Thank you very much for this video!
Your best advice, I think, was the last bit... Practice soldering on old pieces of electronics and wiring prior to mucking about in your guitar's expensive innards. Love the video Webmasterman!
Brother I have to tell you this is one of the best instructional video's I've seen on soldering! Excellent tips and very clear instruction, also the tip about the shrink tubing made me slap my head wondering why i never thought about this. Thank you very much!!!
Thanks. Don't hurt yourself slappin' your head like that!
You've done everyone a great service making this video.
Man, this is great info for the lot of us who never learned properly. Many thanks!
Sir, I thank you so much for taking the time to share you very valuable experience with those of us whop never ever really learned how to solder. I am 58 and have been playing for many years... I always shyed away from solder,ng and recently bought a solder gun and rolled up my sleeves to take a shot at it. Your video was VERY HELPFUL to teach the basics. GOD BLESS YOU thank you sooooo much!
Being a professional guitar player myself I have to congratulate you for this video. Clear, simple and very educational. 10 points.
Cesar
Thanks.
I was just about to commence replacing a pot for the first time when I found your video. You saved me from making a big mess of it! You're my tech guru now!
I hope everyone has a very safe and Merry Christmas!, and a Happy New Year!
+webmasterman Does the de-soldering braid also use magnetism in any way to pull the solder off? Or is it just copper so it won't melt?
+Nick Heebsh The de-soldering braid is copper and is not magnetic. It's copper because solder adheres to it so well.
Judging by some of these comments, I think not only have they been handling too much lead, I think they've been eating old paint chips containing lead. They're just trying to impress someone with their "knowledge" but they're just showing their lack of it. Some people read something somewhere and get it all twisted and suddenly they're an expert. Great video by the way.
Thank you. Brilliantly clear. I now see why my own soldering has been so hit and miss.
This was SUCH a great video! Thank you for posting! I have been shooting in the dark on all my "repairs". I wish I would have watched this years ago!
I wish I had seen this video before attempting to rewire my guitar last night. What a mess. Oh well, now thanks to you I fully understand what I did wrong. It's just a matter of understanding soldering technique. Thanks for this video!
Great video and very informative. Thank you for taking the time to explain your technique to those of us who might otherwise screw things up!
You can certainly add a little wire to the existing wire by soldering it. If the wire is currently soldered to a POT it's easier than de-soldering and replacing it there. Then use the shrink wrap tubing over your connection to make sure it's insulated. And yes, I always try to remove old piled-up solder whenever I'm making a change or repair. Good luck!
I used to be one of those luthiers like the one who soldered the pot from the strat you showed as a bad example... not anymore now that I've watched this great video! Thank you!!!
Wow, this is by far the best "DIY" video about soldering guitar electronics, thank you so much!
thanks so much i have been upgrading and moding my guitar for years but i was self taught when it came to soldering and boy was i bad now i understand a little more why my work did not give me the results i had expected your lesson on how to solder has been highly informative i was doing everything wrong it seems thank you so much for sharing your knowledge with the rest of us i really respect the people who take the time to share their knowledge and ask for nothing in return to me that is a real musician thanks again.
Tom
Tom, Your comments mean a lot to me, and you're welcome.
webmasterman
it only takes a minute to thank someone for sharing their knowledge with you and that all it takes to inspire them to share more and it should be give and take if you learned from someone then give back by sharing something you know great talking to you brother keep on jammin.
Tom
The explanations and close-ups on your video are fantastic. Thank you!
This is really great. I'm getting a 80s Kramer Pacer (with no electronics) for graduation in a couple of weeks and this will really help out with the wiring of of that. I'm also going to shield another guitar I have.
Thank you. I know next to nothing about soldering, but I've soldered a couple of things in the past and did not know that the material that should bonded with should be properly heated. I figured it made sense, but didn't think it was a big deal as long as the solder "stuck" pretty well. And, that the solder shouldn't be directly applied to the gun. I really appreciate the detailed info.
Thank you for this. Your video clarified a lot of things I misunderstood for a long time about proper soldering.
Outstanding tutorial! I wish I would have seen this before I butchered my previous soldering attempts. Thanks very much!
Hands down the best tutorial on RUclips. Thank you so much.
Definitely helpful. After trying to solder a control plate together with no luck, I watched this. I was doing everything you said NOT to do lol.
Thank you! One of the best demonstrations AND explanations on soldering on the Net. Hopefully I can now put the info to good use. Might not make me a better guitar player... but it will certainly help with my other "Retirement" projects.
thank you so much for this video! am a rookie when it comes to soldering and did a guitar project Today, my first, and having seen your video, I now realize I made all the mistakes you point out in your video.... learning as I go, I can now try it again the right way. tnx!!
Thanks for the video. I have done solder 'repairs' to my guitars in the past, and I now know I've been doing them wrong.
Well...I think I've being doing ALL of the "don't" you showed here!
Thanks for explaining the proper technique so clearly. Very helpful!
Wow, I tried to read several different instructions on how to properly solder and couldn't understand anything. As soon as I watched your video, I was struck with sudden clarity. Thank you!
Awesome, those are CLEAN solder joints, rarely do people, even pros, do nice jobs like this. I would love to send you a guitar body to pickup load. Thanks
This video is PERFECT! I'm in the final stages of building an RAS Les Paul kit, and the soldering work on the pots is really shabby; some wires have broken off already. I'll practice for a little bit, then try the real deal. And you're right: literally EVERYTHING you show was within 10 ft. of each other at Radio Shack. Cheers!
Best soldering video I have seen! Many thanks for showing how it should be done!!
I am re furbishing my very first bass guitar, It was incredibly cheap and its broken down now but it did have a surprisingly punchy tone. I pulled all the electronics out as well, planning to put some brand new fender pickups in it. Just bought my soldering iron kit. This video showed me all I needed to know! cheers!
Great video sir. I knew most of this stuff but enjoyed watching. I really like your idea about putting heat shrink tubing over the holes on the pot. Im going to try that.
simply the best video about soldering in general not just guitar.
This is the best soldering video I've ever seen.. So correct.. So useful.. Thanks so much!!!
Glad you liked the video. The shrink wrap doesn't actually "stick", just shrinks. It easily removes with a razor blade, etc.
About to tackle a Jackson RRV with dual humbuckers. Will be taking the original humbuckers out and replacing them with a Railhammer Anvil for the bridge and a Railhammer Chisel for the neck. 500k tone and volume pots and a better 3 way switch. I have used solder before, but that was for two license plate lamps on a pickup. Thanks to this video, I feel more comfortable using a soldering iron as well as taking on this project.
Thank you for this video sir this is the most simple and easy to understand pickup solder lesson I have ever watched. Thank you.
Great video. Thanks for taking the time to post. I had made some mistakes soldering a sound hole pickup to an end pin jack. I was doing it all wrong it seems. Followed your technique and the pickup is nice and clear with no buzz. I think my earth wasn't good enough 1st time around.
This is why I love RUclips! Thanks.
Glad to be of help. Now you have a lifelong skill.
I was going to take my guitar into a store for pickup replacement but having watched this and picked up the relevent schematic Im going to kit myself out and fit my new bare knuckles into my old Ibanez. Hopefully I can do a decent job and end up with some soldering tools for the sort of price I would have paid for someone else to do a job, cheers nice instruction vid.
Hum can originate from many sources. It can be from a cheap effects pedalbaord power supply, a bad ground in the guitar, or perhaps from single coil pickups like the standard ones used in strats (not "noiseless" pickups). It can also come from flourescent lights in proximity to your equipment. I suggest checking the ground in the guitar from the bridge to the pots and make sure there are no cold solder connections. Try removing components (pedals, etc.) til you find the source. Good luck.
Thanks, man. Just started working with a project bass, and these tips were dandy. I love the utube, and the knowledge it brings. Kudos Majoris, and may all yer solder run to the heat. :) That tip is the best thing about this vid! No doubt, yer step by steps made a impact on me, but describing soldering in that way nailed it. and I, as a newbie, highly recomend a craft vice. 100% difference in doing what you do. Hey, thanks. Rock on!
Of course. The real reason I use the shrink wrap tubing is that over time it doesn't come off. Electrical tape and those sorts of products when stretched around the connection eventually shrink back and leave a sticky mess. Especially if your guitar is left in the car where it gets hot inside the case, etc. The tape gets soft. But you can use tape for sure.
Thanks, I feel confident I can solder new volume/tone pots myself now. I managed to ruin them myself, so I should also be able to fix it.
sooo helpful! i wasn't able to solder the potentiometers and was wondering how it was done, thank you for making me feel stupid for showing how easy it is haha i never thought of heating up the bottom of the potentiometers first. thanks a ton!
I just realised that I have been soldering wires wrongly all my life! Thank you!
Hey, just wanted to say thanks for all the time and effort you put into this video; you have no idea how much it has helped me!!!!!
Excellent tutorial! I've been "soldering" for many years but still learned a great deal from your instruction. Thanks
Best soldering tutorial I've seen. Thanks a lot for this!
Glad you liked it.
Bravo! This is a great primer for how to make an instructional video....let alone how to solder.
Excellent. Thanks very much. I need to redo some solder connections!
Well thought out step by step instructions to a prefect professional soldering job. Many thanks for this very informative video.
That's what I call a master in the art. Thanks sir!
wow, definitely the best video I've seen on teaching how to professionally solder when working on guitars. Yes, there are other quality videos but this is presented in a way that instills confidence and knowledge. Thank you very much.
Best how-to video I've seen! ....Solderday night's all right for fighting, get a little action in....
This video is great, this is how a video tutorial should be. Period. Thanks!
Steve, your video is very helpful and instructive! Thanks for your efforts to teach the proper soldering techniques. This is the best soldering info I have ever seen and I am now confident that any soldering I do will be so much more effective and properly done! Great job, thank you for sharing your knowledge! ........Pete
Fantastic! The attention to detail was extremely appreciated. I can tell that you're "one of those guys" that takes immense pride in the work that you do - and that's a rarity these days it seems. If a job is worth doing, it's worth doing well. That's a work ethic you've illustrated in the soldering lesson while simultaneously applying it in the creation of this video. Subbed!
Thanks. My Dad's influence (R.I.P.)
Great video! Answered the biggest question I have always had issue with; I was always concerned about burning the components inside the pots, and would not allow them to get hot, making it difficult to wire the grounds to the pot. You held the soldering iron directly to the pot! So I guess that was never a concern for me all this time. Thanks for clearing that up for me!!! I plan to go back and clean up all my guitars that I have worked on, and remove any excess solder, and get the silver solder you were mentioning. I have lead solder, and it's time to change!!!
Thanks for the great tips!!!
Randy Frost I hope I didn't make you think you can't use 60/40 lead solder. You can. Even the silver solder has lead in it. I just prefer the silver solder in a very fine gauge. Thanks for the comment.
Not at all! I still have my lead solder, but I like the idea of the silver solder, and just bought some today. My local RadioShack didn't have the Wick though. I'll have to order that online. Awesome tips, I greatly appreciate the video. I went back today and removed all the wiring I had started yesterday, and plan to do it all the right way! I have Tele that I plan to clean up as well. I didn't do the wiring on that one, but whoever did, obviously didn't do their research. I also bought one of those little table top clamp tools you have with the magnifier. That clamp in handy already! Thanks again!
Big thanks for such a thorough, precisely detailed, informative and entertaining video.
Very informative. I was out searching for instruction and inspiration and you delivered. Thanks for your time and effort in this presentation.
If on near the Myrtle Beach area and have work needed you can't or don't feel comfortable doing I highly recommend Jeff Mosby. He is around 50 an extremely laid back but professional. He is actually Paul Reed Smiths go to guy for custom inlays! He has done fret jobs for me and if not busy (rare) installed entire JEM Pickup/5 way systems! Which if anyone knows of a youtube video showing this please let me know. And sustainiac w\bridge bucker install is what I REALLY NEED! The more detailed the better! Across the street from Mosby is Matt Garcia. He makes custom handwired amps and was approach by PRS as well to head up his amp dept. But Matt is happy where he is but for a tidy sum will make an amp of your choice! And they are georgeous!
Thank you SO much! This helped a lot! I bought my guitar used, cheap, but clearly something was up with the wiring. The guy pulled the old switcharoo on me, but that was obvious, even though he played dumb. My new pickups are coming in the mail shortly, and I'm prepared to see cold solder joints all over the place. I'll probably spend more time with the de-soldering braid than soldering new joints. Excellent video. Subbed.
I like to clean all the old bad stuff off and re-solder with clean, un-corroded solder. It ensures the connection will be good, you have to heat the POT to re-solder it using the old solder anyway, and best of all you'll feel better about the job you did. And, finally, I know you're able to do it.
Thanks for the kind words. Glad you liked it.
Thank you. This was a very instructive and educational video. It was beautifully produced. Time well spent.
that is the best explanation tutorial i have seen on the subject
Extremely helpful video! Very clear instructions. Bought my first soldering kit today and I'm gonna try and practice your techniques out tomorrow.
Very informative video. After watching this, I thought "Eh, I guess I'll look at my guitar and see what's goin on in there." And, sure enough, the soldering is less than exceptional. I'll be picking up supplies tomorrow to try my hand at this. Thanks!
It can help with the soldering process if the wire is "tinned". But in cases where you may be working in confined spaces it can actually make it more difficult to wrap the wire around what you're going to solder it to because of the added stiffness.
Thanks for your expertise this has given me the confidence to do a bit more than just the odd pickup.
Thanks for the excellent vid…. your a great teacher and not everyone, no matter how well intentioned, is. I always worry that the heat needed to ground a wire to the back of the pot will damage the pot somehow. Thanks again….