WHAT KIND OF SOLDER

[fatsobasso]

What kind of solder and flux should i use for my bass pickup wiring?

[pkr2]

Originally Posted by fatsobasso

What kind of solder and flux should i use for my bass pickup wiring?

Rosin core. Kester is a good brand, and if you use rosin core, you don't need any additional flux.

Avoid acid core like the plague because it reacts with the copper wire and causes corrosion.

[RWP]

Originally Posted by fatsobasso

What kind of solder and flux should i use for my bass pickup wiring?

It would be a good idea to check the web and practice soldering on something other than your bass if you have never done it before.

[fatsobasso]

thanks, i'm searching for some info on solder irons and such,can someone recommend some irons?

[masprague]

The best is Weller. period.

[Asa Samuel]

i'd say a seperate flux/solder is best, the key to soldering is more a hot soldering iron, when i first started electronics i started out with a crappy 15 watt soldering iron then found the wonders of what a 300-watt soldering iron can do, just be careful

[Trevorus]

higher wattage is good. 30 is usually enough. Let it get plenty hot. That way you spend less time heating the piece, and get it soldered faster.

[Asa Samuel]

yes 30 is ENOUGH but its the difference like playing a 30-watt practise amp to playing a 500 watt amp in your bedroom

not neccesary but one hell of alot more fun :P

[stingray69]

I don't know your personal experience with soldering, please disregard if you've had prior experience...perhaps someone reading this thread could benefit more....

Here's a very quick how-to video: http://www.popularmechanics.com/blog...s/4213013.html

This video deals mostly with soldering one wire to another wire, which in my experience, is not typically the case when installing pickups and preamps inside a bass or guitar. In my experience, you are typically soldering pickups wires, etc., to lugs or the backs of volume & tone pots. But, there is good advice nonetheless in the video. The biggest point to follow is that you do not want to heat the solder and blob it onto what you want soldered...if you want to solder a wire to the back of a volume or tone potentiometer for example, you will want to lay the wire against the back of the pot and heat up both the wire and the back of the pot simultaneously by laying the tip of the soldering iron on top of where the wire meets the back of the pot. After a few moments (this depends on how hot/powerful your soldering iron is), the wire and back of the pot will be very hot - touch the solder wire to them and the solder will melt nicely and connect the wire to the heated up area of the pot. Hold them in place a second or two until the solder cools down just enough to hold things in place on its own.

Warning: Extreme heat involved, it is also best to have a second pair of hands around to assist you. Also, the heat will travel a lot further up the wire than you might think, so whoever is holding the wire in place (you or someone else), should be careful.

[Rattman]

Originally Posted by masprague

The best is Weller. period.

Definately if you can, get a Weller Solder Station with the variable temp, and also a solder sucker All we used in the military was Weller products for all our bench and comm area support. Great stuff, you won't regret buying quality!

Silver solder (2 - 3%) is excellent in working with fine electronics. Plus the finished product looks nice too.

[pkr2]

Originally Posted by Bass_Junkie

i'd say a seperate flux/solder is best, the key to soldering is more a hot soldering iron, when i first started electronics i started out with a crappy 15 watt soldering iron then found the wonders of what a 300-watt soldering iron can do, just be careful

I've worked in a lot of shops and am a certified electronics tech, and I can assure you that you wont find a pro anywhere that uses a 300 watt soldering iron for general bench work.

In fact, I would say with considerable certainty that a Weller 25 or 30 watt pencil iron is the industry standard.

Lots of techs keep a dual range higher wattage soldering gun handy for soldering to the back of pots and other heavier soldering applications.

A 300 watt iron would be disastrous on a printed circuit board.

I have never seen a professional (or amateur, for that matter) use solid core solder and separate flux on the bench.

[elros]

I've spent about 15 years with a Weller 30 watt soldering iron. Works very well.
300 watts? That's for soldering copper pipes. Keep that monster far away from your bass.

Solder: rosin core, here is what I use: Multicore Crystal 400. Great for all-round electronics work. Keep away from the organic-flux solders, unless you want to wash your soldering joints afterwards. And you don't want that.

But what is at least as important is practicing your soldering skillz.... I've seen enough bad soldering jobs, both on instruments and otherwise.

Oh, and here's an illustrated soldering guide I put together a while ago.