Pickup to Potentiometer w/o Solder?

[selowitch]

Noob question:

Is there any way to join a pickup to a potentiometer (or any other internal guitar wiring) without using a soldering iron (e.g., with push-on connectors or crimps or something like that)?

Basically, the lugs on a typical pot are eyelets, and there out to be a connector you can twist onto a wire that in turn snaps onto the eyelet with just a push. And I'll bet it's almost as good electrically speaking as a solder joint. Or am I a doofus for thinking so?

I realize to do so would be somewhat expensive, but say I had a very lazy client or one who was forbidden from using flammable materials or who was a recovering pyromaniac or something....

-Sam

[grifff]

Alligator clips? I'm no expert though.

[selowitch]

Originally Posted by grifff

Alligator clips? I'm no expert though.

Might not be secure enough. Some sort of pin-and-socket connector I'm thinking..

[line6man]

I've seen solderless systems for wiring guitars.
More trouble than it's worth, IMO.

Honestly, I don't understand what the big deal is with some people about just soldering the connections in place?

[selowitch]

OK, OK -- so granting that it's lame, inefficient, and stupid, can it be done? And if so, how?

[T-Bird]

Hi.

The obvious "why on earth?" aside, yes, it can be done.

Abiko-connectors come in all styles and sizes, including quite a few that can (but shouldn't IMHO ) be used in potentiometer terminals and on certain jacks as well.

Your local automotive shop should carry a selection, and so should the better hardware stores as well.

Regards
Sam

[PCR]

Yes; you can use a small female blade crimp. You will also probably need bigger gauge wire to get a strong crimp but it's possible.

However, if you are looking for convience of being able to plug and un-plug the harness, I suggest using gold bullet connectors. I buy them at hobby shops or fleabay. You do need to solder these on, but they are very secure; and cheap.

You can see the female connectors attached to three wires. The male connectors are soldered to the pickup wires and bridge ground wire.

[tubby.twins]

I've got a few basses which I used for testing various pickups. In these basses I have installed a 5-pin screw terminal block, so I can quickly attach or remove pickups without needing to use the soldering iron.

The screw terminals are made by Tyco Electronics, and the part number is "A98336-ND"

Digikey link: http://search.digikey.com/scripts/Dk...name=A98336-ND

They make larger (and smaller) versions, but usually 5 pins should be enough to grab just about all the conductors of a pickup.

Of course you'll need to solder this to something, but at least it makes it easier to swap pickups!