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Best online resource to learn basic soldering as it relates to pickups/electronics?
- Thread starter DuluthDank
- Start date
Search Guitar Soldering on YouTube. Quite a few good ones. One thing about all of them though. I think they're a little overboard on equipment. I've never used more than a basic $20 soldering iron on the type of things in a guitar.
Then practice. If you can find an old radio or similar at a flea market it could have pots with small terminals, speaker connections, small wires to practice splicing, etc.
Then practice. If you can find an old radio or similar at a flea market it could have pots with small terminals, speaker connections, small wires to practice splicing, etc.
It can be a frustrating experience, but it's like any other skill, you just need to practice.
My biggest issue was soldering grounds to back of a pot. When I finally got a nice looking and proper joint, I believe it was kind of a psychological boost from there on out, and now I don't fear it.
I did spend about 30 bucks and got a soldering station from amazon. I don't know if it was actually that much better than the cheap iron I was using, but things seemed to get better immediately after starting to use it.
My biggest issue was soldering grounds to back of a pot. When I finally got a nice looking and proper joint, I believe it was kind of a psychological boost from there on out, and now I don't fear it.
I did spend about 30 bucks and got a soldering station from amazon. I don't know if it was actually that much better than the cheap iron I was using, but things seemed to get better immediately after starting to use it.
I agree that you don't need a lot of special expensive equipment. I have two cheap solder irons and change the tips when they don't work well any more. That has been the key for me. Roughen up the place you're going to solder on the back of the pot by barely touching it with 600 grit sandpaper first. The money you spend on a soldering iron and some solder will pay for itself many times over throughout the years. Good skill to have.
Youtube and practice. And although I second you dont need to spend a ton of money, dont go for the cheapest soldering iron available. Get a decent one, and some good solder and your life will be a lot easier; along with a sponge, flux and some wire strippers. Practice on cheap or discarded pots you may have.
Spend the money and get the entry level Weller li about 60 from AMZ
If money is not a big issue, I would recommend getting a good 65-70 watt soldering station (Hakko FX888DX is $121; Weller WLSKD7012A for $88). This will give you more control over the heat and the option to change out tips And invest in some quality accessories such as a good holder with brass tip cleaning wire & sponge (comes with soldering station), stable helping hands, a couple good tweezers, good solder, and a jar of flux. It is true that you don't need good equipment, but it will make your life sooo much easier. You'll really notice a difference when desoldering. have been DIY soldering for 60 years and most of it has been with inadequate equipment. It sucked. About ten years ago I invested in some decent equipment (the Hakko station listed above) and my soldering experience improved in all ways. The time and anguish you save will more than make up for the extra cost.
Agree with the others. Learning to solder is useful at very least, vital if you're a regular working player.
I learned in Junior High electric shop in 1970. It's paid for itself many times over since.
TIP: Get a solder sucker and a small roll of desolder wick.
With enough experience under your belt, plus a variable heat station, a magnifier lamp, a thin tip and some thin lead solder, you'll find yourself working on flimsy PCB's before you know it. I just replaced a board-mounted shorted-open reverb pot on my 21-year-old Fender Blues Jr guitar amp. Total repair parts cost: $8.39.
I learned in Junior High electric shop in 1970. It's paid for itself many times over since.
TIP: Get a solder sucker and a small roll of desolder wick.
With enough experience under your belt, plus a variable heat station, a magnifier lamp, a thin tip and some thin lead solder, you'll find yourself working on flimsy PCB's before you know it. I just replaced a board-mounted shorted-open reverb pot on my 21-year-old Fender Blues Jr guitar amp. Total repair parts cost: $8.39.
I was a complete non solderer for yonks, and just used conductive glues. I couldn't tin the soldering tip if you paid me. Then I read about a tip for tinning the soldering tip by twirling it in a wad of steel wool and I never looked back. I don't do much in the way of soldering because I have a straight to output socket fetish. But I def have improved
This series goes into detail about all the different components, very detailed and useful!
Understanding wiring, for me the best resource has been the wiring schematics library on the Seymour Duncan website.
Understanding wiring, for me the best resource has been the wiring schematics library on the Seymour Duncan website.
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Soldering electronics is my least favorite part of guitar building and repair. For that reason I ususlly put it off until I have several chores and am in the right frame of mind to deal with the set up of a soldering station, hot iron and then putting it all away. I miss having space for a soldering station. One of my chores back in the analog studio days was soldering cables and such.
It's the kind of thing that looks daunting from the outside, but I think it's best just to dive in. It's not exactly easy, but it is pretty simple. The tech has also taken some steps forward recently. I'm 98.9% sure this is a paid endorsement, but I think it illustrates the point well:
@bassbrad I think my post above is applicable to your situation as well. That thing doesn't look cheap, but it doesn't take up a lot of space.
The important thing is to tin the parts separately first, assemble the joint, then apply the iron to the joint, pause, and then apply the solder.
I was taught at a production line "soldering school". We had to watch a film (yep genuine 16 mm) before even picking up an iron and sniggered at the narrator saying "sodder" (because Brits think the American pronunciation sounds like "sod her").
Anyway, the tutor - George - had a way of saying "pause" that was exactly the right amount of time to heat the joint enough for the solder to flow nicely. Nearly 50 years later and I still hear him say "pause" and it still works!
I was taught at a production line "soldering school". We had to watch a film (yep genuine 16 mm) before even picking up an iron and sniggered at the narrator saying "sodder" (because Brits think the American pronunciation sounds like "sod her").
Anyway, the tutor - George - had a way of saying "pause" that was exactly the right amount of time to heat the joint enough for the solder to flow nicely. Nearly 50 years later and I still hear him say "pause" and it still works!
If i decide to hang up a bass setup, repair & building shingle again that is certainly on my shopping list.
