How do you solder to the bridge?

[JFace]

I've tried in the past and have failed at soldering the ground wire to the bridge. Most basses I've seen just have the wire wedged between the body and the bridge, but I'd like to try and solder them. I've tinned the wire, the tip of the iron, and made the contact points hot, but still no success. Do I need a more powerful iron, or is there something I'm missing?

 

[RBrownBass]

Is there some obvious reason (like grounding issues) that you feel compelled to solder it?

Generally, a well-secured bridge is more than enough to hold the wire in place.

 

[JFace]

Is there some obvious reason (like grounding issues) that you feel compelled to solder it?

I suppose not. I guess I would be afraid of the wire slipping somehow. Maybe that is unlikely to happen, but if I can solder it in a matter of seconds, why not do it.

 

[rollcall]

bad idea the alloy of bridges chrome etc. wont take being soldered to too well if you must file down a portion and on the rough spot it will grab. this is ocd behavior

 

[fuNKmaster83]

not all bridges alow to solder something on them... if i am not sure if the wier will have a good connection i wrap the wier around a screw holding down the bridge and that is mass and then some

 

[Diogenes]

... but if I can solder it in a matter of seconds, why not do it.

Soldering involves getting the metals to be bonded hot enough to allow the solder to melt and mechanically join the metals. Heating an area on the bridge to such a suitable temperature would entail using more than just your average pencil type soldering iron. Personally, I wouldn't bother attempting what isn't necessary.

 

[allexcosta]

this is ocd behavior

+1

 

[JFace]

bad idea the alloy of bridges chrome etc. wont take being soldered to too well if you must file down a portion and on the rough spot it will grab. this is ocd behavior

The back of my Rickenbacker bridge was soldered. Not all bridges are completely chromed. Perhaps everyone is as uninformed as I am, or I would have advice on how Ric is able to do this.

 

[Cutty]

I've tried in the past and have failed at soldering the ground wire to the bridge. Most basses I've seen just have the wire wedged between the body and the bridge, but I'd like to try and solder them. I've tinned the wire, the tip of the iron, and made the contact points hot, but still no success. Do I need a more powerful iron, or is there something I'm missing?

You will need a load of heat to solder to the bridge!!!if your worried about the connection use a small piece of copper foil,solder the earth wire to that,and then put it under the bridge,this will give you a better contact and the wire won't get pushed into the body.

 

[Thangfish]

To solder something as massive as a bridge, you need plenty of heat.
One of those small butane torches should do it.

If it's chrome, some of the plating will have to be ground off.

If it's aluminum, it will be very difficult. You will need special flux and solder.
I wouldn't do it if I were you. The heat required to solder aluminum is close enough to the melting point of the base as to cause distortions in the form. Some alloys of aluminum are damn near impossible to solder.

If it's just bare steel on the back, the only issue will be getting enough heat.

 

[Jim C]

Bottom line:
* Zillions of basses have been built with the wire pressed against the bridge (interference fit) with no solder
* Consider soldering the wire to a thin piece of copper to have more surface area touching the bridge if you want a more secure connection; if you must do something, do this
* Assuming your bridge is steel; the correct way to solder to chrome plated material would be as follows: sand or lightly grind plating from area on bridge; use a very large iron like 400 watts (even a 200 watt Weller soldering gun won't do the job); if you feel particularly anal/retentive, pre-heat the part in an oven to 350 degreed; use good flux and solder; tin the wire and the bridge area (be patient); Once bridge is tinned, it will take a few seconds to solder the wire

 

[LAPetrarca]

I taught soldering for many years.......it's not worth the effort.

You'll have to remove any plating from the bridge where you want to solder to and, if it's a cheap bridge that contains white metal......forget it....you'll NEVER get a good connection. In fact a soldered connection to some of these "dirty" substrates can actually corrode and fail over time.

If you absolutely feel you need to do something, here's what I'd suggest.......

Tin the wire only......be careful not to remove any stranding when stripping the wire. Twist the strands tightly and neatly, then apply heat with a small pencil type iron. Be careful not to melt the insulation. As you're applying heat, gently touch the solder to the wire opposite the soldering iron tip. Almost as soon as it begins to flow, remove the solder and the iron and allow to cool undisturbed for a few seconds.

Then determine the best spot to make a secure, mechanical connection. Secure the wire and you should be all set.

 

[xsubs]

IIRC the ground wire is not soldered to the bridge. It's soldered to the mute plate, which is a much smaller piece of bare steel. Solder will easily adhere to this part.