• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join freeLog in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Why do i have to solder when changing pickups?

you can make Connectors..

On a guitar Im testing some new circuity on, i used PCB Connection blocks
just Solder the Cables to the bass and then Screw in the Pickups what i need to change them

Also did that for the jack to make it easy to take out again
 
Armstrong guitars and basses introduced the system over 30 years ago.
It wasn't very successful.

CIMG8825.jpg


You'd need a system that allows pickup change but also position change. Different pickup styles work better in different positions.
 
Guys read op, changing pickups on studio time you should have your sound long before you pay for studio time. Do you think season players are changing pickups to get the right sound.
 
Armstrong guitars and basses introduced the system over 30 years ago.
It wasn't very successful.

CIMG8825.jpg


You'd need a system that allows pickup change but also position change. Different pickup styles work better in different positions.

But if duncan and dimarzio used the same system it would be very succsessful. Or do you really prefer it like it is today?
 
My Ibanez SRX3EX (and all the SRX basses IIRC) came with a PCB with PC-type connectors that made it a real snap to put all together on the inside. Being someone that solders and has done more than a few pickup installs over the years, I don't see any real problem with moving towards something more standardized to make pickup swaps easier.

Quite honestly, if it were as simple as plugging the new ones into a PCB and screwing them in, I would buy a LOT MORE PICKUPS. I could imagine the wiring capabilities (series/parallel, coil tap, reverse polarity, etc) would be awesome and dependent on which PCB you ordered. Same as a preamp does now, just have a board you can order with the features you want on it (i.e. - a series/parallel switch, V/V/T pot support, and # of pickups you want to use). If someone wants to stay oldschool, that's completely fine with me, but this would be a real leap forward for the tweakers out there who don't want to unsolder pickups just to do a comparison between the two.
 
But if duncan and dimarzio used the same system it would be very succsessful. Or do you really prefer it like it is today?


If the system was successful, you would surely have seen it adapted and implemented by either a pickup manufacturer or bass manufacturer. The fact that it hasn't should be a strong indication of the validity of this particular system.

Do I prefer it like it is today? Hard to say. I prefer reliability, and I prefer having enough of a clue about my sonic objective to not muck around swappping pickups in my bass in the studio when I should have already finished my take.

IMHO
 
whats wrong with learning how to solder? are you serious?

I've tried and tried and tried. 3 different soldering irons, countless rolls of soldering wire, different boards, different electronic parts, looked at some Youtube vids, read how-to articles and it all led to nothing but failure. At this point I'd rather pour gasoline on something and set it on fire before I ever attempted to solder a connection to it again.:D My patience, frustration and anger thresholds run right about zero so I'm not trying to get any more gray hairs than I already have.
 
Imo it should be like lego with magnets. I would like to to have a bunch of pickups and change whenever i wants to..e.g at a studio gig. Whats the point of the screws and the soldering?

John can sell you a set of wired up pots for your bass with a solderless connector. You can then change you pickups to your hearts content without having to solder ever again. This is him at www.basschat.co.uk his username is kiOgon. Invalid Link Removed
 
I agree, soldering, particularly things like guitar wiring, isn't that difficult. You should try soldering surface mount stuff. Then 22 gauge wires will be like sneezing: you do it with your eyes closed and you'll immediately feel better.

However, those WAGO connectors are pretty cool.
 

Latest posts