Soldering help

[TeleTwang]

Okay so I have a set of Tex Mex pickups I want to install into my Telecaster as well as a new pre-wired control plate.

My situation is as follows:
The Tex Mex bridge pickup has a super short ground wire. I plan on putting copper shielding tape in all the cavities so would I be able to solder the ground wire right to the copper tape? Or, can I just ground it right to the bridge plate (like lay the wire onto the body and let the bridge plate touch it)?
The other part includes grounding the control plate to the control plate cavity via grounding lug. The control plate I have has the ground wire attached to it already that has a ground lug which they want you to screw into the body. If the cavity is shielded with copper tape, then I would just have to screw the wire into the body and have it touch the copper tape.
Another alternative is just splicing a longer wire onto the ground wire coming from the bridge pickup and then soldering it to the volume pot along with the neck pickup and then screwing the ground lug from the control plate into the body.

Help?

 

[DrewJD82]

In these situations, you’re FAR better off doing it ‘the right’ way than splicing wires or duct tape and bubble gumming it together. If only for the reason that the amount of frustration and troubleshooting that can occur from those specific wires not making a proper connection can drive you up a wall. That said, if you get it all together and it’s buzzing like crazy or you’re getting shorts, it’s fairly likely you’ll know where the issue is.

Really though, I’d just install a new ground wire and ensure all your connections are properly soldered. The amount of hassle it CAN cause by not doing it ‘right’ isn’t worth any cost cutting or time saving methods.

 

[SillyOctpuss]

Definitely don't solder to the copper shielding tape. I added copper tape to a strat once and checked that everywhere had continuity when I was done. A few years later I was changing pickups and noticed the copper tape had oxidised, I checked the continuity again and none of it was connected anymore at all.

If you have a cable that's too short just take another piece of wire, twist them together horizontally, solder them together and cover with heat shrink. It'll work just fine. Use flux on the wires before soldering together to help the solder flow.

 

[Eagle]

Definitely don't solder to the copper shielding tape. I added copper tape to a strat once and checked that everywhere had continuity when I was done. A few years later I was changing pickups and noticed the copper tape had oxidised, I checked the continuity again and none of it was connected anymore at all.

If you have a cable that's too short just take another piece of wire, twist them together horizontally, solder them together and cover with heat shrink. It'll work just fine. Use flux on the wires before soldering together to help the solder flow.

this and don’t copper tape it, it really does not help.

 

[gearJunkie]

Use flux on the wires before soldering together to help the solder flow.

Best advice ever when soldering.

 

[SillyOctpuss]

Best advice ever when soldering.

I was building pedals for years before I started using flux. It was an absolute revelation when I started using it. Also switching to leaded solder from lead free, soooo much better.

 

[gearJunkie]

I learned about the benefits of flux many years ago when I started modding original XBOX consoles. When used appropriately, it almost seems like it has magical powers, especially when doing SMD work.

 

[SillyOctpuss]

I learned about the benefits of flux many years ago when I started modding original XBOX consoles. When used appropriately, it almost seems like it has magical powers, especially when doing SMD work.

smd still scares me so I haven't tried yet. I've got a bunch of smd jfets and adaptor boards for when my through hole stash finally runs out.

 

[gearJunkie]

smd still scares me so I haven't tried yet. I've got a bunch of smd jfets and adaptor boards for when my through hole stash finally runs out.

A little practice with a steady hand, a great magnifying glass or video microscope, and a ton of gel flux is all that you need to build confidence.

I use a modified electric griddle to heat my board, and I have an Ali Express hot air rework station that help when working with multi-pin SMDs.

 

[SillyOctpuss]

I'll get to smd eventually.