"Blue Heeler" Bondi Blue GR-SF1: Pt1 Aspirations, Procrastinations, and Consequences

[Honkenstein]

"Blue Heeler" Bondi Blue GR-SF1: Pt11 Soldering of the Electronics

Well, soldering finally began today ...

Not happy with my wiring. Supplied wires a bit short for hollow-body and felt I had to improvise, adding wire.

My soldered joints were pretty decent. However, the classic tooth-based wire stripping isn't the best way to go, and I think I weakened some wires. That meant two of them broke off with a little stress.

The contact points on the 3-way switch are small and didn't take to soldering nicely so I jimmied around with some too-large spade bits to make the circuit workable for the test. Next time, I'll be giving the contacts a good "what-for!" with a file to get a better key.

My GR-1SF Gotchas
(1) pots - mine came with 2 log/volume and 2 linear/tone pots where it would've been better to have 3 log/volume and 1 linear/tone pot ... though some folk say all log pots is adequate. I've ordered another log/volume pot from PBG
(2) the "resistor fidelity upgrade" (treble bleed components?) - I didn't realise I needed 1 per pickup ... so I ordered another one of those from PBG
(3) grubby fingers - when applying the stain etc I managed to get smudges on the set neck glueing surfaces ... so use masking tape to keep those parts pristine ... or be prepared to use some acetone to clean it off

Many other things I would've benefitted from knowing/doing beforehand, thus avoiding other "gotchas". However, if you don't read up, then you have the fun of learning a harder way! 8)

I've also purchased some 10 ft of shield braided wire. Yes, I'm re-doing all my circuit work. I want it as good as I can get it without spending too much more on parts excess to what the original kit provided. Already bought some rubber tubing to assist with the pot/jack/switch installation.

I felt disinclined to buy a high quality set of electronics because they'd only benefit from correspondingly high quality PUPs ... and I don't even know if I've done a good job of fret levelling yet. But at the cheaper price point of being a kit, I can part with it more readily, hopefully benefitting an extended family member at the same time.