Results 1 to 10 of 20

Thread: Need help!

Hybrid View

Previous Post Previous Post   Next Post Next Post
  1. #1
    Member
    Join Date
    Jul 2020
    Location
    Melbourne
    Posts
    54
    Okay - continuity is just checking your bit of wire or component is connected. Put your probes on the ends of a bit of wire - that's continuity. Normally you might measure between solder joins.

    Here's measuring pickup resistance via a guitar lead. Neck pickup selected, can see my meter set to 20k and probes held to centre tip and sleeve of the cable it's showing 7.2kohm which is roughly right. Even with your tones and volumes set to '10' measuring pickup DCr (direct current resistance) isn't ideal this way because switches and controls and cable can throw the result. Normally you wouldn't hold the probes to the contact like I am with my fingers either. Your body is 30% water so it is slightly conductive - why you can electrocute yourself very easily.

    Click image for larger version. 

Name:	reduced_IMG_20200823_174929_18264.jpg 
Views:	656 
Size:	126.7 KB 
ID:	37060

    Whats black and hangs from the ceiling? Careless electrician.

    Just a soldering tip, 'tin' all your component or wire joint points. Melt some solder onto the tip of your iron, then hold it to the each bit you're going to join so they have a bit of solder on them. Then when you hold them together and heat them, touching a dob more solder on helps them melt together. Then hold for a few more seconds - don't blow on the join. You want a nice smooth chromy looking join.

    Click image for larger version. 

Name:	reduced_IMG_20200823_175449_16772.jpg 
Views:	684 
Size:	44.9 KB 
ID:	37061

    This is Marshall factory soldering from 1983, all the joints here are serviceable, but the two bottom ones are not perfect, the lead isn't 100% enveloped. They are all smooth shiny blobs

    Click image for larger version. 

Name:	IMG_20200823_180749.jpg 
Views:	716 
Size:	53.3 KB 
ID:	37062
    Last edited by Dacious; 24-08-2020 at 08:20 AM.

  2. #2
    Thanks for the tips Dacious. I’ve been struggling for years to solder. I just can’t hold the wire and the solder and the iron all at once. It does my damn head in - not to mention burning my fingers all the time. Now my hands shake so much and my sight is terrible I’m getting to the point of giving it up. I have all my components mounted in a stiff piece of cardboard in the required layout for my guitar wiring. But I still have trouble holding everything still for the soldering. Their must be some “third hand” type tool that allows for easy soldering. ???

  3. #3
    Member
    Join Date
    Jul 2020
    Location
    Melbourne
    Posts
    54
    A tip is to use something to hold one part. Those little modellers rigs Jaycar and electronic stores sell with alligator clips at the end of arms. I sit my pots bakwards in the guitar body to solder all the leads in = put a rag around base to avoid solder scorches on your finish! Needle nose pliers or hemostats - which is the little spring loaded aluminium clip thingys to protect sensitive components from heat. Like your fingers.
    Last edited by Dacious; 24-08-2020 at 08:51 AM.

Tags for this Thread

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •