The Wiring Class is designed to give an overview on the common guitar circuit and it’s components. With instruction on proper soldering technique, I lead you through the process of replacing pickups, pots, switches and more.
We will begin with Video Presentation outlining how to properly wire a Fender style guitar cleanly for great sound. Following the DVD showing, we will will fill the room full of solder smoke! Replace your pickups and controls, or install a modified circuit. This is a basic overview on guitar electronics and it is designed for those with little or no soldering experience.
Class Overview:
How the pickups and electronic components function
Basic soldering technique
Using a multimeter
Wiring a Strat
How a volume control works
How a tone control works
Treble bypass cap
Reverse-wind, reverse-polarity
How a Strat circuit works
Wiring and shielding a Tele
Les Paul wiring and more
The Class Invites You to Bring in Your Own Projects
Examples of what you can do in this class include:
Replace/upgrade your pickups
Replace/upgrade your pots, switches, jack
Add custom switching for coil-tapping, series/parallel, in-phase/out-of-phase
Shield your guitar
Add a 5-way Rotary control for 5 different filtered tones
Add 50’s wiring mod to your Gibson
Add a Esquire Mod to your Tele
Tone Cap upgrade (change over to Orange Drop, oil-filled etc)
Add a Treble Bleed Mod
Due to the time allotted, please check with me on projects that fall outside of these guidelines. Please note: I do not supply wiring diagrams.
Approx. 3-4 Hours
What You’ll Need for the Class:
Your Guitar
A towel or mat to lay your guitar on (we will be using tables)
A cloth or rag to protect your guitar while soldering
**Name brand (Weller) 30W-40W pencil style Soldering Iron with a brand new tip
A small cellulose sponge for cleaning your solder iron
Fine electronic grade (22 gauge/ .032″), 60/40 rosin-core solder
Desoldering braid can be helpful
Tweezers and a X-acto Knife are helpful but not mandatory
Wire Strippers, Wire Cutters
Any tools needed to remove any of the components being changed (sockets/wrenches/ screwdrivers)
A “Third-Hand” will make your life easier but is not mandatory
Any parts & supplies you will be using for your project- make sure they fit in your guitar beforehand!
A wiring diagram for your layout (freely available on the internet)
*Note that materials/supplies may be available for purchase in class. Please contact for more information. **No-name soldering irons generally found on Amazon that are inexpensive have been a cause of problems for many students. Do not buy!!
Really interested in such a class/classes. I have both Strats and Gibsons, and regularly swap out pickups through my guitar tech’ – but really want to understand how all these aspects work and come together – and have the knowledge and confidence to do these things myself at home. (I live in Newport, by the way). Obviously we are in Covid times – but subject to that – can you give me details of what classes/tuition you can hive me, likely times – and cost – as and when some degree of normality comes back to enable you to run this? When I have an idea when this could start – I can begin pulling together the gear listed above for the clases!
Simon Morgan (M; 07875935114)
Oh, forgive me – what an idiot! I read this as being “Blackwood Guitars” – roughly 15 miles away here in South Wales, UK!
My apologies – but also massively disappointed!
Simon
Hi Jonny,
Happy New Year. Just curious when the next GUITAR WIRING AND ELECTRONICS CLASS will be available in Vancouver.
Really interested in such a class/classes. I have both Strats and Gibsons, and regularly swap out pickups through my guitar tech’ – but really want to understand how all these aspects work and come together – and have the knowledge and confidence to do these things myself at home. (I live in Newport, by the way). Obviously we are in Covid times – but subject to that – can you give me details of what classes/tuition you can hive me, likely times – and cost – as and when some degree of normality comes back to enable you to run this? When I have an idea when this could start – I can begin pulling together the gear listed above for the clases!
Simon Morgan (M; 07875935114)
Oh, forgive me – what an idiot! I read this as being “Blackwood Guitars” – roughly 15 miles away here in South Wales, UK!
My apologies – but also massively disappointed!
Simon
Hi Jonny,
Happy New Year. Just curious when the next GUITAR WIRING AND ELECTRONICS CLASS will be available in Vancouver.
Best Regards
Anthony