Solder Free Guitar Wiring

[JustMatt]

I am working on designing and building a range of premium grade, solder free guitar wiring harnesses (Strats then Teles at this stage) using all of the usual suspects of CTS pots, Oak Grisgby / CRL switches, switchcraft jacks etc.

The key difference of-course will be the solder free connectors for ground wires, jack and pickups so you can whip it in and out (as well as changing pickups) without touching a soldering iron.

Thoughts?

[TmcB]

It's a great call, I know that if I could be arsed I'd put some terminals or something in my control cavities

[Eruera]

I think it's a great idea! But make sure you include some pseudoscientific graphs showing that they don't have a different tone to solder joints

[JustMatt]

I think it's a great idea! But make sure you include some pseudoscientific graphs showing that they don't have a different tone to solder joints

Better go find my crayons.

[Danger Mouse]

I think it's a great idea! But make sure you include some pseudoscientific graphs showing that they don't have a different tone to solder joints

Better go find my crayons.

No, no, no, no.... the pseudo-scientific graphs should show the impurities in the lead-based solder decrease tone and "solderless" connections avoid this significant tone suck, resulting in a significant increase in both clarity and output.

[sirvill]

I think it's a great idea! But make sure you include some pseudoscientific graphs showing that they don't have a different tone to solder joints

Better go find my crayons.

No, no, no, no.... the pseudo-scientific graphs should show the impurities in the lead-based solder decrease tone and "solderless" connections avoid this significant tone suck, resulting in a significant increase in both clarity and output.

Imagine if that were true - and you went to solderless and it was so bright it hurt your ears.

[Eruera]

No, no, no, no.... the pseudo-scientific graphs should show the impurities in the lead-based solder decrease tone and "solderless" connections avoid this significant tone suck, resulting in a significant increase in both clarity and output.

Good point. Matt, it's time to change tack a little. Sell your harnesses as a way of eliminating the tone suck arising from the impurities in solder, that happen to be alot easier to work with as well. Oh, and make sure you dip everything in liquid nitrogen at some point.

[sirvill]

If you could gold plate the ends, that'd be fabulous

[JustMatt]

Haha, thanks fellas. Doing my best to avoid the snake oil. Just nice tidy wiring that works without the nasty soldering accidents. I will look into the nitrogen though. That shit looks fun.

[AiRdAd]

Would it be completely solder less, even to the jackplate? What price would it be aiming for compared to buying the pots and caps etc unassembled? Or compared to buying a soldered up one, that you still have to do extra soldering yourself?

Also would it be worthwhile having it so that you could change the tone cap out, and try different ones?

Also, what is already on the market that does a similar thing?

[JustMatt]

Would it be completely solder less, even to the jackplate? What price would it be aiming for compared to buying the pots and caps etc unassembled? Or compared to buying a soldered up one, that you still have to do extra soldering yourself?

Also would it be worthwhile having it so that you could change the tone cap out, and try different ones?

Also, what is already on the market that does a similar thing?

Hey man,

It would be completely solder-less so you can clip the wires on your current harness and put this in without burning fingers.

At this stage I am working on the CAD drawings for a vintage strat kit, modern strat kit and blender kit, all of which have the caps loaded on top of the pots per usual so you can change them out (as well as the pots and switch if you are clever) but you will have to do it the old fashioned way. I have had a quick think about how we could do interchangeable everything but things started getting messy.

There are a few others out there who are doing full solder less PCB boards with fancy dip switches and a whole host of pre-loaded caps etc which are pretty cool but we are not going that far (too many options make my head go fuzzy).

Price is a big fat 'dont know' at this stage. They will probably be the same as our Emerson kits (I dont see them being any more) though it will depend on the final component costs and how long it takes me to wire them. I hope to have some protos late January to play with and work these things out.

I have started putting a website together already (jumping the gun I know)

http://www.obsidianwire.com/

[JustMatt]

Thanks for your thoughts on the above folks. I need a few chaps with genuine Fender strats to do some testing for me. Basically I send you a kit (freebie) and you install it tell me what you think. PM me if you are keen. Naturally I can only do a few of these so let me know ASAP if you are keen.

[JustMatt]

For anybody who is not too cool to care these are the boards that I am now making. The install time is about 5 minutes + how ever long it takes for you to play with your strings, and a pickup change is about the same

Tele kits are due for release next week ish and come in 3 & 4 way options.

Hand wired right here in my house by me.

[Eruera]

Those look awesome!

[jeremyb]

Those look awesome!

^^^^^^^