Connie Z Posted June 21, 2003 Share Posted June 21, 2003 that it actually still works! I have an Ibanez GSR200 and I was having a problem with the neck pickup going out intermittantly. It was a major drag, because I've already had it looked at twice by professional repair people who said, "can't find anything wrong." When it went out, I had to "tap" on it to get it back working again. It finally got so bad, that I ended up just working off of the bridge pickup only. Then I decided to bite the bullet and start taking things apart myself. What I found was a wire that needed to be re-soldered. It was embedded in the gluey coating that covers that part of the pickup, and you had to give it a little tug to make sure it was connected, which is wasn't. I soldered it and now it the pickup works fine. I still want to treat myself to some Rio Grande pickups, but now I am not in desperate need, which is nicer. Reading all of the posts about pickup repair and installation were REALLY helpful, so Thank You everyone! ... Connie Z "Change comes from within." - Jeremy Cohen The definition of LUCK: When Preparation meets Opportunity! http://www.cybergumbo.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GeorgeR Posted June 21, 2003 Share Posted June 21, 2003 Ahh, the joys of do-it-yourself! Congratulations! Beware the lollipop of mediocrity; one lick and you suck forever. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
davebrownbass Posted June 21, 2003 Share Posted June 21, 2003 Congratulations to you... I don't know how that problem occurred...but I would suspect it was congenital. That should have been a warranted item. Anyway...those thin wires coming out of the pickups are really hard to solder well...so I'm glad you had a good fix. If the problem should recur...you may be "under the hood" once a week... So don't give up the dream of new electronix for your baby. "Let's raise the level of this conversation" -- Jeremy Cohen, in the Picasso Thread. Still spendin' that political capital far faster than I can earn it...stretched way out on a limb here and looking for a better interest rate. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fig Posted June 21, 2003 Share Posted June 21, 2003 Congrats, Connie! Man, just bare minimum skills with a soldering iron and the willingness to get into your equipment is so gonna save you so much money over the years. Something every musician should learn to do eventually. Keep it up, you girly-girl, you! WooHoo! Bassplayers aren't paid to play fast, they're paid to listen fast. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ren. Posted June 21, 2003 Share Posted June 21, 2003 Congrats. Got a friend who always try to fix his own bass, but ... It end s sounding like crap. The worst thing is he don't even know it. Who Put The ' M ' In MySpace? don\'t_click | day_job Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
73 P Bass Posted June 21, 2003 Share Posted June 21, 2003 Congratulations! I've found as I've got older, I've developed enough patience to tackle these minor do it yourself jobs. Very satisfying eh? "Start listening to music!". -Jeremy C Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Selecter Posted June 21, 2003 Share Posted June 21, 2003 Im a mil spec cretified solderer with 20 years repair experience on computers and radio gear...I always fine it amazing when these music stores cant seem to fix anything. My job may be going under here soon and I'm thinking about opening a hole in a wall repair only shop for guitars and amps. Stories like this make me think it would work. ANYONE with a ounce od sense would know that the pickup was bad from her description. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
_Sweet Willie_ Posted June 21, 2003 Share Posted June 21, 2003 Nicely nicely, Connie! I should get a soldering iron and necessary gear so that I'd be able to do the same myself! Way to go! spreadluv Fanboy? Why, yes! Nordstrand Pickups and Guitars. Messiaen knew how to parlay the funk. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Connie Z Posted June 22, 2003 Author Share Posted June 22, 2003 Thank you, Thank you for the positive reinforcement! From 1990 to 1998, I worked as a LAN Administrator and Computer Department Manager for a hosipital pharmacy. I unfortunately was the only one in the department and had to do everything. That was back when computers were cabled together with "shielded twisted pair" and all of the connectors were soldered. My network grew like crazy during those years, and needless to say... I did a lot of running cables through ceilings and also soldering connectors. I was very pleased when we went to Ethernet! Thanks again everyone! ... Connie Z "Change comes from within." - Jeremy Cohen The definition of LUCK: When Preparation meets Opportunity! http://www.cybergumbo.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Connie Z Posted June 22, 2003 Author Share Posted June 22, 2003 Originally posted by Connie Z: Thank you, Thank you for the positive reinforcement! From 1990 to 1998, I worked as a LAN Administrator and Computer Department Manager for a hospital pharmacy. I unfortunately was the only one in the department and had to do everything. That was back when computers were cabled together with "shielded twisted pair" and all of the connectors were soldered. My network grew like crazy during those years, and needless to say... I did a lot of running cables through ceilings and also soldering connectors. I was very pleased when we went to Ethernet! Thanks again everyone! ... Connie Z "Change comes from within." - Jeremy Cohen The definition of LUCK: When Preparation meets Opportunity! http://www.cybergumbo.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wraub Posted June 22, 2003 Share Posted June 22, 2003 Congrats indeed! Well done... But now you may find that you have the bug! Soon, you will be dreaming of odd PU configurations, new hardware, fret pulling and refinishing... And then you'll know how I feel! Congrats again, keep up the good work. Peace, wraub I'm a lot more like I am now than I was when I got here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Connie Z Posted June 22, 2003 Author Share Posted June 22, 2003 Sorry about my strange double post above! "Change comes from within." - Jeremy Cohen The definition of LUCK: When Preparation meets Opportunity! http://www.cybergumbo.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Fonz Posted June 22, 2003 Share Posted June 22, 2003 soldering is one of the most useful skills in the world, ESPECIALLY for a musician. i've gotten pretty good at making a p.o.s. playable again and i'd never have done it without my trusty soldering iron. Eeeeeehhhhhhhhh. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GeorgeR Posted June 22, 2003 Share Posted June 22, 2003 Connie, do yourself a favor for the future. Always pack a Butane Soldering Iron in your gig bag with a few small hand tools, desoldering braid and decent solder. And a half decent meter for testing power, fuses, cables, speakers, is absolutely indespensible! Beware the lollipop of mediocrity; one lick and you suck forever. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Connie Z Posted June 22, 2003 Author Share Posted June 22, 2003 Originally posted by GeorgeR: Always pack a Butane Soldering Iron in your gig bag with a few small hand tools, desoldering braid and decent solder.Thanks George for the tips! But... I don't know what a "desoldering braid is." I've never had to use one of those. Please elaborate if convenient. Thanks again! ... Connie Z "Change comes from within." - Jeremy Cohen The definition of LUCK: When Preparation meets Opportunity! http://www.cybergumbo.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JulieCat Posted June 22, 2003 Share Posted June 22, 2003 Hi. I'm not George. Heh. Hope I'm not stepping on toes here. Desoldering braid is a braided copper wire. You lay that over the connection, then put your iron over that, and the copper wicks the old solder off. Like magic or something. Good job on the repair, Connie! Julie Julie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GeorgeR Posted June 22, 2003 Share Posted June 22, 2003 Hey Julie, not at all! Desoldering braid is terribly handy for "sucking up" tiny amounts of solder from connections. It works on the same principle as a string does, once suspended vertically in a glass of water. The water begins to ascend the string to a degree. Beware the lollipop of mediocrity; one lick and you suck forever. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wraub Posted June 22, 2003 Share Posted June 22, 2003 My favorite part of that site where it describes the desoldering braid is the part where it says that it is "cleaned and manufactured using technology". Seriously, this stuff is indispensible, and the more you have to solder and resolder the more you will want it. Plus, it's cheap! Peace, wraub I'm a lot more like I am now than I was when I got here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JulieCat Posted June 23, 2003 Share Posted June 23, 2003 Originally posted by wraub: My favorite part of that site where it describes the desoldering braid is the part where it says that it is "cleaned and manufactured using technology". Not magic? Ah well. Julie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom Capasso Posted June 23, 2003 Share Posted June 23, 2003 Connie - congrats !! Never used a desoldering braid - sounds easy. I still have my old solder sucker. It looks like the bulb on the end of a turkey baster, and has a teflon nozzle. You squeeze, heat, point the nozzle at the excess solder, and release the bulb. Easy !! Tom www.stoneflyrocks.com Acoustic Color Be practical as well as generous in your ideals. Keep your eyes on the stars and keep your feet on the ground. - Theodore Roosevelt Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cornbread_medhotmail.com Posted June 24, 2003 Share Posted June 24, 2003 Congrats on the new found ability! I always do minor repairs myself, but, when I got a high end bass, I've found I have to do them less frequently. I don't know what's more rewarding,t he new ability or the knowledge that you figured it out on your own and learned something new. As far as sucking up the solder, i always used the snip method, whereby you just cut odd the wire with the solder on it and start over. I have used the MacGyver method many times, though for many situations. A little creative thinking is always good! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bartolini Posted June 24, 2003 Share Posted June 24, 2003 yea, i started beleiving on do it by yourself concept after I adjusted my MM bass and now which sounds terrific. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Connie Z Posted June 25, 2003 Author Share Posted June 25, 2003 Well, now I can't wait to get some desoldering braid and to have some solder to suck up! I am thinking of attempting to replace the pots myself. I am going to be getting Rio Grande pickups sometime in the future, and I am wondering if anyone has a suggestion as to where to buy pots that would go well with Rio Grande's. It looks like Rio Grande only sells the pickups, and not the pots from what I see on the web-site: Rio Grande Pickups Thanks again to everyone for your kudos and support! "Change comes from within." - Jeremy Cohen The definition of LUCK: When Preparation meets Opportunity! http://www.cybergumbo.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fig Posted June 25, 2003 Share Posted June 25, 2003 Hey Connie, hope you keep going with your replacement/repair learning curve you're on. Here's a good source for most stuff instrument related, from tools for luthiers to wires and most everything in between. Stewart-MacDonald Bassplayers aren't paid to play fast, they're paid to listen fast. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Connie Z Posted June 26, 2003 Author Share Posted June 26, 2003 Originally posted by fig: Hey Connie, hope you keep going with your replacement/repair learning curve you're on. Here's a good source for most stuff instrument related, from tools for luthiers to wires and most everything in between. Stewart-MacDonald Hi Fig, Thanks for the tip about that site. They have all kinds of stuff! Now I have to find out whether I have a "humbucker" or a "single coil" pickup. I know that they are passive pickups, so at least I have a teensie bit of info. I shall consult the Ibanez website. I have a GSR200. Those prices are excellent. But... how do I know if those pots are any better than the ones I have? Is it safe to say that the higher priced items are better? Thanks again! ... Connie Z "Change comes from within." - Jeremy Cohen The definition of LUCK: When Preparation meets Opportunity! http://www.cybergumbo.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GeorgeR Posted June 26, 2003 Share Posted June 26, 2003 Sometimes price DOES make a difference. When I used to work in the lighting industry (repairing electronics for stage and studio) the best pots I ever saw in my life were from Penny & Giles . They're bloody expensive (one linear motion, non-motorized pot for a WholeHog II lighting console runs about $100 Cdn) but chances are you'd break the thing by dropping it off a truck before ever needing to replace that pot ever again. They are Extremely durable pots! Beware the lollipop of mediocrity; one lick and you suck forever. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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