Cavity layout?

-Zion- · 11-12-2010, 03:05 PM

Hello everyone..

Okay, like many of you, I have been in my guitars cavity more than can be counted on my hands, and I have just done it again.. Soldering wires, changing pots etc..

Now, I have come to a point where I would really like to "clean" up the mess I have done, and was thinking about a good way to do this, and this is where I hope some of you guys can point me in the right direction..

I want to completely remove everything and the resolder everything and make it super neat and super sexy, but what I was thinking was to solder (almost) everything *before* putting it in the cavity..

So do any of you have, or can point me to a cavity layout.. A layout of the cavity where i can see exacly how big it is, where the holes are etc.. I want to use this to make a little wooden/plastic/whatever plate to put all my pots into and solder everything on, and after that just take all 4 pots from the plate, and just neatly fit it inside the cavity..

It's a gibson les paul 1958 reissue from 2008, but i guess most les paul cavities are the same?

Any help would be appreciated..
Thanks guys,
David

NoStatic · 11-12-2010, 04:41 PM

Yes, it is much easier and neater to work outside.

I just make them as requred. Pull the knobs of your guitar. Get a piece of cardboard. Impress it onto the pots. Remove and make holes. Mount the pots to cardboard, or transpose hole markings to a pice of craftwood or whatever.

R8R6Ben · 11-13-2010, 02:39 AM

yep No Static is right... working in the hole can be a bitch lol. cardboard works great.

-Zion- · 11-13-2010, 05:46 AM

cardboard.. of course..

for some reason I was thinking about a wooden plate, but a cardboard cutout would be just as good..

one more thing: are wires with one or 5 leads best to use, and is it possible to solder some.. hmm.. what are they called in english? shoes? It's a sort of connecter that you solder on to the wires, which fits on the pots legs, so you dont have to solder the wire onto the pots but can just plug them on instead.. (does it make sense?)

EDIT: sort of like these

Cheers..
-David

NoStatic · 11-13-2010, 04:39 PM

one or five wire leads- youre stuck with what the p/up is equipped with unless you fancy opening the p/up and modifying it.

Using connectors- dont see why not, it might require some messing about to get earths on the back of the pots. It also can get a bit tight in there and the connectors will add bulk.

If ease of removal or change over is the goal, it be tempted to solder connections to the posts as per normal and fit male/female connectors to the wires from pots anmd from pickups and switch.

hillbilly · 11-14-2010, 08:40 PM

Connectors are fine if you are constantly switching pickups, different wiring, etc., but can wiggle loose or be susceptible to 'cold' solder joints. It's best just to solder directly to your pots.

-Zion- · 11-15-2010, 12:24 PM

okay.. thanks guys..

I think i'll just solder them on as usual..

11-12-2010, 03:05 PM	#1 (permalink)
-Zion- Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 48 Thanks: 0 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts	Cavity layout? Hello everyone.. Okay, like many of you, I have been in my guitars cavity more than can be counted on my hands, and I have just done it again.. Soldering wires, changing pots etc.. Now, I have come to a point where I would really like to "clean" up the mess I have done, and was thinking about a good way to do this, and this is where I hope some of you guys can point me in the right direction.. I want to completely remove everything and the resolder everything and make it super neat and super sexy, but what I was thinking was to solder (almost) everything before putting it in the cavity.. So do any of you have, or can point me to a cavity layout.. A layout of the cavity where i can see exacly how big it is, where the holes are etc.. I want to use this to make a little wooden/plastic/whatever plate to put all my pots into and solder everything on, and after that just take all 4 pots from the plate, and just neatly fit it inside the cavity.. It's a gibson les paul 1958 reissue from 2008, but i guess most les paul cavities are the same? Any help would be appreciated.. Thanks guys, David

11-12-2010, 04:41 PM	#2 (permalink)
NoStatic Banned Join Date: Jan 2010 Posts: 2,627 Thanks: 24 Thanked 22 Times in 8 Posts	Re: Cavity layout? Yes, it is much easier and neater to work outside. I just make them as requred. Pull the knobs of your guitar. Get a piece of cardboard. Impress it onto the pots. Remove and make holes. Mount the pots to cardboard, or transpose hole markings to a pice of craftwood or whatever.

11-13-2010, 02:39 AM	#3 (permalink)
R8R6Ben Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Matsumoto, Japan Posts: 2,090 Thanks: 42 Thanked 56 Times in 16 Posts	Re: Cavity layout? yep No Static is right... working in the hole can be a bitch lol. cardboard works great. __________________ 2007 Gibson Les Paul R8 "Jamie Leigh" OTPG'd 2001 Gibson Les Paul R6 "Aimi" '53 Soapbars 2007 PRS Hollowbody Spruce " Clara" Skatterbrane'd 2001 Fender AmStd Telecaster "Sharon" Lollar'd 1960's Gibson J50 "Imogene" Phaez 15 Watt 6v6 "Rising Sun" all pots, caps, and harnesses by Jonesy@ tonemojo

11-13-2010, 05:46 AM	#4 (permalink)
-Zion- Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 48 Thanks: 0 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts	Re: Cavity layout? cardboard.. of course.. for some reason I was thinking about a wooden plate, but a cardboard cutout would be just as good.. one more thing: are wires with one or 5 leads best to use, and is it possible to solder some.. hmm.. what are they called in english? shoes? It's a sort of connecter that you solder on to the wires, which fits on the pots legs, so you dont have to solder the wire onto the pots but can just plug them on instead.. (does it make sense?) EDIT: sort of like these Cheers.. -David Last edited by -Zion-; 11-13-2010 at 07:34 AM.

11-13-2010, 04:39 PM	#5 (permalink)
NoStatic Banned Join Date: Jan 2010 Posts: 2,627 Thanks: 24 Thanked 22 Times in 8 Posts	Re: Cavity layout? one or five wire leads- youre stuck with what the p/up is equipped with unless you fancy opening the p/up and modifying it. Using connectors- dont see why not, it might require some messing about to get earths on the back of the pots. It also can get a bit tight in there and the connectors will add bulk. If ease of removal or change over is the goal, it be tempted to solder connections to the posts as per normal and fit male/female connectors to the wires from pots anmd from pickups and switch.

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11-14-2010, 08:40 PM	#6 (permalink)
hillbilly V.I.P. Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 1,399 Thanks: 1 Thanked 101 Times in 16 Posts	Re: Cavity layout? Connectors are fine if you are constantly switching pickups, different wiring, etc., but can wiggle loose or be susceptible to 'cold' solder joints. It's best just to solder directly to your pots. __________________ I think myself that we have more machinery of government than is necessary, too many parasites living on the labor of the industrious. --- Thomas Jefferson

11-15-2010, 12:24 PM	#7 (permalink)
-Zion- Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 48 Thanks: 0 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts	Re: Cavity layout? okay.. thanks guys.. I think i'll just solder them on as usual..

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