Guitar Wiring and Electronics Class – Upgrades & Custom Modifications

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!! 

For common wiring diagrams, visit:

https://www.seymourduncan.com/resources/pickup/wiring-diagrams

https://guitarelectronics.com/guitar-wiring-resources/

CUSTOM GUITAR DIAGRAMS

https://guitarelectronics.com/guitar-wiring-resources/custom-drawn-guitar-wiring-diagrams/

PICKUP SWITCH TERMINAL CONNECTIONS

https://guitarelectronics.com/guitar-wiring-resources/pickup-switch-terminal-connections/