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How to install

Helpful Instruction info

Please note that Pickup wire colors may vary so check with your manufacturer to confirm their color code.

We want to show you the key parts you will be working with, and tell you the names so when we get to installing it, it makes sense!

  1. Tailpiece Ground wire
  2. Neck Pickup: Hot wire "+"
  3. Neck Pickup: Ground wire "-"
  4. Middle Pickup: Hot wire "+"
  5. Middle Pickup: Ground wire "-"
  6. Bridge Pickup: Hot wire "+"
  7. Bridge Pickup: Ground wire "-"

 

Fitting the kit to your control plate.

Adjusting pot distances

Using either pliers, ratchet, or a wrench. Loosen the nuts holding the pots to the pcb. Adjust the pots so the kit will fit your control plate. Just be careful not to

  1. Damage the Solder joints
  2. Overtighten the nuts.

Terminal block

Like with the body. Here's a simplified diagram of the terminal block we will be working with

  1. Neck Pickup: Hot wire "+"
  2. Neck Pickup: Ground wire"-"
  3. Middle Pickup: Hot wire "+"
  4. Middle Pickup: Ground wire"-"
  5. Bridge Pickup: Hot wire "+"
  6. Bridge Pickup: Ground wire"-"
  7. Output Jack: Hot wire "+"
  8. Output Jack: Ground wire "-"

Helpful tip

While pressing down the terminal button with either a flathead screw driver or your finger. Slide the exposed section on the wire in at an angle that matches the terminals slope. Test the connection by lightly pulling on the wire.

Neck pickup Install

Install your Neck Pickups "Hot" to the first hole

Install your Neck Pickups "Ground" to the Second hole

Middle Pickup Install

Install your Middle Pickups hot wire to the Third hole.

Install your Middle Pickups Ground to the fourth hole

Bridge Pickup install

Install your Bridge Pickups "Hot" to the Fifth hole

Install your Bridge Pickups "Ground" wire to the sixth hole

Pass the output jack wires through the cavity hole

Install your White Output Jack "hot" wire to the seventh hole

Install your Orange Output Jack "Ground" wire to the last open hole

Earthing ground install

Earthing ground

A lot of instruments how more then one "Earthing ground" If your Stratocaster has multiple. You will want to add them to the ground block.terminal. Heres the 2 common ones you will find

  1. Tailpeice ground: Wire coming from your guitars tremolo
  2. Shielding ground: If your guitar has shielding you will want to have a wire that connects the sheilding to the harness.

Before we finish the install

Adjusting VVC

All our Solderless kits include our VVC. (Volume voicing circuit) This switch allows you to switch between 2 voicings.

  1. Down: Your Volume retains more low end as you use the Volume
  2. Up: Your Volume retains more High end as you use the Volume

Adjusting BT Switch

BT just stands for Bridge tone.  

  1. Down: "OFF" is your standard Strat layout with no bridge tone available.  
  2. Up: "ON" makes it that the middle tone control will work on any position the bridge pickup is "ON"

And thats it!

Test the controls before restringing the bass by lightly taping the pickups with a metal object.

Need help or have a question?

feel free to contact us [link at the bottom of this page] But here are some common issues you might run into

Need help with your pickup?

 

 

"My pickup(s) sounds weak"

    • This is fairly common when one or more of your pickup wires is not properly seated, or can not make a proper connection. Make sure there is enough exposed wire and that the wire is properly seated in the terminal block.
  • "My pickup(s) wires are too small"

    • If your pickup wires are too small for the terminal block we recommend bending the exposed wire over the covered wire, or wrapping it a few times to create more surface area.  

It's not working or doesn't sound right?

  • The controls are scratchy when i use them"
    • This usually happens when you have a wire(s) not making a proper connection in the terminal block. Make sure there is enough exposed wire and that the wire is properly seated in the terminal block.
  • "There is a bad hum that goes away if i touch the knobs."
    • This usually happens when your tailpiece ground is not properly seated or missing.
    • This can also happen if your guitar has sheilding in the cavity. You will want to add the wires attached to the shielding to the same hole as the tailpiece ground
  • "There is a bad hum that get's louder when i touch anything metal
    • This happens when you install the output jack wires backwards. uninstall the output jack wires and place then in the correct location.
  • "I cant get any sound from the thing"
    • Make sure you put the pickup wires in the correct spot and that they are properly seated in the terminal block.
    • Confirm that the exposed section of the wire is seated in the terminal block and not just the casing of the wire.
    • Make sure that there is no environmental issue causing a short. An Example on this would be the Output jack, or lever switch touching the shielding in your cavity or an exposed pickup wire is also touching something other then the terminal block
  • "My volume feels different then before"
    • This is because of 2 factors.
      1. How we designed the volume and tone circuit. It's different from your stock circuit
      2. We use our own Audio pots. A lot of brands will use Linear in the volume.

 

Other issues

"My old knobs don't fit the pots"

  • We use 18 tooth "Coarse" pots. So if you have to order new knobs just make sure that they say they are either "18 tooth" or "Coarse knurled"