How to Wire a Kramer Pickup
Kramer guitars always have been associated with performance and unique design. This is clear in the aggressive body designs the manufacturer produces and in the hardware that is used in each model. This fact includes the pickups that Kramer installs in its guitars. Passive and active models are high-output designs created to be very clear and distinct. Many guitarists prefer Kramer pickups, which can be wired to any guitar like any other pickup on the market.
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Things You'll Need
- Philips screwdriver
- Wire clippers
- Soldering iron (25W +)
- Solder (60/40 blend)
Instructions
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1
Remove the electronics cavity cover of the guitar with a screwdriver to loosen the screw that secures the cavity cover in place. The strings may need to be loosened and removed to gain access if the electronics cavity is on the front of the guitar.
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2
Loosen the old pickups from their mounted positions, including pickup rings and mounting screws with a screwdriver .
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3
Use the wire clippers to cut the wires where the pickups are connected in the electronics cover. Cut at the connection point, which allows as much lead wire as possible for the old pickups to be able to be reused in a different guitar or saved for later use. Write down or make a mental note as to where each wire was installed. Remove the old pickups, and place them aside.
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4
Feed the lead wires of the Kramer pickups where the old pickup leads ran to the electronics cavity. Strip 1/8th inch of conduit from each lead wire.
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5
Connect the prepared wire to their respective leads just as the old pickups were connected. Solder the connections with a soldering iron and solder by first pressing the tip of the soldering iron onto the mechanical connection and then applying solder. Remove the tip of the soldering iron as soon as solder begins to flow.
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6
Mount the Kramer pickups where the old pickups were previously installed with the same hardware, screws and screwdriver. Replace the electronics cavity cover, and mount in in place with a screwdriver.
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Tips & Warnings
Cutting the leads of the old pickups with just a small marker of conduit is a useful reminder of what leads should go where. New solder joints must be shiny. Dull, grey solder joints, or "cold joints" indicate that the leads or junction of leads is disconnected, and the guitar will not function.
Double-check mechanical connections prior to soldering to make sure they are installed correctly. Use a wiring diagram if there is lead location confusion.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit E-Gitarre image by Jakob Sons from Fotolia.com
