How to Wire a Magnaflux Pickup

Wiring Magnaflux pickups into a guitar requires soldering work.

Magnaflux pickups are specifically designed for Electra brand guitars. The Magnaflux is very sensitive and is able to pick up even the slightest bit of vibration, which makes it very responsive. Every Electra guitar came with Magnaflux pickups installed, but they could be ordered separately and installed in other brands of electric guitars as well. The wiring of a Magnaflux pickup into an electric guitar requires access to the back panels and the soldering of the wires.

Things You'll Need

• Guitar
• Magnaflux pickup
• Soldering iron
• Electronics solder
• Screwdriver
• Wire clipper

Instructions

1. Loosen each string of the guitar by turning the top tuning knobs all the way to the left. Remove the strings by continuing to turn until the strings easily come off the guitar. Use the screwdriver to remove the two screws on the existing pickup. Set the screws off to the side.

2. Lift the existing pickup out of the guitar gently. Pull the pickup as far away from the guitar as possible with the amount of slack on the pickup's wire. Use the wire clipper to snap the wire in the middle of the slack and release the pickup. Discard the old pickup.

3. Pull the wire of the new Magnaflux pickup straight out to tighten the slack. Place the tip of the Magnaflux wire onto the tip of the old pickup wire. Lay 1/8 inch of solder over the tips. Plug in the soldering iron.

4. Touch the solder gently with the tip of the iron and wait for it to completely melt over the tips to conjoin them. Set the iron aside. Wait up to 20 seconds for the solder to solidify. Lay the extra slack of the Magnaflux wire in the pickup bay.

5. Lay the pickup over the top of the slack and fit it into the pickup bay. Use the original two screws from the last pickup to secure the new pickup in place. Restring the guitar.

References

• Zuko: Electra Guitars
• Jag-Stand:How do I wire Pickups
• Vintage Guitar: Electra Guitars