Forums

First CBG pickup question

Posted by Daan Koks on January 27, 2010 at 8:18pm in Building Secrets, Tips, Advice, Discussion
Hi all, I've been lurking here for a while (there's some really brilliant stuff on this site) without a reason to post but now I've stumbled on something I'd like some views on from the more experienced CBG-enthusiasts :)

So what I found is an acoustic guitar pickup which screws on with two screws, and it's wired to the pots, volume, tone and the jack.
My question is, can I just get this and install it right into my box without having to solder anything? 
I don't really have a workspace or many tools right now, so my first build is pretty much going to be assembly and minor fabricating (I'm using an old strat neck).


You need to be a member of Cigar Box Nation to add comments!

Join Cigar Box Nation

Email me when people reply –
Follow

Replies

  • Daan Koks January 31, 2010 at 10:48am
    Hm I might go ahead and get a soldering iron after all if that's really all there's to it.. :p

    This wired pickup was the cheapest one I could find though so I just went ahead and ordered it, so my first build will remain as it was, but my real goal is to make a multi-pickup cbg, maybe a h-s-s setup... I think that'd be pretty sweet. This does lead me to another question though, what would probably be the easiest setup for a beginner to wire up? Is h-s-s a bit too optimistic on my part? :p Schematics shouldn't be too hard to find though, I suppose..

    I'm having a lot of trouble finding some nice wood for the body of my first cbg as well, there's pretty much nothing on my local webauctions and getting it from an actual supplier is a bit too costly for the cbg spirit ;)

    And Sam I do think I'm hooked, the first thing I did when I found out about cbg's was find out how to make them ;)

    Thanks for all the kind replies once again!

    Now, to find a suitable box for my needs... I'm off to the cigar shop tomorrow, so wish me luck ;)
  • Wichita Sam January 28, 2010 at 4:10pm
    Tim,

    I agree that learning how to solder is very useful. Everyone has a learning curve. There are several "Kit" builders that do most of the work for a beginner. I predict that after a build or two Daan will jump into the deep end.... another CBG maniac....

    the best,

    Wichita Sam

    Tim said:
    dude you can get a cheap soldering iron for less than 10 bucks another 4 or 5 for a roll of solder. a few minutes playing with it to learn how to use it and bam no more problems use any pickup you want. and if your worried about work space i do most of my soldering on my kitchen table. you dont need a work shop ventelation or any of that bs.
  • Tim January 28, 2010 at 3:26pm
    dude you can get a cheap soldering iron for less than 10 bucks another 4 or 5 for a roll of solder. a few minutes playing with it to learn how to use it and bam no more problems use any pickup you want. and if your worried about work space i do most of my soldering on my kitchen table. you dont need a work shop ventelation or any of that bs.
  • Tres Seaver January 28, 2010 at 10:54am
    Wichita Sam said:
    Daan,

    Glad to help.... the best idea in building and playing CBGs is do want you can do right now. You can add skills and tools and parts as you go along in your building careert, but if you wait until you have all that you think you need, you might never start. Better your first one is just "OK" than to wait for perfection and never do anything.

    Amen! Tell it, preacher!

    Seriously, just dive in -- the water is fine.
  • Wichita Sam January 28, 2010 at 12:13am
    Daan,

    Glad to help.... the best idea in building and playing CBGs is do want you can do right now. You can add skills and tools and parts as you go along in your building careert, but if you wait until you have all that you think you need, you might never start. Better your first one is just "OK" than to wait for perfection and never do anything.

    Let us know how it turns out,

    the best,

    Wichita Sam

    Daan Koks said:
    Wow thanks for the fast reply, nice bluesy video as well mate :)

    I have to wait for my paypal account to come through, but I think I'm going to go for it. I was planning to get some regular pickups from an old guitar, but I don't have the tools to solder it all together, and I have no idea how to either :P Also, with normal pickups I'd have to get the jack input, pots etc. too...

    Wichita Sam said:
    I bot a couple of these to check them out ... used one to build my homage to the Lowebow... you can see and hear it in my "end of days" video http://www.cigarboxnation.com/video/end-of-days

    Here's what I think.... they're just OK.... not something that you want in a lifetime keeper, but if you want a lot of function for a little money, plus not having to do soldering, then go for it... the ones I got had plenty of wire to place output jacks and tone/volume pots whereever you want....

    the best,

    Sam
  • Daan Koks January 27, 2010 at 8:54pm
    Wow thanks for the fast reply, nice bluesy video as well mate :)

    I have to wait for my paypal account to come through, but I think I'm going to go for it. I was planning to get some regular pickups from an old guitar, but I don't have the tools to solder it all together, and I have no idea how to either :P Also, with normal pickups I'd have to get the jack input, pots etc. too...

    Wichita Sam said:
    I bot a couple of these to check them out ... used one to build my homage to the Lowebow... you can see and hear it in my "end of days" video http://www.cigarboxnation.com/video/end-of-days

    Here's what I think.... they're just OK.... not something that you want in a lifetime keeper, but if you want a lot of function for a little money, plus not having to do soldering, then go for it... the ones I got had plenty of wire to place output jacks and tone/volume pots whereever you want....

    the best,

    Sam
  • Wichita Sam January 27, 2010 at 8:42pm
    I bot a couple of these to check them out ... used one to build my homage to the Lowebow... you can see and hear it in my "end of days" video http://www.cigarboxnation.com/video/end-of-days

    Here's what I think.... they're just OK.... not something that you want in a lifetime keeper, but if you want a lot of function for a little money, plus not having to do soldering, then go for it... the ones I got had plenty of wire to place output jacks and tone/volume pots whereever you want....

    the best,

    Sam
This reply was deleted.