Funky Dunky Posted June 25, 2015 Share Posted June 25, 2015 Just out of curiosity, roughly what do shop techs charge to put a new pickup in a bass these days? Since I'm punting my Sterling, I might as well beef up my trusty ol' Squier. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LukeFRC Posted June 25, 2015 Share Posted June 25, 2015 more than the cost of a soldering iron.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Funky Dunky Posted June 25, 2015 Author Share Posted June 25, 2015 Thank you, that's very helpful. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fretmeister Posted June 25, 2015 Share Posted June 25, 2015 If it's an easy swap about £35 ish. If there is routing or wiring changes, then it's more. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
edpirie Posted June 25, 2015 Share Posted June 25, 2015 Not sure if these prices are up to date, but I don't know a better workshop than The Bass Gallery and they are quoting from £20. Worth a call if you're anywhere near London. [url="http://thebassgallery.com/workshop"]http://thebassgallery.com/workshop[/url] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Funky Dunky Posted June 26, 2015 Author Share Posted June 26, 2015 Thanks fellas. Wow, £20? Not shabby! Pity I'm in Scotland Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt P Posted June 26, 2015 Share Posted June 26, 2015 I think the soldering iron line was a nod towards how easy this job is to do yourself, the tools will cost you about the same as the job will and you'll end up with a useful skill at the same time. there are plenty of youtube tutorials to teach you soldering, or there might be a helpful Basschat member locally who would teach you. if you were local to me then I'd happily teach you the skills and help you swap out a pickup or two. Matt Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul S Posted June 26, 2015 Share Posted June 26, 2015 Tbh you don't even need a soldering iron - a screw terminal block does the job, if less elegantly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Conan Posted June 26, 2015 Share Posted June 26, 2015 Have a try at doing it yourself! For years I paid other people to do my tech work, then earlier this year I bought a soldering iron and a KiOgon wiring loom and swapped the pickups in my J&D jazz bass. I was shocked at how easy it was! You can get a decent soldering iron for about a tenner on Amazon. And you get the lovely smell of solder too... (or maybe that's just me ). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CamdenRob Posted June 26, 2015 Share Posted June 26, 2015 (edited) The Gallery are currently putting a pair of new pickups in my skinny string and they charged £20... Well £20 for the pickups bit, I'm having some more stuff done to it so that price may have been part of a deal. But yes, being in Scotland that's pretty useless information... Edited June 26, 2015 by CamdenRob Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Funky Dunky Posted June 26, 2015 Author Share Posted June 26, 2015 Yeah, I know I'm sorry I responded to that so bluntly, I didn't mean to be rude. I'm genuinely terrible at stuff like that, and yes, I should learn - but if I screw up I'm snookered. I'm terrified of wiring, hence my reluctance to try it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lozz196 Posted June 26, 2015 Share Posted June 26, 2015 [quote name='Paul S' timestamp='1435314696' post='2807542'] Tbh you don't even need a soldering iron - a screw terminal block does the job, if less elegantly. [/quote] Yep, or a Ki0gon wiring loom. Quality kit, makes swapping pickups a doddle. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Funky Dunky Posted June 26, 2015 Author Share Posted June 26, 2015 Yes, John's been in touch Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thunderbird Posted June 27, 2015 Share Posted June 27, 2015 [quote name='Funky Dunky' timestamp='1435351767' post='2808115'] Yes, John's been in touch [/quote] Think that is the way to go good gear well made at costs less than a tech will charge you most techs charge between 20-35 quid to put a new pup in and as said before routing will cost a pretty penny Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikebass84 Posted June 29, 2015 Share Posted June 29, 2015 I would go the diy route. I am not the best with a soldering iron but I've changed pups and it's pretty easy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jimryan Posted July 24, 2015 Share Posted July 24, 2015 A local shop near me charges around £40 for a 15 minute job, after that I bought a soldering iron and it lived in a drawer for ages until I forgot about it. It was only after I wanted a neck and bridge rewire with a DPDT active/passive switch included and got a quote of £90 that I remembered I had one an started doing my own wiring/soldering. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
geoham Posted August 14, 2015 Share Posted August 14, 2015 You're realistically looking to solder two wires to fairly large points. You don't need an overly steady hand - it's probably the easiest electronics job you can do. If you mess it up, it's unlikely to damage more than a pot costing a a fiver at most. Have a go! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul_5 Posted August 14, 2015 Share Posted August 14, 2015 (edited) I'd say have a go yourself. There's loads of diagrams available on the internet to show which wires go where - one of the most useful is this one: Basses are about half way down the page... [url="http://www.buzzardsbass.com/electronics/wiring/diagrams.html"]http://www.buzzardsb...g/diagrams.html[/url] There aren't any dangerous voltages or currents at play, and it's a brilliant way to dip your toe in the waters of DIY 'fettling'. Edited August 14, 2015 by paul_5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve-bbb Posted August 15, 2015 Share Posted August 15, 2015 [quote name='LukeFRC' timestamp='1435254752' post='2807061'] more than the cost of a soldering iron.... [/quote] strip connector is your friend Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FinnDave Posted August 15, 2015 Share Posted August 15, 2015 I changed pick ups in my P bass yesterday, took about 10 mins (with a break to rant about the imcompent b*ggers who ship pick ups out with screws too big to fit through the pick up cases!). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve-bbb Posted August 15, 2015 Share Posted August 15, 2015 which Squier are you beefing up? if its one of the cheap and cheerful affinitys like mine, and a J to boot, then you may possibly run into an issue as on the affinitys one of the cost cutting mechanisms was to place two neck sized pickups on the guitar instead of a neck and bridge where there is about 3-4mm diffference in overall length - easily solved with the judicious application of a nicely sharpened chisel all depends on how keen/capable you are with mods - personally im happy to attack my two squiers with all manner of mods but the status and trb i would hesitate and pass complex jobs over to someone with a bit more experience in such matter if tis a classic or vm you shouldnt really have any trouble just swapping the pickups over Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
.gif.9ad672bb8b84505709f76b39c8c256ec.gif)
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.