How much? (Modding question)

alcxam

So, I have a Les Paul and want to get the pickups and pots changed out. I plan to leave the guitar in with a local tech to get the swap done (I'll hand over the pickups and the 4x pots and the guitar, of course!).
How much do you think it would be likely to cost to get the work done?

Strangefan

Honestly do it yourself, it's so easy,:) 

sweepy

I'd have thought the Tech would charge @£50 if you supply all the parts as that would include re-stringing etc etc 

ICBM

Yes, that's about right - maybe less. It should theoretically be about a half hour job if there are no unexpected complications. Many techs will have a minimum charge time of one hour though, so it may not make a lot of difference exactly how long it takes.

wackojacko

Also depends on what pots you are using.

if using short shaft - approx £5 each
long shaft pots anywhere between £6.50-£8.00 each.
but it is a fairly easy job and shouldn't take more than 30 minutes for a tech to do. 

Funkfingers

Metric parts into a Metric guitar should be swift. Imperial into Imperial should be swift. Imperial into Metric will involve some enlargement of the holes for the pot shafts.

Are you simply asking for the soldering, spanner and screwdriver jobs or do you expect the pickup heights to be set too?

These extra tasks add to the job time.

sweepy

If you factor buying a soldering iron and solder etc that's @£30 so unless you are doing other jobs it's easier to pay someone else to do it 

OilCityPickups

sweepy said:

http://

If you factor buying a soldering iron and solder etc that's @£30 so unless you are doing other jobs it's easier to pay someone else to do it 

Getting someone else to do it = easy
Doing it yourself and understanding the inside of your guitar = priceless

You can pick up a cheap soldering iron for just over a tenner on e bay, and if you don't plan on using it that much it'll be adequate. Good quality solder is pricey, but Maplin's lead free solder is very good and fairly cheap. 
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Faithfull-Power-Plus-Soldering-Iron-80W-240V-Heat-Resistant-Handle-SI80W-/122221889445?hash=item1c74fe07a5:g:PuQAAOSwx2dYJdbD

http://www.maplin.co.uk/p/maplin-lead-free-solder-100g-n29ar

sweepy

I said £30 for the soldering iron as you'd want one powerful enough to solder the back of the Pots

Corvus

I got a 45w adjustable iron from Farnells for £13 + post, it's the one with the blue base you see all over the web with different prices. This is a nice one to start with if it's a first go and you fancy it, replacing like-for-like. Take pics, do a sketch, open beer, have at it.

sweepy

£13 is a good price, I'll look into one as a backup 

Corvus

Here you go Sweepy, even better it's 12 squid and 48w, link

Hope that works, it's Duratool D01843 if not. Got some extra tips from fleabay, fat spade ones etc, I think it came with one slim tip if I remember right.

Roland

Don't forget to put a towel over the guitar so that it doesn't get splattered with solder drips

underdog

Corvus said:

I got a 45w adjustable iron from Farnells for £13 + post, it's the one with the blue base you see all over the web with different prices. This is a nice one to start with if it's a first go and you fancy it, replacing like-for-like. Take pics, do a sketch, open beer, have at it.

I paid under £12 for the same one this week again from CpC/farnells

Got lots of patch cables to make and a pedal board to wire up so if it lasts those jobs I'm happy.

Edit: see you posted link.

imalrightjack

@Roland is bang on. The back of my Les Paul has a nice solder mark. 

@TheGuitarWeasel helped me over the phone the first time I did a guitar with push-pulls. His help was priceless. The knowledge gained definitely helped enormously.,

ICBM

TheGuitarWeasel said:

Good quality solder is pricey, but Maplin's lead free solder is very good and fairly cheap. 

http://www.maplin.co.uk/p/maplin-lead-free-solder-100g-n29ar

I have to disagree… that stuff is pretty crap. The added-silver version is so far superior it's easily worth the extra cost. It flows and wets far better and is much easier to make clean joints with.

http://www.maplin.co.uk/p/lead-free-silver-solder-roll-100g-n32ar

Rocker

Unless you actually feel that you must do the job yourself, do not feel pressurized against getting a tech to do the work for you.  It is not essential to know everything about the guitar workings, to enjoy playing it.

horse

ICBM said:

TheGuitarWeasel said:

Good quality solder is pricey, but Maplin's lead free solder is very good and fairly cheap. 

http://www.maplin.co.uk/p/maplin-lead-free-solder-100g-n29ar

I have to disagree… that stuff is pretty crap. The added-silver version is so far superior it's easily worth the extra cost. It flows and wets far better and is much easier to make clean joints with.

http://www.maplin.co.uk/p/lead-free-silver-solder-roll-100g-n32ar

+1 for the added silver version

sawyer

If you don't feel confident absolutely pay a professional. 

alcxam

Thanks to everyone who took time to answer (and all the guys who encouraged me to DIY!) - plenty to think about there, then...

skunkwerx

I'd get a tech to do it. Feline is recommended if youre near croydon, but Grizzly in Hackney is also worth a look. 

You might want to add new strings to the price. 

Going rate seems to be about £50-£55 an hour electrical labour.. 

I would think any good tech would set the pup height for you as part of it..