Where do I solder my ground wire to?

Lewins · November 30th, 2008, 09:05 AM

Does it get soldered to the under side of the bridge pick up plate? If so is there a preferencial place on the plate for the wire to be soldered to?

Ive had a go and come across a couple of problems.

1. Soldering technique: I tried to solder the wire to the back of the plate and it holds but then when cool just comes off. The solder stays on the wire and comes cleanly off the plate.

Do I have to heat the plate a lot before adding the solder?

2. The wire comes through a hole drilled from the bridge cavity and when I put the bridge plate on the wire stops the plate from being flush with the guitar body.

Any help or advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks Guys

Lewins

Amby · November 30th, 2008, 09:34 AM

You don't have to solder the wire to the bridgeplate. See this thread it will help.

http://www.tdpri.com/forum/tele-tech...er-bridge.html

PJ · November 30th, 2008, 11:06 AM

I crimp the smallest ring terminal I can find, with a #8 hole size in it and put it between the baseplate and pickup flange on one of the screws. This seems to work as well as any approach. I saw this approach being used on a Squier VM Tele that was very well grounded and quiet and it seems to work well.

tdowns · November 30th, 2008, 07:05 PM

I don't know of any bridge plate that has a solderable surface. They are usually chrome plates, which is not solderable.

red57strat · November 30th, 2008, 07:37 PM

Just trap a plain, un-insulated wire (or the stripped end of an insulated wire) between the bridge plate and the body.

telex · November 30th, 2008, 08:59 PM

I place mine on top of a rather deep mercury almalgam filling on my right lower molar, then bite really hard!

November 30th, 2008, 09:05 AM	#1 (permalink)
Lewins TDPRI Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Leeds Age: 28 Posts: 53	Where do I solder my ground wire to? Does it get soldered to the under side of the bridge pick up plate? If so is there a preferencial place on the plate for the wire to be soldered to? Ive had a go and come across a couple of problems. 1. Soldering technique: I tried to solder the wire to the back of the plate and it holds but then when cool just comes off. The solder stays on the wire and comes cleanly off the plate. Do I have to heat the plate a lot before adding the solder? 2. The wire comes through a hole drilled from the bridge cavity and when I put the bridge plate on the wire stops the plate from being flush with the guitar body. Any help or advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks Guys Lewins

November 30th, 2008, 11:06 AM	#3 (permalink)
PJ Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Philadelphia, PA Posts: 2,870 4 Photos	I crimp the smallest ring terminal I can find, with a #8 hole size in it and put it between the baseplate and pickup flange on one of the screws. This seems to work as well as any approach. I saw this approach being used on a Squier VM Tele that was very well grounded and quiet and it seems to work well. __________________ PJ "I don't know if it's art, but I like it."

November 30th, 2008, 07:05 PM	#4 (permalink)
tdowns Friend of Leo's Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Wylie, TX US Posts: 2,930	I don't know of any bridge plate that has a solderable surface. They are usually chrome plates, which is not solderable. __________________ Best regards, Terry Downs http://terrydownsmusic.com Equine quadrupeds may be coaxed to the reference of specific gravity but may not be compelled to imbibe thereof.

November 30th, 2008, 07:37 PM	#5 (permalink)
red57strat Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Massachusetts Posts: 1,414	Just trap a plain, un-insulated wire (or the stripped end of an insulated wire) between the bridge plate and the body. __________________ Don

November 30th, 2008, 09:34 AM	#2 (permalink)
Amby Tele-Meister Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Stirlingshire, Scotland Age: 62 Posts: 323	You don't have to solder the wire to the bridgeplate. See this thread it will help. http://www.tdpri.com/forum/tele-tech...er-bridge.html

November 30th, 2008, 08:59 PM	#6 (permalink)
telex Tele-Holic Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: New Hampshire, USA Age: 40 Posts: 565	I place mine on top of a rather deep mercury almalgam filling on my right lower molar, then bite really hard!