wire guage for rewiring tele

[sprokett]

am rewiring my mesquite body tele to a 5 way switch apparently the wire that was used at the factory is 20 guage multi strand. Will it hurt to use 18 guage multi strand for my rewire. that is what i have readily available

[tdowns]

Here is a post about wire gauge from a while back.

Electrically, the wire gauge does not matter at all. The current in the wire is in the nanoamp range. Solid wire is non preferable in this application because it breaks easy with flexure and vibration. Stranded wire is the only way to go.

Regarding size, you will have great difficulty trying to work with 18AWG stranded wire in the control cavity. It can probably be done, but it will be more difficult that smaller gauges. 24AWG is my favorite for guitars.

[sprokett]

Thank you

[guitarzan13]

Is 26 guage from Guitar Fetish too thin???

[Ronkirn]

just order the vintage cotton covered wire from allparts, inexpensive and easy to work with,

Ron Kirn

[FrankB]

I agree with Ron Kirn. It looks neat and tidy when finished.

[guitarzan13]

Thanks!

[photoweborama]

I use 22 gauge that I got at the electronics shop. Stuff is cheaper at electronic shops rather than guitar related shops...

[yegbert]

Originally Posted by photoweborama

I use 22 gauge that I got at the electronics shop. Stuff is cheaper at electronic shops rather than guitar related shops...

Some pickups I've seen have what must be as small as 24. Fender MIJs I'm guessing are about 24. Some aftermarket ones from Asian companies, and some using shielded 4 conductor wiring, might be even smaller.

The smaller the guage, the easier to get up to hot enough temperature to solder. I've tried some 18 or 20 guage and some solid, and all of those required a lot more heat to solder. I had one tone pot I must have worn out from heat after a couple of years, with several pickup swaps. I replaced that one but the adjacent volume pots doesn't seem to work as well as it used to.

None of my Teles are vintage, and the couple that are vintage-looking (MIM Classic Series) didn't come with cloth wiring. I've been content with the more affordable / generic wiring from electronic shops too.

[kp8]

not sure why folks like cloth wire so much.

I just use stranded 24AWG with the teflon or tefzel coating... The tef/lon/zel don't rot and it is cheap.

-k

[Johnny Caster]

Originally Posted by kp8

not sure why folks like cloth wire so much.

I agree. I'm all for vintage and old ways, but don't care for the cloth wire. It can be a bugger to work with. Doesn't look all that great to me either. I like the metal braided wire, but haven't actually worked with it myself.

[kp8]

Originally Posted by Johnny Caster

I agree. I'm all for vintage and old ways, but don't care for the cloth wire. It can be a bugger to work with. Doesn't look all that great to me either. I like the metal braided wire, but haven't actually worked with it myself.

if it don't sound better, and is harder to work with, why? who cares what it looks like if it sits under your pickguard anyway... I only use cloth wire when the p/up folks supply it, and then i only use it as not to waste it.

-k