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Gibson Braided Pickup Lead Too Short ... how to fix?

TMC60

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Joined
Mar 27, 2023
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2
Hoping to get some helpful advice: I've got a Gibson humbucker and the braided wire is only about 2 inches long. Someone cut it way too short. I need to add wire to it to get it to the pots. I've added length to shielded pickup wire before. I understand how to do that. But never thought about adding to the braided style, where the ground is the casing on the outside of the shielded lead wire. Any advice on how to make this work? Thanks in advance!
 

renderit

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Joined
Jan 19, 2009
Messages
10,951
I would use these.

https://www.amazon.com/Kuject-Connectors-Waterproof-Electrical-Automotive/dp/B073RMRCC3/ref=sr_1_3?crid=RFBMEFGUWWCE&keywords=Wire+heat+shrink+splices&qid=1679920355&sprefix=wire+heat+shrink+splices,aps,121&sr=8-3

(I didn't check gauges on the above but they make them all the way down to 26.)

We used them in the aircraft industry for years. (FAA approved ones - but the same thing (just a shit ton more expensive))

(And if you can use them there they are good as gold.)

If you have a heat gun it will take seconds.

Pull back the braid
twist ends of wire together for a quarter inch
slide splices over the join
heat and you are done.

Pull the braid back over the wires and use a larger one.

Easy peasy!

Electrically connected and insulated in one step.
 
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charliechitlins

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Nov 16, 2021
Messages
1,016
How about soldering one wire to the outer braid and another to the inner?
Seems simple to me.
 

PaulD

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Jun 25, 2007
Messages
673
How about soldering one wire to the outer braid and another to the inner?
Seems simple to me.

That will work but it always looks a bit messy and ends up looking like a bodge. Plus you would also have unshielded cable running inside the guitar, it may not be an issue if you are only adding an inch or two to the cable but any significant length could result in electro magnetic interference being picked up making the guitar noisier.
 

charliechitlins

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Nov 16, 2021
Messages
1,016
I have a length of braided/shielded wire.
It's pretty easy to come by.
Solder the inners together, shrink tube, slide the new outer up to butt the old and solder them.
If you're worried about melting through the shrink tube, wrap the section with hookup wire (my roll is 22ga.), and solder an inch or so back from the first connection.
Might not be beautiful, but it will work as well as unbroken shielded wire, and it will be INSIDE your guitar.
 

CK6

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Feb 5, 2020
Messages
449
Unless it is a valuable vintage pickup (PAF or early Pat. Nr.), open the pickup and change the wire.
I agree, I recently did this to two T -Tops.

A cleaner and more elegant solution! You can buy some Gavitt braided wire that was used on Gibson PAFs.
 

charliechitlins

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Nov 16, 2021
Messages
1,016
Unless it is a valuable vintage pickup (PAF or early Pat. Nr.), open the pickup and change the wire.
I generally assume that someone who posts such a question is unfamiliar with stuff and is looking for a shade-tree solution.
Yes...the above is the cleanest way.
You know, though....?
I was swapping pickups on MY archtop; I had the pickups hanging out of the guitar and was ready to do all the fiddly stuff and I just decided to cut/solder/shrink tube. I was in and out so fast, and I'm sure the job will be as dependable as anything I could have done.
If somebody brought me such a job, I would offer them the $40 way or the $150 way, and I net I know the way most folks would choose.
I think the OP is just as well...maybe better off...just extending the wire.
 

poor man's burst

Active member
Joined
Oct 3, 2010
Messages
421
It doesn't hurt to advise someone unfamilair with the stuff the cleanest and, in fact, the simplest way to do a job. And if he is uncomfortable with the task, let him ask to someone who is. It doesn't take much more time to replace a pickup wire than add length to wires cut too short, and won't cost 4 times the price. At the end of the day, cheap is always too expensive.
And, as a professional, I can't afford to do messy unreliable jobs, neither to advise to do so.
 
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