Signal connecting (electronics geeks ahoy)

James · Post by **James** » Sun Apr 20, 2008 10:52 pm

I want to be able to connect and disconnect two cables quite often, but I'm not sure what my options are. It'll be in a fairly enclosed space so size is an issue. I was considering just gonig a small bit of bare wire and a crocodile clip, but i think its bad news in the long run. Would a mini jack be the best way to do this? It's quite easy to buy both the male and female sides of the connection and to solder them in. I'm hoping that there's a simplier smaller way of doing it but my electronic component knowledge is virtually nil.

It'll be carrying a signal inside a guitar. Suppose it was to be able to connect and disconnect a pickup in order to replace it with another. That isn't the exact purpose, I'm not certain how I'll use it yet, but it's along those lines.

timhulio · Post by **timhulio** » Sun Apr 20, 2008 11:05 pm

This sort of thing. Lives inside your PC.

James · Post by **James** » Sun Apr 20, 2008 11:18 pm

That looks ideal. What are they called?

timhulio · Post by **timhulio** » Sun Apr 20, 2008 11:53 pm

3 pin extension cable. Awesome!

http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?Tab ... 8&doy=21m4

James · Post by **James** » Sun Apr 20, 2008 11:55 pm

I'm confused as to how I actually connect the wire to that. Will i have to strip some of the attached wire back and solder/tape mine on to that? I can't see any other way.

It certainly looks perfect for the job though, I think I might even need 3 connections like that.

Sloan · Post by **Sloan** » Sun Apr 20, 2008 11:58 pm

There are liek 2369p87123409613475019 2846t 0198+ ways to connect things. It's a wild world.

Post by **Doog** » Mon Apr 21, 2008 9:17 am

It bugs me that in this day and age, where the electric guitar has been around like 60 years or something, that pickups still don't just slot in from above, connected through a pin system like what them computers use.

GET ON IT!

I bet they'd sell loads more pups since people could easily mix and match for the occassion.

Post by **Mike** » Mon Apr 21, 2008 9:22 am

Guitarists are dolts though - those pins would be bent to shit and broken in seconds.

Not to mention the mojotone issue. People that love cloth wiring would stab themselves in the chest.

Post by **Doog** » Mon Apr 21, 2008 9:25 am

And the downside?

Post by **Mike** » Mon Apr 21, 2008 9:26 am

Oh yeah.

euan · Post by **euan** » Mon Apr 21, 2008 10:02 am

Quite a few guitars use something like that now I think. Some PRS pickups are built that way. Blade as well I think. But I might be making that up.

Progrockabuse · Post by **Progrockabuse** » Mon Apr 21, 2008 12:49 pm

gibson have a new les paul that has interchangeable pickups on it, you can swop between hum buckers and p90s.
dan armstrong plexi guitars have swappable pickups too.

Sloan · Post by **Sloan** » Mon Apr 21, 2008 1:12 pm

I've often wondered why there aren't more easily swappable pickups as well. Wouldn't it save money as well by speeding up the manufacturing process?