Quick Disconnect in Hollow-Body?

[Michael_B]

I'd like to swap pick-ups in an ES-335.  While I'm fishing around in there, I was thinking of setting it up to have a quick-disconnect terminal (e.g., spade, bullet, 3-pin, etc), so that future pickup swaps are easier.  Is there a good reason why I shouldn't?

[Dave Scepter]

32 minutes ago, Michael_B said:

I'd like to swap pick-ups in an ES-335.  While I'm fishing around in there, I was thinking of setting it up to have a quick-disconnect terminal (e.g., spade, bullet, 3-pin, etc), so that future pickup swaps are easier.  Is there a good reason why I shouldn't?

Shouldn't be a problem although you have a lot more "mechanical" connections "per wire" as opposed to one "solid" solder joint

[Michael_B]

10 minutes ago, Dave Scepter said:

Shouldn't be a problem although you have a lot more "mechanical" connections "per wire" as opposed to one "solid" solder joint

What's the downside of the mechanical connection?  Does it act as a type of resistor?

[Jeff R]

Whenever I have to get inside an F-hole-accessible-only cavity, I typically install hard jumpers (soldered to lugs/pot backs) while I'm there, from the harness to the pickup cavities, just to ease future pickup swaps. Here's a Gibson on my bench recently that I put jumpers in. I usually cut them shorter than what you see below (from my shop's Facebook page) - these were left long and coiled so they'd jump out in the photo and make more sense to folks.

[Michael_B]

1 hour ago, Jeff R said:

Whenever I have to get inside an F-hole-accessible-only cavity, I typically install hard jumpers (soldered to lugs/pot backs) while I'm there, from the harness to the pickup cavities, just to ease future pickup swaps. Here's a Gibson on my bench recently that I put jumpers in. I usually cut them shorter than what you see below (from my shop's Facebook page) - these were left long and coiled so they'd jump out in the photo and make more sense to folks.

Excellent.  More or less what I had in mind.

[PaGator]

I've done it to a Heritage Blues Deluxe and haven't noticed any additional noise or signal degradation. Certainly makes things a lot easier to switch out pickups. If you go with clips Mouser Electronics has ones that are similar to those used on the Gibson quick connects. I could probably find the part numbers if you need them, let me know.

[Dave Scepter]

3 hours ago, Michael_B said:

What's the downside of the mechanical connection?  Does it act as a type of resistor?

Not  really it's just more of a chance of a possible loose connection causing intermittent problems... which wouldn't really be such a problem if you  played in your bedroom but would really suck if you played out a lot... does it act as a type of resistor?.. Most people would say no however, I like to take the most direct path from the pickup to the output jack as possible... are you planning on using that guitar to test different pickups or are you deciding which pickups are best for that particular guitar?

[Michael_B]

1 hour ago, Dave Scepter said:

Not  really it's just more of a chance of a possible loose connection causing intermittent problems... which wouldn't really be such a problem if you  played in your bedroom but would really suck if you played out a lot... does it act as a type of resistor?.. Most people would say no however, I like to take the most direct path from the pickup to the output jack as possible... are you planning on using that guitar to test different pickups or are you deciding which pickups are best for that particular guitar?

Just chasing variety.

[Dave Scepter]

6 minutes ago, Michael_B said:

Just chasing variety.

Just make sure your connections are Super solid and it really shouldn't be a problem... "fingers crossed" 

[Armitage]

The best way to change pickups in a 335 type guitar... is to get someone else to do it.

[murkat]

use one of these.

http://www.ebay.com/bhp/solder-terminal

mount it in the pup cavity, etc.

solder away. rinse repeat.

your welcome.

[Gino]

From my experience the problem is not the way you connect everything - the problem is getting the sh*t out and in again!

[mrjamiam]

Not in a hollow body, but I've done the spade connector thing in every strat-type I've changed pickups in (need 2 hands to count them).  I put them in the connections to the output jack and the grounding wire so that I can lift the whole pickguard out.  I think the answer about adding resistance is "technically yes, but in practice it's negligible".  Making sure connections are tight is definitely key, but I am not as concerned about things shifting around under a Strat pickguard as you might be in a hollow body.

But murkat gave you the real answer, so this is superfluous.

[Michael_B]

8 hours ago, mrjamiam said:

Not in a hollow body, but I've done the spade connector thing in every strat-type I've changed pickups in (need 2 hands to count them).  I put them in the connections to the output jack and the grounding wire so that I can lift the whole pickguard out.  I think the answer about adding resistance is "technically yes, but in practice it's negligible".  Making sure connections are tight is definitely key, but I am not as concerned about things shifting around under a Strat pickguard as you might be in a hollow body.

But murkat gave you the real answer, so this is superfluous.

I've done it in a few Strats, too, and have been happy with the results.  I wasn't clear whether doing it with HH Hollow-Body might present some additional areas of concern.  

I'm going to do it.