How to Install Bass Pickups
- 1). Lay the bass flat on its back on an even, solid surface. Remove any pickup covers using the Phillips screwdriver. Locate the wiring connection between the existing pickups and the internal hard-wiring in the pickup hole.
- 2). Heat the soldering gun until it’s ready to use, following manufacturer instructions to ensure safety. Touch the tip of the soldering gun to the point of connection in the pickup wiring until the existing solder heats up and liquefies.
- 3). Quickly disconnect the existing pickup connecting wire from the internal bass wiring. Allow one to two minutes to cool off. Remove the existing pickup from the pickup hole. Repeat these steps for any other existing bass pickups.
- 4). Remove new pickups from packaging. Prepare them for installation according to manufacturer instructions.
- 5). Place new pickup in the pickup hole so that its connecting wire is touching the existing internal bass wiring. Heat the existing internal bass wiring with solder for one minute.
- 6). Touch the solder to the point of connection between the new pickup wire and the existing bass pickup wire. Hold in this position until the solder heats up and liquefies. Quickly remove the solder from the connection to avoid excessive solder build-up at the connection point. Allow to cool one to two minutes.
- 7). Remove any spilled or excessive solder that has dripped on the pickups or the bass itself using your fingers. Repeat these steps for any other bass pickups to be installed. Plug the bass amplifier power cord into the power outlet.
- 8). Connect the bass to the input on the bass amplifier. Turn on the amplifier and adjust the volume settings of the bass and the amplifier to create a loud enough sound to test the pickup installation.
- 9). Play the bass or just pluck one or two strings to send a signal to the amplifier. If the signal is clear with no distortion or interruption in the sound, the installation was successful. Screw the pickup covers back into place.
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