Hi,

I am planning on putting a bridge humbucker and dpdt selector switch to up my tone options on my mex standard, bought new earlier this year. I am an experienced electronic service engineer, but I have experience working with with Strats yet.

Here in the UK lead free solder is standard these days. Please can someone tell me whether the situation is the same in Mexico, or do they still use 60/40?

Hi tonedumbharry,

60/40 is still available, but manufacturers have been using the "lead-free" solder in much of their equipment since around 2006 (some BS treaty). Fender uses the lead-free crap, err, I mean "solder" in their products, including the MIM models. IMO, the new solder is ridiculous, and it sucks. Get 60/40 (or better) if you have the chance, it is much better than the new crap. Sometimes, the new type solder won't mix well with the 60/40, so the new stuff has to be removed first. Did I mention that the new solder is crap?

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---> "The amp should be SWITCHED OFF AND UNPLUGGED before you do this!" <---

Por favor, disculpe mi español, no se llega a la práctica con mucha frecuencia.

^^^^^^
I 2nd that. It´s crap.
You can still buy the good lead solder and use it. Only companys have to use the s*** solder.

Cheers,
Robin

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http://www.youtube.com/robinstrower
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thanks guys. RoHS is great isn't it.

so my new mex will have lead free solder and if i want to use 60/40 i need to get rid of it first. i've being doing a bit more research and have discovered loads of different compositions of lead free. many seem to be incompatible with each other. so, if i did decide to stick with lovely healthy lead free instead of posinous but functionally effective real stuff, is there anyone who would know which to choose

it's probably worth adding that when i put myself forard as an experienced electronic service engineer this is true. i was in the industry for 12 years or so, but i got out of it in 1986 (when TVs stoppped breaking down on a regular basis. i blame the japanese). seems things have changed a bit.

For the little bit of soldering that you would need to do for your upgrades, I would use the 60/40, as most of the old solder will be stuck on the original parts that are being replaced. No sense in getting a whole roll of crap and continuing the madness. I have not had any desire to find a supplier for something that I won't use, but you see the new stuff everywhere, just look for "RoHS" compliant, or CE.....just like one of the stickers on your new guitar.

Don't you miss the days when the CRT wasn't the only tube in a TV? Back then we could get all the x-rays that we wanted, melt candy bars in our pockets, make popcorn and inhale lead fumes to our hearts content, all while working on electrical equipment. And yet we are still here.......?

_________________
---> "The amp should be SWITCHED OFF AND UNPLUGGED before you do this!" <---

Por favor, disculpe mi español, no se llega a la práctica con mucha frecuencia.

First time I've heard that, Lou......

Today, anyway.



Arjay

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"Here's why reliability is job one: A great sounding amp that breaks down goes from being a favorite piece of gear to a useless piece of crap in less time than it takes to read this sentence." -- BRUCE ZINKY

_________________
---> "The amp should be SWITCHED OFF AND UNPLUGGED before you do this!" <---

Por favor, disculpe mi español, no se llega a la práctica con mucha frecuencia.

Isn't anyone going to mention the sonic benefits of using silver solder?

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Member #26797
My other guitar is a Strat.

thanks for the practical advice guys,

"Don't you miss the days when the CRT wasn't the only tube in a TV? Back then we could get all the x-rays that we wanted, melt candy bars in our pockets, make popcorn and inhale lead fumes to our hearts content, all while working on electrical equipment. And yet we are still here.......?"

ah! those where the days. like if you took the back off a philips G2 with it powered up the line output valve was positioned really nicely for killing you if you lost concentration.

i remember we had a trick of drawing an arc of the cap to see if you had hv. you just waved a screwdriver near it and watched the little light show. i made the mistake of using a neon screwdriver the first time i tried it. threw me across the room. sigh...those were the days.

i get the feeling that tonal variations of silver solder types have been discussed past the point of interest or comedy, so i'll not mention it.

Neon bulb on the end of a wooden stick is the only way to go.

_________________
---> "The amp should be SWITCHED OFF AND UNPLUGGED before you do this!" <---

Por favor, disculpe mi español, no se llega a la práctica con mucha frecuencia.