Bare Knuckle Pickups Forum
Forum Ringside => Tech => Topic started by: magma on April 16, 2006, 05:12:30 AM
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I'd heard recently that some types of solder are prefferable over others for using with guitars... specifically solder with a higher content of silver?
Is this another product of the guitar myth factory? Or is there truth in this?
I usually just use bog standard stuff from Maplin...
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well i was advised by a techie on another guitar site that silver was better, but I have no idea, lol.
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snake oil (imo)
:twisted:
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There is some truth to this
However my only warning is to avoid the lead free solder
i know it's supposed to be environmentally better and safer on the person using it - BUT IT JUST DOESN'T WORK VERY WELL
I chose to use the "multicore" brand which has a 60/40 tin/lead mix
they also do a higher silver content version which works very well
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Cheers for the advice fellas, yes there certainly is a whiff of snake oil :lol: !
I am a bit confused as to what the benefit of using solder with a percentage of silver in it, as opposed to the 60/40 tin/lead multicore mentioned earlier?
Is it purely a more sturdy join? Or could there be some improvement in conductivity or something?
Damnit wish I had paid more attention to physics in school!
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There is some truth to this
However my only warning is to avoid the lead free solder
i know it's supposed to be environmentally better and safer on the person using it - BUT IT JUST DOESN'T WORK VERY WELL
yeah, i also heard that from said techie, jonathan.
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I think the person who advised you would have thought that the silver content would mean the solder joint would pass a purer signal, not anything to do with reliability. From reading through those articles I linked to in the Time Out section (under Bob Carver), I doubt whether even a pure silver solder joint would pass a measurably better signal - so a 'hint of silver' one would IMO make absolutely no audible difference whatsoever.
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Thanks for clearing that up.... snake oil it is then.
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Hifi boys like silver content, but a lot of the silver solder around today is lead free, the silver is there to get a bit more flow.
From July 1st you can't really use lead in electronics manufacture, and under the list is electric guitars, so for the EU ROHS laws all manufacturers must switch to lead free solder, trouble is it just doesn't flow like the good old lead solder!!
Most important when you choose a solder is get one that's relatively pure, old tandy solder used to be full of impurities, Rapid Electronics do a great high grade solder, much better than the generic multicore solder most places sell.
Wonder solder is the best low lead solder around, Russ Andrews and some other high end hifi boys use it, it's dear though and I doubt it'd make a difference in a guitar, you're better off just getting a really good solder joint that has mechanical strength.
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The best solder for guitars of course is hand rolled from free range organic ingredients by Mississippi cotton pickers while da blues is sung, da spliff is smoked, and Mamma done makes corn pokes.
Kind of difficult to get these days but I have a small supply at outrageous prices if anyone really wants that MOJO. :lol: :lol:
Otherwise the quality of the joint (solder, don't get me started) is more important than the solder. The thing that has improved my soldering more than anything is a temperature controlled soldering iron, makes a lot of difference.
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F'#king brilliant post!
PDT_004 PDT_004 PDT_004
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Maybe Tim is about to start making his own solder....
It could be a reason for him moving to Cornwall (and buying up all the old Tin mines ??)
On the other hand he may be about to take up surfing or something equally healthy
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silver is the most conductive material known to man. Go figure.
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Conductive like Diamonds and Gold. The fastest way of conducting money out of a man's wallet.................
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silver is the most conductive material known to man. Go figure.
Most contuctive metal at room temperature ;)
Rob...
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ok fair enough :P but still yea it's the metal of choice for conductivity.
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ok fair enough :P but still yea it's the metal of choice for conductivity.
Hehe I live to be pedantic.
Rob...
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Just out of intrest, what out-conducts it and at what temprature? I assume it's something to do with "super conductors" ?
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Super conductors are conducting compounds that have zero electrical resistance and no internal magentic field. A few have been found, and in the 80s the critical temperature was around 92 Kelvin (-181 Celcius).
EDIT: apparently the highest critical temperature is 138 K (-135 C), which is a thallium-doped, mercuric-cuprate comprised of the elements Mercury, Thallium, Barium, Calcium, Copper and Oxygen.
Still a long way to go, and I doubt we will ever have a room temperature conductor with zero resistance, but it's a nice thought.
(spot the chemistry student...)
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A Super conductor at room temparature
(http://www.davidweissgallery.com/jurowski.jpg)
With zero resistance!
" Jurowski is more than a cut above the rest. His clarity, subtlety, intelligence and well-preparedness - added to uncommon maturity - turn the Prokofiev into a balletic tour de force..."
Andrew Clarke, Financial Times
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Only zero resistance if you discount the air resistance of his baton flying through the air... It's tiny enough to be ignored anyway :wink: