Guitar makeover (how to disassemble and reassemble your electric guitar)

How to disassemble:

1. First is to take photos of your guitar as many angles as you can so you wont forget when you start removing parts, screws, cover plates, etc. Then remove the strings of your guitar. Might as well remove the strap buttons and loosen the input jack.

2. Next, unscrew the covers and plates of the guitar.  Check what's underneath and might as well take photos of what's inside your guitar i.e. wirings, settings, etc. Then, pull the volume and tone knobs out including the 5-way switch tip/button.

3. After you documented or took photos of the wires, unsolder the pickup connections as well as the ground wire. Then start to unscrew the pickups, pots, 5-way switch and input jack. If you can put them in a bag or container separately with the respective knots and bolts so it's easy for you to identify and remember when you try and re-assemble your guitar after.

4. You got options with the neck, either unscrew and remove it if it is a bolt on neck or just leave it and cover it when you spray paint your guitar. Also the tuners/machineheads, can be removed if you want to spray paint the head of the guitar but if not, then just cover it.

Note: I did not spray paint my guitar myself. David Harriman did the job. From removing the paint of my guitar to sanding, etc. up to the artwork and actual painting of the guitar. Cheers Dave!

Now how to re-assemble:

1. Once the paint is totally dry and ready, gather your tools, parts of your guitar, knots and bolts, including photos that you took because you want to sort them out so that it's ready when you need it.

2. I prefer to start with the Bridge of the guitar. If it is a 2-point or 6-point bridge, then you will need those screws. That's why it's handy to pack them separately so that you got it in one bag/container and not mixed up especially with screws. Next would be the tremolo springs. Screw and put the springs according to your preference i.e. straight or triangle.

3. Then put the pickups back, start from the neck first then insert wires through the holes making sure what colour or which wire is which so that you know where to solder it later. Perhaps a post-it or sticker will help. Then screw the pickup. Next put the neck pickup, same procedure and take note of the wires. And lastly, the bridge pickup. Again make sure you know which wire goes where. That's why photos or documentation is very important. Make sure that all the pickups are secured. Even if it was screw in loosely. Just to avoid dropping them when you flip the guitar.

4. Flip the guitar over and time to solder. Start by soldering the ground wire to the tremolo spring holder/plate. Next, solder the pickups to the pot first then to the 5-way switch. Just remember to get the photo/notes you did on which wire goes to where. Then secure all knots and bolts of the pots/knobs and jack input. Tidy the wire and if there are wires that needs to be taped/covered i.e. if you're using 4-wire humbucker and you're not coil tapping it then cover that wire. Don't put the covers yet. It's better to attach the neck of the guitar if you've removed it, if not then it's time to test your pickups and knobs if it's working. Plug your guitar and gently tap the pickups and adjust the volume knobs. Just a quick check that everything's working.

5. Put strings on and setup your guitar from tremolo springs to checking the action and intonation of the guitar or if you want a fixed bridge or floating trem setup. Once, you're happy with your setup. Close all cover plates and screw them back including strap buttons and that's it. Finished.