Epiphone Special II (Part 4) DIY EMG Solderless Battery Box Mod | James Hetfield Signature Pickups

DIY EMG Solderless Battery Box Mod | James Hetfield Signature Pickups. In this episode of Ted Talks Guitars and Life, we’re tackling a common wiring headache: making a solderless EMG battery clip fit into a standard 9V battery compartment. When the $9 battery box won’t accommodate the high-end James Hetfield EMG harness, you don't cut the wires—you modify the box, Jack! Join Ted in "Santa’s Workshop" as he walks through a DIY guitar electronics mod, showing you how to deinstall terminals and widen cavities without ruining your guitar's finish. Grab your pretzels and a beverage—it’s time to get to work! What you’ll learn in this video: The "Modify the Cheap Part" Rule: Why I would never cut expensive solderless harnesses. Pro Protection Trick: Using a metal ruler as a shield to prevent drill bit slips on the guitar body. Hardware Selection: Why 6mm tuner screws are the best choice over long pickup screws to avoid drilling through the guitar face. Battery Box Notching: How to create clearance for active pickup wiring. Timestamps: 0:50 - The Battery Box Dilemma 2:10 - Protecting the Finish with the "Ruler Trick" 5:40 - Widening the Wire Cavity 14:10 - Modifying the $9 Battery Box 21:10 - Mounting the Box with Tuner Screws 24:30 - Final Results: A Copacetic Fit ____ Shoutouts: @TonJager (Brant) @ForTheLoveOfGuitars (Keith) Checkout our playlist page for more series and journeys https://www.youtube.com/@TedTalksGuitars/playlists Special Thanks to our channel members "The Jacks" Want to support the channel? Feel free to explore Channel membership options: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCBr6kaWeOvldTHvntB3tnMg/join Ted Talks Guitars & Life Merch Store: https://tedtalksguitars-shop.fourthwall.com/ Amazon Affiliate Link: https://amzn.to/3W3PZox *If you click on this link to shop at Amazon the channel will receive a modest financial commission from your purchases. Guyker Referral Link: https://www.guyker.com/?ref=tedtalksguitars If you use the link you will save 15% at Guyker Use the coupon code: TEDSMITH DIY EMG Solderless Battery Box Mod | James Hetfield Signature Pickups. In this episode of Ted Talks Guitars and Life, we’re tackling a common wiring headache: making a solderless EMG battery clip fit into a standard 9V battery compartment. When the $9 battery box won’t accommodate the high-end James Hetfield EMG harness, you don't cut the wires—you modify the box, Jack! Join Ted in "Santa’s Workshop" as he walks through a DIY guitar electronics mod, showing you how to deinstall terminals and widen cavities without ruining your guitar's finish. Grab your pretzels and a beverage—it’s time to get to work! What you’ll learn in this video: The "Modify the Cheap Part" Rule: Why I would never cut expensive solderless harnesses. Pro Protection Trick: Using a metal ruler as a shield to prevent drill bit slips on the guitar body. Hardware Selection: Why 6mm tuner screws are the best choice over long pickup screws to avoid drilling through the guitar face. Battery Box Notching: How to create clearance for active pickup wiring. Timestamps: 0:50 - The Battery Box Dilemma 2:10 - Protecting the Finish with the "Ruler Trick" 5:40 - Widening the Wire Cavity 14:10 - Modifying the $9 Battery Box 21:10 - Mounting the Box with Tuner Screws 24:30 - Final Results: A Copacetic Fit #GuitarRepair #EMGpickups #JamesHetfield #GuitarWiring #DIYGuitar #LuthierTips #ActivePickups #TedTalksGuitars