Help with Humbucker Wiring?

I just picked up some BC Rich Humbuckers that appear to have one wire coming from each of them. I'm used to using piezo's that have two wires coming out to attach to the jack. Love the raw sound of a piezo and CBG but want a cleaner sound for my next "nice" CBG. Any advice / direction on how to wire a "one wire" humbucker? Thanks guys!!!

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  • Hi MJ, you could always try refering to a wiring diagram for further help, such as this one...
    http://www.guitarelectronics.com/category/wiringresources/
  • Tres Seaver said:
    I think we need to see pictures here, or a model number, or something. Without a ground, you aren't going to get any signal.
    Wow ... thanks for the help. I will attach some pictures. I'm not sure how well the close up shows it, but it appears to be a shielded wire as Tim and Skeesix suggested. If this is the case, do I just solder the ground wire(s) to a metal bridge? And then take the "hot" wire to the jack ... therefore, only one wire to the jack? (forget a volume knob for now ... cause I don't plan to have one now.

    • Ted ... Thanks a million for the explanation! It's EXACTLY what I need! My membership to this site has already paid for itself ;) Thanks again

      Ted Crocker said:
      MJ, you need 2 wires to the jack for any circuit to work. Carefully strip away the (red or blue) insulation to expose more of the shielding and inside wire. Carefully twist the shielding - this is your ground wire. Strip away the insulation from the hot (white) wire.You can solder the shielding to the negative lug of the jack, but to make it easier to handle I would solder another wire to the shielding and solder that wire to the negative lug. A wire from the metal bridge is soldered to the same lug, which will ground your strings. The hot (inside) wire is soldered to the positive lug of the jack.

      Plug into the amp, crank it to 11 and rock out!
  • I think we need to see pictures here, or a model number, or something. Without a ground, you aren't going to get any signal.
  • It could be a shielded wire. The inside is the hot wire. The next layer is braided wire surrounding it, which is the ground wire. There may be plastic insulation over the whole thing.

    Skeesix

    http://skeesixcbgs.com
    Making Your Cigar Box Guitar Rock!
  • if it has just one wire then its probably shielded. just use the shielding as your ground.
  • huh , 1 wire ? 1 conductor, dont make cents
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